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New Registration and Reservation Policy

To provide our guests with a well-prepared event and to ensure the best possible use of our resources, we are now asking that full payment be made for Spiritual Life Center offerings on or before the registration deadline date for each offering. Your reservation is not confirmed until full payment has been made. Thank you in advance for your help and cooperation in supporting this policy, it is greatly appreciated.

RETREAT: “An Encounter With Jesus: The Way of Intimacy Through Prayer,” with Father Kent Hemberger, Friday, November 14 through Sunday, November 16, 2008. Please hurry. Registration ends Friday, November 7.

ADVENT DAY OF PRAYER: “The Joy of Advent” with Father Mike Simone, Saturday, December 6, 2008.

SERIES: “Saint Paul: The Man His Writings, His Theology", with Monsignor William M. Carr, January 15, 22, & 29, 2009.

RETREAT: “The Fruit of Silence is Prayer: Blessed Mother Teresa’s Way to Holiness” is a silent weekend retreat offered January 30 -- February 1, 2009.

WORKSHOP: “The Drug Culture: What Parents and Educators Need to Know” with Mr. Dan Oblinger, Saturday, February 28, 2009, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

SERIES: “Justice: A Call to Passionate Discipleship” with Mr. Jim Rundell, Mondays, March 9, 16 and 23, 2009 from 7-8:30 p.m.

RETREAT: “Palm Sunday Weekend Retreat,” with Bishop Michael O. Jackels, April 3-5, 2009.

Descriptions of Events

RETREATS are spiritual opportunities for growth in personal holiness, where the individual enters into a quiet dialogue in prayer with God. A retreat may be as short as a day or two, but can be a week or even longer. The type of retreat, (e.g. directed retreat, private retreat, group preached retreat), determines the specific format of the experience. For more information on types of retreats, please click on the page entitled,"Spiritual Formation", or here.

WORKSHOPS address a specific issue as presented through lectures of a featured speaker or group of speakers. Most often, there is an opportunity for group discussion and individual or group activity in “break out” sessions. Most of the workshops at the Spiritual Life Center are daylong events.

SERIES offerings typically take place on a specific evening of the week. The series may be as few as two evenings, but may last as long as six sessions, depending upon the topic being studied. Unlike retreats, where the primary focus is upon spiritual formation of the individual person, a series focuses more upon the educational element of a particular topic of faith.

DAYS / EVENINGS OF REFLECTION allow the individual to spend quiet time with the Lord at the Spiritual Life Center. A retreat director leads the group through conferences, individual and communal prayer, often with the opportunity provided for the celebration of the Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

SPECIAL EVENTS are those offerings throughout the year that do not fall under any of the other categories listed above. The staff of the Spiritual Life Center seeks to provide a variety of different ways for the pilgrim to come to this holy ground: to rest, to renew your heart, to respond to the Word of God as you walk your personal spiritual journey of faith.

Presenter: Father Kent Hemberger

Date: Friday, November 14 - Sunday, November 16, 2008.

Time: Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m. with the first Conference at 7:45 p.m. Retreat concludes Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Cost: $138 per person (double occupancy), or $165 per person (single occupancy). Includes $50 non-refundable deposit

Registration deadline: On or before Friday, November 7, 2008

"An Encounter with Jesus: The Way of Intimacy Through Prayer"

We read in Scripture of the woman at the well and her encounter with Jesus (John 4:5-42), an encounter that changed her life and those around her. This weekend retreat will lead one to a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus through talks and guided personal prayer. The focus of the weekend will be to come to know Jesus by encountering him in the prayer of Gospel Contemplation, which comes to us through St. Ignatius of Loyola. It is through these encounters with Jesus that we are led to a deeper intimacy with Jesus Christ that provides the foundation of our Christian lives of love and service. This retreat will allow ample time for personal prayer and be held in an atmosphere of silence.

Presenter: Father Michael Simone

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2008

Time: Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. First Conference at 9 a.m., the day concludes at 2:30 p.m.

Cost: $40, includes lunch

Registration deadline: On or before Saturday, November 29

"The Joy of Advent"

Modern culture seeks “Christmas joy” in material goods heavily advertised on television and inserts in the Sunday newspaper. During this Advent Day of Prayer, Father Mike Simone invites the faithful to seek an authentic path to Christmas joy by exploring the writings of two great Doctors of the Church, Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Catherine of Sienna. Come to rediscover and connect with true Christmas Joy that we can live each day in a practical way—a truth that begins with the fact that Jesus Christ entered human history to reveal to us what it means to be fully human.

