“There is power in listening because you honor the needs of others by truly hearing what they need. We listen to learn, to erase assumptions, to nurture the other, to uphold human dignity, to bring peace, to connect and to grow. We shall build relationships globally to empower all communities of the world to live justly, act tenderly and walk humbly in our shared mission.” P.J. Thompson, Blog from Lasallian Global Women’s Symposium.
Women’s Retreat
March 8 – March 10, 2019
Christian Brother’s Center, Narragansett, RI
Registration: March 8 at 3:00pm
Program begins: 7:00pm
Conclude: Noon Sunday March 10
Registration closed. Contact Maryann Donohue Lynch with questions.
Fee of $175 includes lodging, meals, all program materials. Commuter rate is available for $80 that includes meals and program material. Early registration is encouraged as this retreat fills quickly.
Together & By Association: Joyfully Walking the Path
For International Women’s Day weekend, join us for this retreat to take the opportunity to joyfully reflect and renew in the company of a community of Lasallian women who are united with one heart, one commitment, one life. In honor of the 300th anniversary of Saint John Baptist De La Salle’s death, this year has been declared a Jubilee Year, which are traditionally occasions for pilgrimages to visit spaces and places imbued with spiritual significance. This weekend retreat will offer an opportunity for Lasallian women to respond to this call to pilgrimage and to journey, together and by association.
About the Labyrinth
Long used for meditation and prayer, the labyrinth is an ancient symbol that provides an opportunity to “pilgrimage in place.” Viewed as a metaphor for life’s journey, the labyrinth represents the movement toward one’s authentic self and back out into the world and offers insights as we walk the path. Found in varied traditions throughout history, the Labyrinth has been revived as a healing and restorative tool that crosses cultural and religious boundaries. As a circular symbol, the labyrinth is an archetypal image that represents wholeness, healing, inclusiveness, and community. Walking the labyrinth allows us to gain clarity and insight about our personal, spiritual, and professional lives.
2019: A Year for Great Celebrations
This year is a year of many celebrations in our Lasallian family. There is the tercentenary of the Founder, the Year of Lasallian Vocations, the Jubilee Year for Saint John Baptist de La Salle as proclaimed by Pope Francis, the 10th anniversary celebration of DENA to be held on November 8, 2019, and the 7th annual DENA Women’s Retreat. This year’s retreat will reflect upon and celebrate our mutual accompaniment, as women in the Lasallian family, on our personal and vocational journey. Over these past seven years the women on retreat have experienced the support, encouragement, accompaniment and companionship of one another. During this year of #300LaSalle, we will pause and reflect upon our personal journey and our journey as part of the Lasallian family.
Our retreat begins on International Women’s Day, Friday March 8, 2019. We will be celebrating the launch of Lasallian Women of Hope, the seeds of which were planted at the 2018 DENA Women’s Retreat and is now a program of De La Salle Solidarity ONLUS.
Lasallian Women of Hope supports grassroots projects that remove obstacles and barriers for girls and young women to access a Lasallian education, and actively works to promote the education of girls and young women in our Lasallian family.
“The work of the eyes is done. Now go do the work of the heart.” — Maria Rilke Rainer
Facilitators
Janine Mariscotti, MSW, LCSW is a Veriditas-trained labyrinth facilitator with more than 25 years experience working with individuals, families and groups. She is an assistant professor and chair of the department of social work at La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA. She is a psychotherapist specializing in chronic illness, particularly cancer, issues of spirituality, and loss and grief.
Lynne Texter, Ph.D. has held a number of administrative roles and is an associate professor in the department of communication at La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA. An award-winning educator with over 25 years of university teaching experience, Lynne regularly consults with non-profit and other organizations about effective workplace communication. She also presents and writes about professional and personal renewal, the role of ritual in times of illness and loss, and the labyrinth as a walking meditation.
Janine and Lynne have participated in various pilgrimages, including to Chartres and Santiago de Compostela.
For questions or concerns, please contact Maryann Donohue-Lynch
Past DENA Women’s Retreats
- March 2013: Together In Our Lasallian Association
- July 2013: RELAN Women’s Symposium, Russian River, CA
- March 2014: Companions of the Lasallian Journey
- April 2015: Living In the Merciful Presence of God (Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy)
- April 2016: Martha and Mary: The Eternal Dance
- March 2017: Roll Away the Stone!
- July 2017: Lasallian Global Women’s Symposium, Auckland, New Zealand
- April 2018: Listening with Our Hearts to Transform the World
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