Food for the Journey

In-Person

Study / Prayer Sessions based on The Awakened Heart: Opening Yourself to the Love You Need by Gerald G. May, M.D. (ISBN: 978-0-06-065473-3)

For Spiritual Directors, retreat leaders, pastoral ministers and those who have made the full Spiritual Exercises.

Come, join the gathered community as we engage conversation with Gerald G. May, M.D. (1940 – 2005) in his book, The Awakened Heart: Opening Yourself to the Love You Need.

Dr. May explains, “There is much of my own experience in this text. My heart is in it as well, so at times I speak as if my way were the right way. If you find yourself disagreeing or unable to identify with something I say here, do not miss a heartbeat because of self-doubt. Seek your own experience; try to trust in your authenticity and in what love seems to be calling forth from your heart. Woven into the text are many questions to help you clarify your experience; please spend a little time with them.”

Through the insights of Dr. May, our conversations will draw on the wisdom of biblical prophets as well as philosophers and figures such as Ignatius of Loyola, Francis de Sales, Teresa of Avila, William Blake, Martin Buber, and Thomas Kelly. With May’s encouragement, we will give considerable attention to the practices, disciplines and pitfalls inherent in developing a heart for loving.

These four study/prayer sessions are designed to enrich our personal spiritual deepening for ministry. Our gatherings will include prayer (silent and communal), input, and faith-sharing, based on our prayerful reading of the text.

To facilitate the process, chapter assignments will be communicated and should be read in advance. The only pre-requisite for participating in these sessions is a desire to embrace God in the whole of your life and ministry.

* September and October Sessions will take place in the Main Chapel at Jesuit Retreat Center *
* November and December Sessions will take place via Zoom *

Program cost for the series is $120 due by August 19th.

Scholarship funding is available.

For information on the program and to register, contact Martha Campbell at campbellmarthal@gmail.com