ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR: SPIRITUAL DEEPENING PROGRAM

INTENT OF PROGRAM

To be present to God and the world in love and trust, surrendered to ever-deepening spiritual awareness and joining God’s presence/action in the world according to our gifts and calling.

WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS PROGRAM?

This program is for anyone who feels drawn to contemplative spirituality and who:

+ Desires a deepened relationship with God and to live out of that relationship;
+ Wishes to develop or deepen a consistent spiritual practice;
+ Wants the regular guidance of a spiritual companion for daily contemplative living;
+ Seeks authentic spiritual community and support;
+ Is eager to learn within a broad ecumenical Christian framework, enhanced by the wisdom of other traditions;
+Longs to be a transforming presence in the world.


PROGRAM COMPONENTS

The Personal Spiritual Deepening Program (PSDP): Living in God is comprised of experiential learning, contemplative prayer practices, assigned readings, spiritual community, and opening and closing retreats.

Seminar Topics and Readings will be focused on the following themes:


LISTENING AND TRANSFORMATION

“How do we cultivate that attention, that listening to the Beloved, the God who seeks us? …Transformation happens when we experience God in our hearts; God invites and we respond.” (Patience Robbins, Shalem PSDP Leadership Conference 2010)


SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY

“Spiritual community [is described] as the person or group of people with whom my desire for God comes alive and through whom I am supported in honoring that desire.” (Rose Mary Dougherty, Spiritual Community as Intercessory Prayer)


DISCERNMENT

“Desiring spiritual discernment in all things… we seek to be intentionally open to God in each moment as the Spirit guides and co-creates through us.” (Shalem Institute Core Values)


EARTH AWARENESS

“The Earth is suffering and exhausted. We need to deepen our Earth awareness, the awareness that we are utterly connected to all of life, in order to create a new consciousness and to heal our relationship with all living beings. We are given the vision and power to co-participate with God in healing the brokenness of our world.” (Ann Dean, Shalem PSDP Leadership Conference 2010)


SACRED ACTIVISM

“…a contemplative orientation not only draws us to our deepest, truest self in God but also shapes both an individual’s and a community’s way of being in, listening to, and caring for the world.” (Shalem Institute Core Values)


We expect participants, through prayer and dialogue with their spiritual directors and the program leaders, to integrate the program components in a way that will best serve their spiritual deepening. In addition, participants are expected to:

+ Commit to a regular spiritual practice that will honor and nourish their relationship with God.
+ Attend the Opening Retreat, Closing Retreat, and all Saturday Seminars.
+ Meet monthly with their small group.
+ Meet regularly with a Spiritual Director.
+ Pray for the group as a spiritual community.


DATES AND LOCATION

Opening All-Day Retreat: April 16, 2011 / Bon Secours Spiritual Center, Marriottsville, MD 21104.

Saturday Morning Sessions: May 7, June 4, July 9, August 6, September 10, October 15 / 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, at Bon Secours Spiritual Center and includes lunch.

Monthly Listening Circles: May through October / at the home of a participant in your geographical area.

Closing Overnight Retreat: November 5-6, 2011 / Bon Secours Spiritual Center, Marriottsville, MD 21104.


PROGRAM LEADERS

Nicholas Amato: has served over 20 years as a pastor in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is a graduate of the Shalem Institute of Spirituality in Washington, DC. His full-time ministry includes offering contemplative retreats, parish missions, and days of recollection. He has Master’s degrees in Counseling and Theology, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration and is an associate faculty member of the Shalem Institute.

Stephanie Burgevin: has been a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) for the past 15 years. She is an associate faculty member of the Shalem Institute of Spirituality and a graduate of their Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats program. She is a certified parent educator, has been clerk of Ministry and Counsel at Alexandria Monthly Meeting, and has led numerous groups, both spiritual and secular in nature.


REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Tuition: $650
Deposit: $100 with Application
Registration Deadline: APRIL 15, 2011

To Register or for questions call or write:
Email FatherNicholasAmato@gmail.com
Or call: (443) 850-0794


WHAT DOES SHALEM MEAN?

Pronounced Sha-LAME, Shalem is a Hebrew word related to Shalom, the familiar greeting of peace. Shalem speaks of wholeness: to be complete.

About Shalem
The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation provides in-depth support for contemplative living and leadership—a way of being in the world that is prayerfully attentive and responsive to God's presence and guidance.
For more than 30 years, we have offered a wide variety of programs and resources for individuals who want to open themselves more fully to God in their daily lives and work.
Shalem programs are uniquely experiential in approach and are grounded in our understanding of classic contemplative wisdom. All offer a rich variety of practices, teachings and leadership styles. Program leaders and program design seek to create a sense of sacred space that fosters authentic spiritual community and spiritual growth.
At Shalem, we honor each individual spiritual path and welcome anyone who would seek to learn from the contemplative way.

Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation
www.shalem.org

PERSONAL SPIRITUAL
DEEPENING PROGRAM:
Living in God
Bon Secours Spiritual Center, Maryland