On Retreat: Sisters Reflecting in Sacred Space
by Melissa Borgmann-Kiemde, Visitation Companion, and Sr. Mary Frances Reis, VHM
What is it to go “on retreat”? To step back from the world, from daily life and expectations and busy tasks and tend to our spirits? To reflect and renew – in order to more fully re-engage with the world and people around us? Who makes time to do such “work”? Can you fathom what this kind of reflective time includes, say when you are really “smacking”? When your soul aches, or you feel a distance from God/ Love/ support? Can you imagine this experience in the wake of losing a dear member of your family? A child or sibling or parent? Can you enter into the space of retreat and healing if that person’s life was taken through violence?
“How do we integrate core values and core hurts into our lives in order to become whole?”- Regina Irwin, “From Death to Life” Mother on Retreat
Two weeks ago, a group of eight women from the Death to Life Healing Group started by Mary Johnson engaged in such a retreat endeavor. They were joined by two of our beloved Visitation Sisters, Mary Margaret and Mary Frances, along with other supporting FDTL board members, including Visitation Companion, Brian Mogren.
Sr. Mary Frances writes of the weekend: “We had the most AWESOME retreat experience with the eight women who are in the group.” Housed in the sanctuary space of the Mogren Family cabin about three hours north of the Twin Cities, the women spent time reading, talking, sharing, engaging in ritual; all in all the group members were tending to their bodies, minds, and spirits. Sr. Mary Frances continues, “I was invited to give massage — which I did: six in two days!” Trained as a massage therapist for just such ministries, Sr. Mary Frances was able to extend this gift of healing touch.
Spiritual Friends: Sr. Mary Margaret and Mary Johnson
The retreat was shaped by the participants themselves, as Sister tells us, “Regina Irwin, one of the mothers, gave her input. Her topic was ‘core values and core hurts’ and how we integrate them into our lives in order to become whole.” It was collaborative and restorative, a mutually honoring and engaging time for all the members comfortably secluded in this place of healing and wholeness.
Sr. Mary Frances concludes, “The women shared profoundly of their tragic losses, processing the loss of their sons to homicide. In all, Mary Johnson [as leader of the group] integrated fun, bonding and prayer; I was so graced to be a part of it!”
Let’s keep these women in our prayers as they heal. Let’s recognize how we are all wrapped up in the journey of reconciliation, tending to wounds, and moving closer to the Divine in our midst.
Amen.
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4 Comments
sr. suzanne homeyer · April 27, 2011 at 5:48 pm
good post, i loved it! suzanne
Melissa Kiemde · April 27, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Thanks, Sr. Suzanne! These women, all humans who do this “work” of the soul, of prayer, of healing, rock my world.
LOVE!
SKatherine · April 29, 2011 at 10:58 am
Thank you, Sr, Mary Frances, for writing this post, for giving massage to these most amazing women and for taking the pictures that made the experience even more a live for us. SKatherine
Easter Images: "From Death to Life" Retreat with the Sisters | Visitation Monastery of Minneapolis · April 28, 2011 at 6:13 am
[…] following pictures were taken by Sr. Mary Frances Reis while on retreat with mothers and board members from the “From Death to Life” healing group. On the […]