The Center welcomes Father Simone, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Wichita, as he leads this special day of prayer and reflection that will include three conferences, Mass, opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, lunch and time for rest.

Presenter: Monsignor William M. Carr

Date: Thursdays, January 15, 22 and 29, 2009

Time: Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m. Conference from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Cost: $25 for the series

Registration deadline: On or before Thursday, January 8, 2009.

"Saint Paul: The Man His Writings, His Theology"

Last summer our Holy Father announced that the time from June 28, 2008 through June 29, 2009 would be known as The Year of Saint Paul. This time is set aside to help us focus on one of the great saints and founders of the early Church—the Apostle Paul.

During this three-part series hosted by Monsignor William M. Carr, we explore “the man, his writings and his theology.”

Saul of Tarsus was a Roman citizen, a Jew and a staunch Pharisee. He was so enthusiastic, that he hated frauds and imposters, and he believed the followers of Jesus to be just that—until he encountered the Risen Christ while on his way to Damascus. Come learn more about this man Saul and his conversion to Paul. Explore his missionary journeys, his various letters that are so popular throughout Christianity, and his theology that so greatly impacted his outlook on salvation and the course of his epistles. Monsignor Carr is a popular speaker who brings wit and insights to this compelling series.

Presenter: Father John P. Lanzrath

Date: Friday, January 30-Sunday, February 1, 2009.

Time: Check-in Friday begins at 6:30 p.m. with the first Conference at 7:45 p.m. Retreat concludes Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Cost: Earlybird discount rate, on or before Friday, December 19, ; $120 per person (double occupancy) or $145 per person (single occupancy). After December 19, 2008; $138 per person (double occupancy), or $165 per person (single occupancy). Includes $50 non-refundable deposit

Registration deadline: On or before Friday, January 16, 2009

"The Fruit of Silence is Prayer: Blessed Mother Teresa's Way to Holiness"

Many of our guests of the Center have requested a silent weekend retreat, a time to rest in purposeful silence. This weekend retreat with father John P. Lanzrath is one of the most popular offerings we have made available in recent years. Using the way to holiness as taught by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Fr. John Lanzrath will lead very brief conferences, allowing the majority of the time of the weekend to silence and prayer. Fr. John served as a spiritual director for the novices of the Missionaries of Charity for two years when he lived in Rome and shares many of his personal experiences throughout the weekend. An optional event is the showing of a film and documentary on the life and times of Mother Teresa. Come spend a weekend to learn more about the influence of example taught by Mother Teresa and her sisters that provides a way to holiness for all of us.

Presenter: Dan Oblinger

Date: Saturday, February 28, 2009

Time: Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. First Conference at 9 a.m., the day concludes at 2:30 p.m.

Cost: $40, includes lunch only for fully paid pre-registration on or before February 18, after February 18 registration is $50.

Registration deadline: All registration ends Monday, February 23.

"The Drug Culture: What Parents and Educators Need to Know"

During this encore workshop first presented in May of 2008, Dan Oblinger shares his insights into the dangers of drug abuse in our modern society. He compares Christian culture to the drug culture in a compelling presentation style. This 4 ½ hour workshop will prepare educators and presenters with a working knowledge of drug abuse trends, and the impact that addiction and intoxication have on the formation of our youth. With an expanded curriculum from his previous offering at the Spiritual Life Center, this workshop is a unique educational opportunity for anyone involved in parish catechesis, pastoral counseling, or youth ministry. It is also a powerful resource for a Catholic parent overwhelmed with the prospect of defending their children from the rapidly evolving dangers of drugs and substance abuse. Topics covered will include commonly abused drugs, local youth abuse trends, addiction, theological implications of abuse, and important drug abuse prevention tips.

Dan Oblinger is a husband, father of three, and a member of Blessed Sacrament parish. He holds a Bachelor's of Science in Philosophy and Criminal Justice and is a former seminarian for the Diocese of Wichita. Dan holds an active commission as a Law Enforcement Officer through the State of Kansas, is an expert in the field of drug use and human performance, and is a certified police training instructor. A gifted, passionate speaker, he enthusiastically shares his hard-won experiences policing the drug culture and combating drug abuse as it relates to our greatest commodity -- children.

