And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for God has looked with favor on the lowliness of this servant.”
Luke 1:47-48
Dear Friends,
The month of May is the traditional month in Catholic Christianity to celebrate Mary, the mother of Jesus. Our kindred in the Muslim tradition recall her as completely independent of help from others because she understood her total dependence on God. We see in her the power of God that comes forth from humility.
Humility is not about holding back until asked, mincing words to always be “nice” or letting others walk all over you. Humility is about understanding that all power, strength and ability come from God. This grace is ours for the taking and it is not earned. What’s more, humility is about understanding that, when we accept the grace of God, “our liberation is related to the world’s liberation” (Scott Hutchinson). Mary models this for us: an unwed, uneducated girl who says, “yes” to becoming the theotokos, the God-bearer, for the world. Likewise, God calls each of us to notice the need for healing, forgiveness, justice and shelter and to let the fullness of God’s life flow through us.
May Mary help you this month to grow in your utter dependence on God and to step into your call to bring life into the world. Know that we continue to pray for you in your struggles and joys.
The Cranaleith Staff
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The mother of Jesus said to the servants,
“Do whatever he tells you.”
John 2:5
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UPCOMING PROGRAMS & RETREATS |
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All retreats are offered virtually on Zoom. Scholarships are available because everyone is welcome at Cranaleith. Please email info@cranaleith.org so we can assist you.
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Music is our prayer! Presenter Valerie Lee-Jeter will also explore how the music of different cultures can be respectfully employed to help us appreciate God’s gift of diversity. Let music draw you more deeply into the merciful love of the risen Jesus!
Program fee: $20
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Although Joseph does not speak a word in the Gospels, he is a powerful figure in the Catholic religious imagination and patron of the “hidden life,” moving Pope Francis to proclaim 2021 a Year of Saint Joseph. In this retreat, we will meditate on the life of Joseph using creative stories, artistic renderings, and Scripture scholarship, drawing closer to Joseph as our inspiration and guide in these difficult days.
Program fee: $25
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How might we, as individuals and as a community, be attentive to the transformative call of the Holy Spirit? Using prompts and an exploration of the gifts and symbols of the Holy Spirit, compose your own prayer and choose from a variety of rituals and reminders of your giftedness to incorporate at home. God delights in giving us gifts; let us delight in opening them!
Program fee: $30; $15 for students
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Memorial Service
Cranaleith Spiritual Center invites you to join us for a virtual memorial service to remember those who have died during the pandemic. If you wish to include someone in the litany of the dead, please send their name and an electronic photo to programs@cranaleith.org.
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Stop by the Cranaleith Spiritual Center garden on Friday, May 7 from 9am-4pm or Saturday, May 8 from 9am-2pm and select from a variety of tomatoes, flowers and herbs for your summer garden. Pick up a Mother’s Day plant for Mom or bring her along for a safe, socially distant outing! All proceeds support Cranaleith's mission.
*Masks required*
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Participants in our recent retreat, "Colorful Silence" with Br. Mickey McGrath, created quilt patches out of art supplies from home. Based on the Freedom Quilts of the Underground Railroad, each patch is a piece of art unto itself. Together, the individual squares transform into a quilt with its own life and character.
Has a recent retreat with Cranaleith inspired you to create your own work of art, be it a poem, drawing, or piece of music? We love it when you share! Email us at programs@cranaleith.org to be featured in a future newsletter.
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"Blessed Art Thou - Blessed One"
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Bach's "Magnificat"
Performed by the Netherlands Bach Society
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Fifth Sunday of Easter, Cycle B
1John 3:18-24 and John 15:1-8
We often forget about the “truth” in that exhortation of 1Jn 3:18, “Let us love in action and truth.” Love must encompass the clarity of truth. Love names injustice and dismantles it. Love uncovers the path of life and invites everyone to walk on it... Read more.
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- Name the “second home” you go to when you disconnect yourself from Jesus.
- What is an injustice you need to call out? How can you do that in a loving way?
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Resources From Home
Community Support
Explore from Home
Spiritual Direction
Psychotherapy is also available. Please contact Leslie Porreca, RSM, LCSW.
Retreats
Individual retreats available — both online and onsite options! Call Maria DiBello, RSM, at 215-934-6206 or visit our website www.cranaleith.org/retreats to learn more.
Connect With Us Online
Get daily prayers, reflections, blog posts and images from our beautiful property via our website and social media channels.
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Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Cranaleith offers a contemplative space for all those seeking wholeness and transformation for themselves and society. We are committed to making Cranaleith accessible to all, especially to persons who are poor and those who work in solidarity with them. We invite those at the center of need and those at the center of influence to reflection, reverent dialogue and meaningful partnerships. Please help us support our work.
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Cranaleith Spiritual Center | 13475 Proctor Road | Phila., PA 19116
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