Advent: A Time to Retreat

The holidays are quickly approaching, but between shopping, baking and wrapping presents there is not much room for quiet time. Holy Cross is trying to change that by offering a way to reflect and prepare for Christmas this year — and it’s just a mouse click away at the Advent Journey.

Beginning on Sunday, Dec. 2, and wrapping up on Saturday, Dec. 29 the “Making the Parts Whole” Web site will host an online Advent retreat titled “Already, But Not Yet.” The guided retreat will give participants the opportunity to reflect upon the meaning of Advent through daily reflections offered by members of the Holy Cross community.

“Finding God in all things is a key element of Ignatian spirituality,” explains Marybeth Kearns-Barrett, associate chaplain. “We hope the extended Holy Cross community can journey through Advent together.  Perhaps in accompanying one another we can find a way to be attentive to our God, who despite all the distractions, persists in being born in our midst. Through the support and encouragement found in sharing our faith journeys with one another we hope that each of us might find a way to make a little more room in our lives—and in our world—to be alert to God’s presence and all that God calls us to.”

The focus of the retreat will be a progression of questions drawn from the Sunday gospel readings with responses by members of the extended Holy Cross community:

Advent Week 1: Quote for the week: “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” Question for the week: When has God greeted you at an unexpected hour?

Advent Week 2: Quote for the week: “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” Question for the week: How are you preparing for the Lord?

Advent Week 3: Quote for the week: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” Question for the week: What do you hear and see?

Advent Week 4 Quote for the week: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us.’” Question for the week: In your experience, how is God with us today?

Respondents will include Rev. John Brooks, S.J., president emeritus and professor of theology; Rev. Michael McFarland, S.J., president of the College; Rev. Catherine Reed, assistant chaplain; Helen Whall, associate professor of English; Maria Rodrigues, associate professor of political science; as well as several Holy Cross alumni. Retreat participants will have the chance to write their own response to the questions through an online message board.

Last year, the Chaplain’s Office hosted a very successful online Lenten retreat: “Invitation to Care for the Earth.” The guided retreat gave participants the opportunity to reflect upon the call to conversion in light of climate change and the need for sustainability during the 40 days of Lent.  Over 400 people participated in this retreat.

“Making the Parts Whole” has as its mission enriching the lives of members in the Holy Cross community, near and far. Katherine McElaney ’76, director of the Office of the College Chaplains, introduced the Web site in the fall of 2005 after hearing from alumni that part of what they missed most about Holy Cross was the spiritual life. It is funded by the Lilly Endowment, a private family foundation that follows its founder’s wishes by supporting religious, community development and educational causes.