Presenter: Jim Rundell

Date: Mondays, March 9, 16 & 23, 2009

Time: Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m. Conference from 7-8:30 p.m.

Cost: $25 for the series only with pre-registration and full payment on or before Monday, March 1, 2009. $30 cost for registration and payment after March 1. All registration ends on Saturday, March 7, 2009.

Registration deadline: All registration closed after Saturday, March 7, 2009.

"Justice, A Call to Passionate Discipleship"

Spiritual Life Center administrator Jim Rundell shares his passion for discipleship and justice through the lens of his own experiences in prison ministry and his understanding of the cost of discipleship for those he serves. Christ calls each of us to be passionate disciples in our daily living. Extreme poverty, hunger, homelessness, abortion, the lack of health care, capital punishment, and other injustices confront us every day. This three part series explores the call and cost of discipleship as well as our response to Christ’s invitation: “if anyone wishes to come after me, he must first deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

“Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor” --Catechism of the Catholic Church #1807

The Catholic idea of “justice” is very different from that of the world where individuals seek their “fair share” or even pursue retribution and vengeance—the proverbial “pound of flesh”—when they are wronged. Catholics should seek justice in daily life directed by the two greatest commandments, to love God and to love one’s neighbor. Scripture and contemporary history is filled with people of God called to live a life of passionate discipleship in this way. Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah, the Apostles, and more recent disciples like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, Chuck Colson, and Mother Teresa were profoundly disturbed by the injustices experienced in their lives and ministries. Their response to God’s call to passionate discipleship in turn became a disturbing presence to millions of people around the world calling them to a heightened awareness of Christ’s command to love our neighbor.

Jim is a convert to the Catholic faith and experienced a strong calling to discipleship. He has a Master of Arts Degree in Pastoral Ministry (MAPM) from the Aquinas Institute of Theology and serves as a volunteer chaplain at the El Dorado Correctional Facility. He participates in Kairos Prison Ministry and recently implemented a program for prisoners isolated in long term segregation called “Spiritual Formation in Segregation.”

Presenter: Bishop Michael O. Jackels

Date: Friday, April 3 - Sunday, April 5, 2009

Time: Check-in Friday begins at 6:30 p.m. with the first Conference at 7:45 p.m. Retreat concludes Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Cost: Earlybird discount rate, on or before Monday, February 23, 2009; $120 per person (double occupancy) or $145 per person (single occupancy). After February 23, 2009; $138 per person (double occupancy), or $165 per person (single occupancy). Includes $50 non-refundable deposit

Registration deadline: On or before Friday, March 20, 2009

"Palm Sunday Weekend Retreat"

We are once again pleased and honored that The Most. Rev. Michael O. Jackels, Bishop of Wichita, will serve as retreat master for the annual Palm Sunday Weekend Retreat. Bishop Jackels is an energetic, gifted preacher who brings grace-filled insights as we approach and prepare for the apex of the liturgical year—Holy Week, the Sacred Triduum and Easter.

In addition to a series of conferences with Bishop Jackels there will be time for the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross outdoors (weather permitting) group prayer, individual prayer and rest.

Contact: The Spiritual Life Center (unless otherwise listed)

Phone: (316)744-0167

Other Offerings: Fall-Winter-Spring 2008-2009

Centering Prayer: Mondays at 9:30 a.m., Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

Retrouvaille: February 13-15, 2009 contact Tim and Betty Stolz at 796-0553.

Engaged Encounter: November 21-23, December 5-7, January 9-11, February 20-22, March 27-29, April 17-19, May 1-3, May 15-17, June 5-7, June 19-21.

Marriage Encounter: (Spanish) November 7-9, 2008, March 2-8, June 5-7, 2009, contact Victor and Paz Banuelos at (316) 946-9730 or Centro Pastoral Hispano (316) 269-3919. (English) February 20-22, 2009, to register, contact Jeff and Susan Washburn at (316) 682-2616.

Crusillo: (Women's English) November 6-9, 2008 and June 25-28, 2009.

Beginning Experience: Nov. 21-23, 2008 and February 28-March 1, 2009.

Teens Encounter Christ (TEC): March 6-8, 2009 (contact diocesan Youth Office at (316) 269-3930.