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Lenten Mini-Retreat

- "Behold the Wood of the Cross"
  
  Presented by Dr. John Waldmeir
  Sunday, April 2. 1:00-4:00pm.
  Live Online Discussion
  
  About the Retreat
  
     Behold the wood of the cross, upon which hung the salvation of the world. This antiphon, which is sung or chanted at the Good Friday Adoration of the Cross, challenges us to hold together images that otherwise are very different from one another. How can something as momentous as "the salvation of the world" hang anywhere? How is it that it hangs on wood as ordinary as the wood we see before us? The images in the antiphon force us to stop and wonder about how such extraordinary events can be happening in the midst of these ordinary things.
  
     One way to think about this challenging combination is to realize that we live with not one but four accounts of the Passion. And the fact that there are four accounts shapes the way we hear a story that is about both simple wood and world salvation.
     In this mini retreat, we will examine all four Gospel accounts of the Passion--from Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. We will call attention to those places where the stories seem to be very similar but also to those moments where new and different details emerge. Our purpose will not be to collapse all four stories into one; rather, we will try to understand the unique message of each Evangelist so that we can appreciate how surprising and new the message of God's Kingdom can be for the world today.
  
     If possible, participants should read in advance Mark, chapters 14 and 15; Matthew, chapters 26 and 27, Luke chapters 22 and 23; John, chapters 13 -19.
  
  About the Presenter
  
  Dr. John Waldmeir is retired Professor of Religious Studies and Theology at Loras College. Dr. Waldmier received his Ph.D. in Religion and Literature from the University of Chicago, where he studied how sacred writings compare with secular literature such as novels, poetry, and drama. He has taught at Catholic colleges in Detroit and Bismarck, North Dakota and served as Youth Minister and Director of High School Religious Education in a parish in East Lansing, Michigan. Dr. Waldmeir taught at Loras for twenty-two years He taught courses in Catholic identity, sacred scriptures, world religions, and religious traditions within the United States and edited the publication series “Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley” for the Archbishop Kucera Center for Catholic Intellectual and Spiritual Life.
  
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  About Our Mini-Retreat Series
  
  Spiritual Retreats offer participants an opportunity to interrupt the normal busyness of every-day life in order to spend some time in study, quiet reflection and prayer. Retreats provide an opportunity for spiritual renewal, a prayerful encounter with God, oneself, and others, and an opportunity to re-focus on one's core values.
  
  Our “mini-retreats” are designed for adults and young adults who are not able to participate in longer retreats but wish to spend some time nurturing their spiritual life and deepening their faith. Each mini-retreat lasts about three hours. The format may vary from retreat to retreat but will generally include a presen-tation, time for quiet reflection, discussion and prayer.
  Our Mini-Retreat Series is made possible in part by a grant from the Archbishop Kucera Center for Catholic Intellectual and Spiritual Life at Loras College
  
  Registration
  • By phone: call 319-233-0498.
  • By email: dbqwcaf@dbqarch.org
  • Online: Click here to register online
  
  [Last Update: 02.04.23]

Lenten Mini-Retreat

"Behold the Wood of the Cross"

About the Retreat

About the Presenter

About Our Mini-Retreat Series