2008 theme

2008 Theme: Francis of Assisi: Finding Peace in an Uncertain World

At times our world and lives can seem restless. Worries and anxieties, doubts and struggles, successes and setbacks, highs and lows often leave us unsettled. We long for a peace and security that ultimately can only be found in Jesus Christ. Saint Francis understood this perhaps more than anyone and found a way to achieve such peace through the Gospel. There are four conferences that elaborate on our theme. These conferences will tap into the insights and inspiration from the life of Francis. (See Retreat Schedules for a typical weekend and midweek retreat schedule).

Conference I: “The Life of St. Francis: A Quest for God”
Our first conference examines the life of Francis and his ongoing quest for God. We will look at the events that took Francis ever deeper into the mystery of God throughout his life. Although he lived in a time and place very distant from our own, Francis' life has continued to inform people of faith throughout the centuries. Francis spent his life listening to the Word of God and trying to live as faithfully to that Word as he possibly could. Francis spent his life growing in his understanding of what it meant to live simply and freely, released from attachments to worldly goods and the importance of self. Francis preached through the example of his life and his actions as well as with his words, and many people have been moved to change their lives as a result. Francis was able to reach beyond the divisions of culture, race, gender and religion with the integrity, hope and courage that grew out of his faith in Jesus Christ.

Conference II: “Obstacles and Grace”
Our second conference considers the obstacles that all of us face in our life of faith. We will reflect upon how to face the obstacles in our lives so that we may bring them to the healing power and balm of God’s grace. We will look to Francis as a model for finding ways to place obstacles in the warm embrace of God's grace. Francis faced physical, psychological and spiritual obstacles in his life, yet he found a way to walk so closely with God that his obstacles were ultimately healed and transformed by the grace of God. Francis spent his life learning to live as closely as he could to the Gospel life and finding ways to let go of that which he could not control by putting his faith and trust in God.

Conference III: “Suffering and Healing”
Our third conference will reflect upon the suffering that is a part of the human condition. We all experience suffering at some time or another in our lives, and Francis was no exception to this. Francis spent his life growing in his understanding of how to face his suffering and place it in God’s hands. Rather than run away from, deny, or ignore his suffering, Francis placed it at the foot of the cross for God’s compassionate love to heal and transform. Francis also ministered to the lepers of his day – those who were outcast, lonely and forsaken – with the compassionate heart of one who knew what it was to suffer.

Conference IV: “I Have Done What was Mine to Do; May Christ Teach You Yours”
Our final conference will reflect upon how to follow, not in the footsteps of Saint Francis, but in the footsteps of Christ in the spirit of Francis. We will consider what this means for each one of us in our own lives. As Francis’ relationship with Christ deepened and matured, his understanding of how to follow in the footsteps of Christ matured as well. Francis learned to listen to God with a compassionate heart and a servant's soul as he experienced God's love and mercy at a deeper and deeper level of his life. Francis surrendered all that he had to the loving hands of God. We, too, are challenged to find our own path as we learn to listen more deeply to the call of God in our lives.

Quite obviously, Franciscan Retreats in its very nature is rooted in Saint Francis and the many Franciscans who have cared for this ministry and such a sacred place. 2009 will mark the 800 anniversary of the founding of the Order and the entire Franciscan movement. Our 2008 retreat theme, Francis of Assisi: Finding Peace in a Restless World, will better prepare us for that eighth centenary celebration in 2009.

We look forward to sharing this retreat journey with you.

Pace bene