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Jesus and Women: Sharing the Road to Discipleship

A Silent, Overnight Retreat for Women

April 13 - 14, 2018

Groups Attending: Individuals

This retreat is currently at capacity or registration is closed. Please call the office at 847.381.1261 with questions.

Summary

"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus"  (John  5:11).  The earliest Gospel traditions testify that despite the  rigorous rules separating the worlds of men and women in the first century Greek East, Jesus had women friends and disciples, and that He readily reached out to help women petitioners.   The evidence of His  parables which use examples from women's life prove that they were there along with the men  to hear Him as He taught the road to discipleship.

No  editing trying to protect Jesus from accusations of impropriety,  can hide what the earliest traditions show us about Jesus: that He understood the inequities for women in that sexist world, that their lives were judged by different standards, that He was  concerned with women as He was with men,  a person attentive, natural, warm, emotional, reachable, and genuine.  He was the master,  the wisdom teacher, the man of prayer and miracles, the Messiah , the Son of God ready to give Himself for us.  He shows us the road to love.  

In this overnight retreat, the Resurrected Jesus joins us as  we enter into the revelatory parables, and the stories  of His encounters with women,  petitioners, disciples and friends. As we do so, we hear His message to us today as His women disciples and friends in our world, right now. Opportunities for individual consultation with Ignatian spiritual directors will be available during the retreat.

Description

This retreat includes several presentations, daily Mass, 6 meals, the opportunity for one-on-one spiritual direction with a trained spiritual director, and many other opportunities to explore our 80 acres and almost 60k square feet of  interior space.  All activities are optional, but we do ask everyone to respect the quiet of the retreat house for everyone to have the opportunity to read, sleep and reflect in the quiet. 

Bellarmine has two libraries, a resource center, two chapels, and many other common areas.  Outdoor spaces include a various walking trails, various prayer gardens, a gazebo, stations of the cross, as well as a few patios and outdoor chairs and benches.   Each retreatant has their own bedroom. 

Retreat Experience Gallery

Retreat Leader

Sr. Wendy Cotter, CSJ, PhD

Sr.  Wendy Cotter, CSJ, PhD  is a Sister of St. Joseph from London, Ontario, Canada and has been a full-time professor of New Testament in the Theology Department of Loyola University, and is now Emerita since her retirement last summer. After her undergraduate degree in Religious Studies, she was invited to serve on her Community’s Peruvian mission for two terms (four years). Upon her return, she began her graduate studies and received her PhD in New Testament from the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto, with a specialty in Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), particularly the Gospel of Mark and pre-gospel material with a focus on miracle stories. Besides her articles and papers, she has published two books, The Miracles in  Greco Roman Antiquity (1999), and The Christ of the Miracle Stories: Portrait Through Encounter (2010). Throughout these years, Sister has been invited to offer Scripture workshops and parish missions as well as weekend and longer retreats. She considers these the greatest source of joy and grace.