Lord, send out your spirit and renew the face of the earth.

Walking into our parish church Friday afternoon I was struck by the beautiful red banners scattered throughout the space in anticipation of Pentecost. It was quiet and dark. The only light was coming through the red panes of the upper windows. To experience it alone was powerful, more powerful than when the church was crowded and full of life.

Given that I was there for the wedding planning of our last child added to the moment. Looking around I pictured the many events that brought our family together in this space over the years. From baptisms and confirmations to weddings and funerals, milestones of life have been celebrated within these walls.

In my mind’s eye I saw my mother in a wheelchair at the baptism of one of her great-grandchildren and then pictured the large crowd present at her funeral not long after. I remembered the weddings of our other children and who was there and where we sat. I saw my sons, both dads now, as they were when they were altar servers. It was like a movie or a dream passing in front of me.

My daughter was not immune. She was experiencing her own set of memories. The kind woman helping us with the wedding planning offered the idea of a table for pictures of family members who were no longer with us as a reminder of where the newly married couple came from. As we made the list of whose pictures we needed to find we shed a few tears and laughed as we kept saying, “Remember when….”

The intersection of Pentecost and my daughter’s wedding plans helped me realize how the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of God – has shown up over the years. Sometimes being so immersed in all that needed to be done I might not have realized it at that moment but in retrospect it becomes clear. We gathered at church knowing on some level that there was something bigger than all of us that gave and continues to give us life.

We live in times of great cynicism and negativity. Looking at the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, and self-control, seems an antidote, a cure, if we were to intentionally embrace them.

Today the psalmist calls out, “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” We can join with the Spirit in that renewal one act and one person at a time.

Please scroll down to register for our retreat day and to read about people and opportunities meant to renew the face of the earth.

Peace,

Anne

Retreat Leader – Fr. Tom O'Neill, SJ

Fr. Tom O'Neill, SJ is currently on sabbatical after serving as an Associate Pastor at St. Ignatius Parish in Sacramento, CA. He entered the Society of Jesus in September of 1976 and was ordained in June of 1990.

Fr. Tom taught for many years at Loyola High School in Los Angeles and after receiving an M.F.A. in painting from the Pratt Institute in New York, worked in the Fine Arts department at the University of San Francisco. Prior to moving to Sacramento, Fr. Tom served as the Superior of the Jesuit Community at St. Ignatius Prep in San Francisco.

Beginning in 2006, Fr. Tom developed a deep love for the ministry of the Jesuits among the Lakota people of the Pine Ridge Reservation. He worked at Our Lady of the Sioux church in Oglala, South Dakota and served on the Board of Directors of Red Cloud Indian School – the Jesuit mission on the Reservation. In recent years, Fr. Tom has become involved in Recovery work, finding a deep freedom and grace in 12-Step work. At the conclusion of his sabbatical, Fr. Tom looks forward to returning to Loyola High School as Campus Chaplain in August 2024.

https://bellarmine.lmu.edu/theologicalstudies/graduateprograms/

If practicing meditation and being clear about meaning build resilience, then investing a few hours in composing one’s personal mission statement can strengthen and support discerning wisely. For more information click here.

“The glory of God is a human fully alive.” – St. Iranaeus

As we seek to become more present in the moment, to increase our consciousness of God’s presence in our lives, it’s helpful to articulate our MVP, our meaning, value, and purpose. Research indicates that being clear about the heart’s intent benefits health at the cellular level (telomeres). If practicing meditation and being clear about meaning build resilience, then investing a few hours in composing one’s personal mission statement can strengthen and support discerning wisely.  In the words of the psalmist, “Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” 

After a PPT of Annunciation images, and poetic lines of inspiration for opening the heart in daily lives, I will invite participants to engage in three exercises: a timeline, a core value list, and a mission statement draft. Time will be allotted for smaller break-out groups for sharing and offering feedback. In this workshop, we seek to deepen our ability to see and be seen so that we can experience vivacity as we circulate our gifts in service and joy. 

About the Speaker

Leah Marie Buturain Schneider, “Dr. B.” delights in teaching core requirements for LMU’s Department of Theological Studies. Dr. B.’s areas of engagement are the study of late-medieval mysticism and early Netherlandish Visual and Material Culture. Professor Buturain serves on USC’s Mindfulness Science Research Steering Committee and is Spiritual Director at Our Mother of Good Counsel. Dr. B. consults with individuals and social service agencies seeking to enrich the aging process with neurological research and spiritual resources. https://www.leahbuturain.com/

MAILING ADDRESS

8601 Lincoln Blvd., Suite 180-306 • Los Angeles, CA 90045

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

Center for Catholic Education • University Hall, LMU

PHONE

805-443-0812 (C)