Mother of God Monastery
110  28th Ave. SE ~  Watertown,  SD  57201
Phone: 605-882-6600  Fax: 605-882-6658
monastery@dailypost.com

JOURNEY INTO SPIRITUAL GROWTH

An intensive formation program using the dynamic of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius according to the 19^th Annotation

Spiritual growth is a life-long process leading to one's personal transformation in Christ.  The goal of the Journey is to enter into a conversion experience and to help lead others to Christ.

The program is:

•             responsive to individual needs
•             forms a community to support the conversion process
•             correlates with the liturgical year

Structure and Schedule

• Orientation through a directed retreat

Dates: Aug. 26, 2007 (7:00pm) - Sept. 1, 2007 (8:30pm)

**(Anyone wanting to make the Journey, but is unable to make the retreat at this time can make arrangements to be on retreat at another time)**

• Daily personal prayer

• Personal Growth Workshops (optional but recommended)

Dreaming My Way To Spiritual Growth: A Dream Workshop - Sept. 28-29, 2007

Discovering Myself: An Enneagram Workshop - Oct. 12-13, 2007

Healing the Inner Child - Nov. 9-10, 2007

Who am I and who is my neighbor?: Myers-Briggs Workshop - Jan. 25-26, 2008

• Weekly Spiritual Direction

        --Scheduled individually

• Monthly Sunday Afternoon Community Sessions

2:00-4:00pm: 9/16/07, 10/14/07, 11/11/07, 12/9/07, 1/13/08, 2/10/08, 3/9/08, 4/13/08 - (These days can be adjusted by the group at the first meeting if necessary)

• Closing Retreat

May 9, 2008 (7:00pm) - May 10, 2008 (8:30pm)

Suggested Donation: $650. Includes room and board during retreats; stipend for weekly spiritual direction, fees for workshops mentioned above, expenses for community sessions. Donations may be given in installments.  However, no one will be turned away for lack of finances.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR

Emily Meisel, OSB

Sister Emily Meisel is a graduate of the Institute of Religious Formation in St. Louis, MO and has an MA. in Spirituality from Oakland, CA. She has 27 years experience in spiritual direction and directing retreats.  She served as Initial Formation Director  for her community for six and then as director of the Spirituality Center at Sacred Heart Monastery in Richardton, ND until returning to Watertown where she is presently at Mother of God Monastery ministering in retreats and spiritual direction as well as working in the area of vocation and formation ministry.

How the Journey has affected the men and women who have experienced it:

• It has given me a renewed understanding of what my life is about and the role that Jesus plays in my life.

• For me the Journey is a process of continuing to deepen my relationship with Jesus and sharing this Journey with my companions.

• For me the Journey has been a deepening of my faith.  The Journey has made me freer to enjoy and "manifest" what God is doing in and through me.

• It has helped me to know myself.  I have become more aware of Jesus in my life.  I have been able to trust more and have faith that He is always there for me even though I cannot always see it at the time.  prayer  time has become important to me and it is not  the structured prayer that I grew up with but it  is talking to and listening to Jesus.

• The gifts I received through the Journey will be with me for a lifetime and carry me on many journeys with peace.

Admission:

A personal interview is required for application.

Qualifications include:

• a deep desire for prayer
• a willingness to fully participate in all the structures of the program
• a commitment to use the gifts received

Apply to:

Mother of God Monastery

110  28th Ave SE

Watertown, SD 57201

Attention: Sister Emily Meisel

Phone: (605) 886-4181 ext. 3