Thursday, 31 May 2012 13:20

Pond work to continue at SLC through summer
Gravity took its toll around the pond that separates the Spiritual Life Center from the Priest Retirement Center in Wichita.
Jim Rundell, administrator of the Spiritual Life Center, said work crews began partially draining the pond about a month ago and work is underway to repair a few problems that have arisen – or rather, settled – over the past 22 years.
The sidewalk on the west side of the Spiritual Life Center has been closed for many months. Those who walked on the sidewalk before it was closed noticed that the concrete was tilting toward the pond. Rundell said a replacement walkway will be wider – and level.
On the west side of the pond the soil will be graded and the large boulders will be replaced with rip-rap, smaller stone used to line and to stabilize the shore.
Rundell said he believes work will be complete around the end of August.

Summer GriefShare video series offered at Spiritual Life Center
GriefShare, a seminar and support group for people grieving the loss of someone close, will be offered from June 18 through Sept. 17, at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
Sharon Gagnon, who has been trained as a grief minister by the National Catholic Bereavement Society and has 14 years experience leading grief support groups, will lead the group. Others who understand what you are experiencing and want to offer you comfort and encouragement during this difficult time will also be helping.
Each GriefShare session includes a video seminar and group discussion. A GriefShare workbook assists attendees with note taking, journaling, and grief study. The videos feature top experts on grief recovery, and living with grief and real life stories of people who have experienced losses.
Participants will have an opportunity to interact with others who have experienced a recent loss, learn about their experiences, and to share their own.
The series will be offered from 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays from June 18 to Sept. 17, except for Labor Day, Sept. 3. The cost of this series is $20 for the workbook. To sign up call the Spiritual Life Center at (316) 744-0167 by June 8, so a workbook can be ordered.

Faithful have a chance to stump diocesan priest July 12 at the SLC
Fr. Ken Van Haverbeke is hosting, “Are you Smarter than Father?,” from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
The evening, patterned after the popular television series, “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?,” is designed to facilitate questions and answers about the Catholic faith. Those attending will each turn in two questions. Ten questions will be drawn at random and, armed with only the Bible and the Catholic Catechism, he will attempt to answer all of them.
Father Van Haverbeke, director of the Spiritual Life Center, said while the evening of fun might embarrass him, if he doesn’t know all the answers, it will allow those attending to anonymously ask many questions to which they’ve always wanted to know about.
Other guest priests will attend, Father added, if he can convince any of his brother priests to assist him.

SLC to host Holy Family Memorial Mass on first Wednesdays
A Mass will be celebrated at 11:15 a.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Spiritual Life Center as part of the perpetual memorial associated with The Holy Family Special Needs Foundation.
Fr. Ken VanHaverbeke, priest moderator to the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities and the Holy Family Special Needs Foundation, will offer the Mass.
All families who contributed to the memorial in memory of their loved ones are invited to attend. Lunch is available after Mass for a fee of $7.50. If you would like to eat lunch, please call 744-0167.

Monthly Mass for the Canonization of Fr. Kapaun at SLC
Mass is offered for the beatification and canonization of Father Emil Kapaun at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the Spiritual Life Center.
The Mass may be moved to various parishes throughout the diocese.

Franciscan to lead ‘Who is God for You Now?’ retreat June 7-8 at the SLC, Wichita
Friar John Quigly is an artist who has led retreats for almost 30 years
Franciscan Friar John Quigley will lead a retreat June 7 and 8 at the Spiritual Life Center, Wichita.
The retreat, “Who is God for You Now?” begins at 7 p.m. Friday, June 7, and ends at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 8.
Father Quigley, a preacher and artist, will lead the overnight retreat and explore the questions, “Who do people say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?”
He is a member of the Province of St. John the Baptist Order of Friars Minor based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He began his pastoral preaching ministry in 1974, has studied in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, and became the coordinator of social justice and peace concerns for the OFMs.
Called to Rome in 1988, he was the international coordinator for the efforts of the Franciscan Friars in the areas of justice, peacemaking and care for creation. In 1998 he went to Geneva, Switzerland, as the director of Franciscans International a non-governmental organization at the United Nations, where for ten years he coordinated work for the promotion and protection of human rights.
Father Quigley has led a number of pilgrimages to Geneva, Rome, and Assisi entitled “St. Francis and Human Rights” as well as a human rights pilgrimage to Ireland visiting spots in Dublin and in Northern Ireland where Franciscans have made various efforts to heal bitter wounds.
As a member of the team for “Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs” he now leads groups of pilgrims to Rome and Assisi to retrace the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi.
For 28 years he has preached an annual retreat at Maggie Valley, N.C., for groups of people who are mostly Roman Catholic, religious women and lay couples.
“Preaching and fine art are two horses yoked together that pull me into meaning and personal challenges,” he says. “Preaching helps me articulate and understand my beliefs and painting helps me search the spirit world – especially in times of loss and grief.”
The cost is $55 for commuters. The cost to spend the night is $100 for a single and $85 per person for a double room. The fee includes breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
To register go to www.slcwichita.org or call (316) 744-0167.