What is Thomas Berry Place All About?

Ecological spirituality begins in the acknowledgment, grateful and joyful, that all creatures owe their existence to God. Humans are not somehow separate from the rest of creation. We share it intimately with other creatures. We acknowledge God as Creator

of us all. ~ Fr. Joseph A. Tetlow, SJ

We are often asked what is Thomas Berry Place all about and what is this "Eco-Spirituality"? Simply put, Eco-Spirituality is the spiritual connection between human beings and the environment. It is the ability to find God, our Creator in all things. 

For more information:

https://catholicclimatecovenant.org/program/feast-st-francis 

Spiritual direction is “help given by one Christian to another, enables that person to pay attention to God’s personal communication to him or her, to respond to this personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences of the relationship.”

(William A. Barry and William J. Connolly, The Practice of Spiritual Direction)

Spiritual direction focuses on religious experience. It is concerned with a person’s actual experience of a relationship with God. Spiritual direction is about a relationship. The religious experience is not isolated, nor does it consist of extraordinary events. It is what happens in an ongoing relationship between the person and God. Most often this is a relationship that is experienced in prayer.

The real spiritual director is God. God touches the human heart directly. The human spiritual director does not “direct” in the sense of giving advice and solving problems. Rather, the director helps a person respond to God’s invitation to a deeper relationship. For more information contact Sr. Mary at 929-357-6700 x 203 or srmary@thomasberryplace.org.

Come join us as we dive into the encounter that Jesus had with the Samaritan Woman in John 4:4-42 who was drawing water from the well of Jacob. Why did Jesus go out of His way to speak to this woman? How does her story relate to us today?

Our guest retreat team is the Women of the Waters, an intergenerational retreat team from the Hudson Valley, New York area. Their retreats use different forms of prayer, dramatization, teachings, witnesses, music and sharing. Bring a journal and a friend.

The cost for this retreat is $50 per person. Presentation, lunch, and materials are provided. Reservation before September 23rd.

Join us the first Tuesday of each month for a day of prayer. These days offer us an opportunity to pause, reflect on different topics and themes and for fellowship with others. The day begins with coffee and tea, there is a morning conference, Mass, lunch and an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The cost is $50 per person. Registration is due by the last week of the month. Presented by the Thomas Berry Retreat Team.

Listen to the Voice of Creation:

"The universe unfolds in God, who fills it completely. Hence, there is a mystical meaning to be found in a leaf, in a mountain trail, in a dewdrop, in a poor person’s face. The ideal is not only to pass from the exterior to the interior to discover the action of God in the soul, but also to discover God in all things." - Laudato Si 233

Action idea: Spend a few minutes in the nature around you today. Enter into prayer in whatever way is natural to you. Invite the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart.

Reflect on God’s presence and the goodness of that which you behold. Simply be present in prayerful wonder and listen to the voice of creation. What does it say to you?

Follow our social media accounts through the links below for a weekly meditation throughout the Season of Creation.

TBP Conference Center & Retreat Amenities

We welcome churches, professional groups, schools, civic organizations and businesses to utilize our space for half-, full- and multi-day meetings and events. Located in the heart of Jamaica, we offer a quiet oasis amidst the busy world around us!

For information on scheduling your event with us, please call Kelli at 929-357-6700 x205 or send an email to Kelli@ThomasBerryPlace.org.

Our prayer is that Thomas Berry Place will be, first and foremost, A Place that people might call home; a place of reflection and prayer, a place of forgiveness, healing and restorative justice. It will be, as Thomas Berry might have put it, a place to come away for a while to brood and to chat. Here, we will encounter the Peace of Christ, a peace that will bring comfort. But that may also disturb us, moving us out of our comfort zone and compelling us into action. With mission-aligned partners, TBP will be a place where we can encounter the other in a deep way and consider the really important questions and challenges of our day.