Brother Sun/Sister Moon: St. Francis and the Care of God’s Creation
Reflect, rest and spiritually rejuvenate by spending a weekend on the serene and beautiful grounds of USML and join in a Saturday afternoon session exploring the important work of Saint Francis.
Saint Francis wrote his famous Canticle of the Sun in 1224. There is no better place than the beautiful campus of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake for prayerfully reflecting on this beautiful canticle. As Pope Francis has said, “St. Francis is the patron saint of all who study and work in the area of ecology…. He was particularly concerned for God’s creation and for the poor and outcast….He shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.” St. Francis expressed his personal relationship with God’s Creation through his canticle. The Canticle of the Sun will be the basis for our reflections during this retreat as well as current spiritual reflections on nature and the environment that come from the Catholic Church.
The above Saturday afternoon session will be led by Dr. Catherine Sims, former associate director of the Institute for Pastoral Leadership of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake. Catherine is a Spiritual Director who has served in various areas of Catholic ministry within the Archdiocese of Chicago. She has facilitated numerous retreats, workshops, and formation days. This weekend retreat will also provide you with ample opportunity for self-reflection, prayer, respite and opportunity to explore the campus grounds.
Recommended reading:
- Care for Creation: a Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth by Llia Delio, OSF, Keith Warner, OFM, & Pamela Wood
- Francis of Assisi: A Sacramental View of Nature on “Friarmusings: the musings of a Franciscan friar” website. Francis of Assisi: A Sacramental View of Nature | friarmusings
- Francis of Assisi, nature’s mystic by Llia Delio, March 20, 2013, Washington Post article Francis of Assisi, nature’s mystic – The Washington Post
- You are also encouraged to bring along your bible as well.
Agenda for this self-guided USML retreat experience:
Friday, October 15
- 4:00 p.m. Arrival on Friday evening. Check in to the sleeping rooms in the
Conference Center Lodge.
- 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Dinner in the Dining Hall.
- Evening hours Personal prayer and reflections in the
Conference Center Chapel.
Saturday, October 16
- 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast in the Dining Hall.
- 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Morning Prayer in the Conference Center Chapel.
- 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Confession offered in the Conference Center Chapel.
- 10:30 – Noon Free time.
- Explore the grounds by walking around St. Mary’s Lake, which is 3.1 miles walking trail.
- Visit the Lourdes Grotto, the outdoor Stations of the Cross, the Divine Mercy Garden, St. Therese Garden, or one of the other many prayer gardens on campus.
- Settle in with a good book or journal in either the Feehan Library or the McEssy Theological Center.
- Noon – 1:00 p.m. Lunch in the Dining Hall.
- 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Francis Session: Brother Sun/Sister Moon: St. Francis and the Care
of God’s Creation with Dr. Catherine Sims. Meeting Hall, Building 400,
Room, 202.
- 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Dinner in the Dining Hall.
- Evening hours Enjoy the campus grounds. Personal prayer and reflections in the
Conference Center Chapel.
Sunday, October 17
- 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Mass in the Main Chapel
- 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Check out of sleeping rooms.
- 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Brunch in the Dining Hall
- 1:00 p.m. Retreat end.
Rates for the retreat are $211 (single occupancy) or $326 (double occupancy), you will experience:
- A private room with bathroom for two nights/three days.
- Dinner on Friday, three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday.
- 24-hour access to the Conference Center’s private chapel as well as access to the campus grounds.
For more information or any questions, please call 847-970-4908.
