Journey to Bethlehem

In-Person

Step away from the rush of the holidays for just a weekend.

We invite you into the silence, beauty and mystery of Christmas, the Incarnation of Jesus, as a pilgrim on the journey to Bethlehem. Who will you meet? Who will touch your heart in a deeper way? Mary and Joseph travelling to the city of David? The shepherds, who will be the first to hear the Angels song of great joy while tending their flocks in the nearby hills? The Magi, the wise ones from the East following the star and seeking the soon-to-be born Messiah?

Our weekend will include presentations, an introduction to Ignatian Imaginative Contemplation, time for silence and personal prayer, small group sharing, and Liturgy for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Our guides will be Jayne Churchmack and Dorothy Noga McCarthy.

Jayne Churchmack is a certified Spiritual Director whose ministry focuses on supporting and providing ongoing formation for Spiritual Directors at the Jesuit Retreat Center. She also accompanies individuals through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius through the 19th Annotation, as well as through silent retreats and ongoing one-on-one spiritual direction. She is a graduate of the Ignatian Spirituality Institute at John Carroll University and is passionate about helping others recognize and respond to God’s loving presence in their lives. Jayne lives in Lakewood, Ohio with her husband of 44 years, Allan, and has 2 grown children and 5 grandchildren.

Dorothy Noga McCarthy is a certified and experienced Spiritual Director, whose ministry focuses on giving the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in a variety of forms. She accompanies others who seek a deeper relationship with God, often in times of transition. Focused on prayer in the Ignatian tradition, Dorothy’s ministry includes ongoing accompaniment of individuals, as well as directing silent retreats at the Jesuit Retreat Center. She frequently offers Ignatian reflections, and she is participating on teams offering preached retreats at the JRC. Dorothy is certified through the Ignatian Spirituality Institute at John Carroll University and takes part in ongoing formation and peer supervision. She is affiliated with both St. Thomas More Parish and St. Malachi Oratory, where she served for 30 years in music ministry. She and her husband, Kevin, live in the Old Brooklyn Neighborhood of Cleveland.

Registration