UPCOMING RETREATS & EVENTS: Save the Dates!
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DEVOTION-BY-DISTANCE BOOK CLUB,
After two successful Zoom-based book club series held thus far in 2021, our next book will be "Sensible Shoes" by Sharon Garlough Brown. This book tells the moving story of four women who reluctantly meet at a retreat center and share their insights and stories for mutual support, spiritual revelation, and a journey of spiritual practice. (One of four books in a series by Brown, we expect to offer the other books in the series in the future.)
Scheduled to meet on six Tuesdays from 1:30-2:30 PM, this summer series will run from June 22nd through August 10th, skipping the following two Tuesdays (June 29 & July 8), the weeks just before and just after the 4th of July Independence Day holiday. All book clubs feature members sharing insights of the written word with fellow book lovers. Participants receive a discounted copy of each book to be discussed unless they opt to purchase the book on their own. Our book clubs are being coordinated by our Hospitality Assistant Jan Czech, herself a published author. Cost: $15 per person plus cost of the book. Call us at 716-754-7376, Ext. 1, 2, 3, or 4 to pre-register.
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MISSING OUT ON SINGING IN CHURCH DUE TO COVID? JOIN OUR "DEVOTION-BY-DISTANCE SING-ALONG"! We're currently organizing a series of short online retreat sessions featuring familiar hymns to begin soon, enabling you to join us via Zoom and/or through links on our website. Enjoy a break from your daily routine by joining in with simple tunes by a designated cantor, some accompanied by guitar or piano. Call the Center of Renewal at 716-754-7376, Ext. 1 or 2 for more information and to sign up.
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NOW OFFERING! VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB & RETREATS (via Zoom & Podcasts) are now being formed. Enjoy learning more about a myriad of spiritually-based topics, including exploring Bible basics for Catholics, creating a stress-less home through de-cluttered strategies, or just appreciating the joy in life through books. Sessions will be moderated to balance the discussion and engage all participants. To join and/or for more information, simply send an email to [email protected] or call us at (716) 754-7376, Ext. 1. We look forward to sharing insights together!
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CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER GROUP meets the 1st Tuesday evening of each month. Advance reservations are not needed for this ongoing event, but COVID protocols will be maintained by all participants. Questions? Please call Center of Renewal at 716-754-7376, Ext. 1 or 2.
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TEMPORARILY POSTPONED: NIAGARA FRONTIER FAITH HERITAGE TRAIL EXCURSIONS & ADVENTURES - Contact us for information on scheduling these special one-day motor coach excursions to many meaningful and enjoyable sites throughout Western New York and surrounding areas. We can create an itinerary just for your group or you can join in on a pre-scheduled event. Call us at 716-754-7376, Ext. 1 for more details.
- RETREAT TEMPORARILY POSTPONED: SPECIAL BUS EXCURSION TO SENECA FALLS DURING OVERNIGHT SOCIAL JUSTICE RETREAT IN COMMEMORATION OF 100TH ANNIVERSARY of 19th AMENDMENT: WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE. Originally planned for August 2020, program has been postponed until later due to COVID-19. Call 716-754-7376, Ext. 1 or 2 to be placed on our mailing list.
- More retreats are regularly being scheduled. Watch for details.
Ongoing Program Schedule
In addition to providing hospitality to both groups and individuals seeking quality meeting and overnight accommodation facilities in an environment of peace and tranquility, Stella Niagara's Center of Renewal designs and offers its own sponsored retreats and programs with featured retreat presenters for spiritual growth and lifelong learning.
Examples of the ongoing schedule of sponsored retreats and programs include partial or full single retreat days on a special topics. Retreats in recent years have been scheduled to commemorate special church days such as Ash Wednesday and the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, Papal Encyclical topics and themes, wellness and spirituality, peace and justice, and Biblical topics.
Weekly or monthly retreat programs have included a women’s spiritual reading group, a six-week study group on “Laudato Si: On Care of Our Common Home” Encyclical by Pope Francis, and the Guided & Meditation Prayer Group currently meeting on the first Tuesday evening of each month. Overnight retreats have typically been scheduled from one to six nights in length, affording the retreatants to focus more intently on a specific themes during the entire retreat. Retreat presenters are garnered from among visiting scholars, theologians, priests, sisters, and brothers, all knowledgeable specialists in their respective fields and ministries. Current retreat themes have included embracing change, benefits of the 12-step program for everyone, thoughts and behaviors, fruits of the Spirit and Pauline mysticism, and understanding self and others through Biblical comparisons. Annual Directed Retreat weeks are also scheduled each August, along with individualized Directed Retreats on request throughout the year.
One key example of specialized group programs throughout the year which consider Center of Renewal their “retreat center of choice” include the Women’s Respite Program under the direction of its founder Sr. Diane Gianadda, OSF. For many years, this meaningful program has benefitted single moms and grandmothers of low income, mothers of autistic children, and women with cancer, with each event serving 20 to 30 women. Center of Renewal is proud to serve as the retreat ministry location for these meaningful outreach programs.
