“Galileans, why do you stand there, looking up?”
Acts 1:11
Dear Friends:
Today, Ascension Thursday, we look up to see Jesus, the whole of his person, going to God, as we all shall someday – no part of us left out of union with the Divine. We stand with the apostles, agog and without understanding, looking up. We look up, excited yet wary, as the burden of the pandemic begins to slide from our shoulders. Longer days and the new life of springtime call us to hope.
But, like the disciples, we must still wait. The complex burden of racism still pushes our eyes downward. We do not yet know enough about COVID-19 to plan our futures. We still must find a way to incorporate the lessons we learned about slowing down, loneliness and relationships into our “normal” lives. To hold these tensions, waiting for the Spirit to ignite our movement and proclamation, calls for rich, if uncomfortable openness to God!
Please know you have a place in Cranaleith to reflect upon whatever is in your heart. We are still offering many opportunities to reflect: with others or in private retreat, online or onsite. We look forward to seeing you soon, looking up and waiting with you. Know you and your loved ones are always in our prayers!
Peace,
The Cranaleith Staff
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"Wait on the Holy Spirit. This kind of waiting is not passive.
It is not about sitting on your hands, but lifting them up in prayer and confidence."
Alice Camille
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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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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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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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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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Cranaleith is a Saint Kateri Habitat!
We are excited to continue our Eco-Spirituality initiatives as a newly-registered Saint Kateri Habitat, a designation through the Saint Kateri Conservation Center!
What is a Saint Kateri Habitat?
"Saint Kateri Habitats and Parks are more than simply material or temporal habitats; they are also spiritual habitats. With a focus on God and the Catholic faith, the Saint Kateri Habitats and Parks Program provides living, sacred spaces for all people to engage directly in the care of God’s creation at home and in their communities. By restoring habitats with reverence and gratitude for our Creator, the program draws people closer to God and his Church while protecting the integrity of creation as God has planned." (kateri.org)
We join with over 100 Catholic parishes, schools and other organizations in our promise to care for God's creation, and for one another. To learn more about this exciting program and to register your parish or home as a Saint Kateri Habitat, visit kateri.org.
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June: In our Bible series, “Once Upon a Time,” Joy Clough, RSM will explore how using the imagination enriches interaction with the Gospels. Thursdays, June 3,10, 24. Read more and register.
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July: Maureen O’Connell, PhD will host a book circle on Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, Tuesdays, July 6, 13 & 20. Caste startles with its connection of racism in America to the caste system in India and Nazism in early twentieth-century Germany. Start reading this fascinating book and stay tuned for more details!
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Ps 121: "I Lift My Eyes Up to the Hills"
(He Watches Over You)
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"There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in this Place"
The Adventist Vocal Ensemble
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"The Beautiful Not Yet" by Carrie Newcomer and
Chloe Grace
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Celebrate Laudato sí week! Learn more about this global celebration here! |
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Directed by John Carlos Frey, "One Border One Body" is a reflective look at the issue of immigration through the lens of a border mass celebrated between El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. |
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Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26 & 1John 4:11-16
In this period of waiting, the values of the patriarchal culture eroded all progress Jesus had made to set up an egalitarian community. Women will only play minor roles in Acts, even though in actuality they were leaders and sponsors of Christian communities. Then, as now, there’s waiting and then there’s waiting… Read more.
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- How have you experienced God’s love this week? How do these experiences shape your knowledge and belief in God?
- Which parts of your waiting time behavior have prepared you to be love in the world?
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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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