8.3 De smet - musso  (Page 2/2)

In the early 1970s, Trappist monk and priest Thomas Keating and two other Trappists, Fr. William Meninger and the late Fr. Basil Pennington, worked to bring people living outside monasteries a form of silent prayer now known as Centering Prayer. With roots in the fourteenth century book, The Cloud of Unknowing , this kind of prayer allows people to sit silently and become receptive to God’s gift of contemplation.

In 1984, interested in making Centering Prayer available to more people, Fr. Thomas founded Contemplative Outreach. Today, the Contemplative Outreach network has hundreds of chapters and reaches people worldwide through numerous books and videos of Fr. Thomas’ teaching on Centering Prayer and its conceptual background. (Library)

Creativity&Stress by Laurie Kohler and Ray Sherrock

And yet, O Lord, you are our Father.

We are the clay, and you are the potter.

We all are formed by your hand. ( Isaiah 64:8)

Creativity is the sum of a process, from seeing/hearing to imagining to making. The artist must always be open to new ways of seeing or experiencing the world around. Creativity begins with putting yourself in the place of most potential and being in the right frame of mind. This session will explore the importance of creativity in our everyday life and quickly move into making. You will be able to choose between the fine art of music or sculpting.

In sculpting you will work the clay into a small 3- Dimensional abstract figure from a collection of example photographs that I will provide. The clay sculptures will be fired and returned to you at a later date. All people are creative. Creative thinkers have a passion and optimistic view of life. but not all people possess the energy, ingenuity, and courage of conviction that are required to make art and yet creativity. We will provide helpful ways to develop your creative side and a list of opportunities available to continue practicing creativity. *Casual dress is recommended. In sculpting be prepared to get your hands dirty! (Art Rooms)

Survivors of Suicide by Contemplative Outreach of St. Louis’ Jackie Kaiser

Jackie Kaiser and her husband Ed were raising their three teen aged daughters when her brother Chris, aged 32, committed suicide.  Jackie saw how this tragedy affected her large family.  When she was asked to facilitate a support group for Survivors of Suicide, she agreed.  St. Louis' Life Crisis provided the support and facility for this group.  During the twenty years that Jackie facilitated SOS, she saw the grief, anger, guilt and disbelief of the people left behind.  She saw the people' s need to tell their story and try to make some sense of it.  (Counseling Conference Center)

Fitness/ Weight/Strength Training by Denny Cerneka and Greg Vitello

This session will introduce to newcomers the idea and purpose of warming-up before exercise, why as you get older is it more important to get regular exercise, how metabolism affects weight gain and exercise patterns and considerations for routine or workout construction.

Following all this talk we will actually do a few exercises in the weight room, and you’ll be introduced to a few medicine balls drills. Please come dressed to work out and be prepared to actually sit on the floor in the weight room and wrestling room as disgusting as that might sound. (Weight Room)

Psychological Well-Being by Fr. Bob Costello, S.J., and Dave Boland

The session will introduce participants to some tools they can use to diffuse stress and anxiety that happens in their lives every day, as well as change the way we think about the uncontrollable events that happen outside ourselves. We will examine a case study, take a look at personnel stressors or anxiety in our lives, learn about a tool to use, and practice the tool during the session. Participants will walk away having coping mechanisms to begin to think differently about events and stress. (Publications Lab)

Diggin’ in the Dirt – Gardening by Chris Williams and Mike Dressler

It doesn't take a country estate or a greenhouse to grow your own food.  Whether it is herbs in a container on the patio, spinach in a raised square foot bed, or zucchini in a double dug yard garden everyone can enjoy gardening at their own scale.  Mike and Chris will share with you various gardening methods they have used and which crops have worked best for them around here.  You get to work outside and enjoy fresh food that is more nutritious than what you can buy in the stores, and is better for the planet because it has never been shipped.  If the weather stays as pleasant as forecast, bring

clothes so you can come outside and play in the dirt to help prepare De Smet's community garden for the 2012 season.  (Room 201)

Rationale:

The in-service was developed in the faculty and staff spirituality committee, as a result of brainstorming on how to best meet the needs of our faculty during a very difficult time. We had just experienced a student suicide, a significant decline in enrollment, as well as the possibility of major reduction in force of teaching faculty.

Leadership:

The program was developed by the faculty and staff spirituality committee.

Implementation:

The program was implemented by the committee, along with presenters from inside and outside the building.

Processes and Resources:

Faculty and Staff Spirituality committee

Finances:

Gifts for presenters, an honorarium for outside presenter organizations.

Rewards:

Renewed sense of health, well-being and balance; tools to add to the toolbox when dealing with high stress and depression.

Time (When/Length):

January 2012, one day of recollection.

Location (Space):

NA

Accountability/Assessment:

Overwhelmingly positive comments and full participation by all.