September 23 @ 7:30 pm – September 28 @ 1:30 pm

facilitated by Greg Kennedy

A flash of brilliance across a darkening sky, Laudato si appeared in 2015 with the spectacular energy of distant lighting. Ten years later, the world still waits for its real thunder to sound. Pope Francis’ unequivocal pronouncement on the sacred interdependence of all earthly life, despite the global movement it has sparked, remains mostly unheard. His call for ecological conversion, likely the most urgent need of faith at this time, has yet to be answered on any significant scale. This retreat will try to make good on a decade of general indifference to the pope’s cry for the Earth and her poor.

Rather than study the text, the hope will be to embody it through:

• communion with nature
• some work on the land
• spiritual conversation about the consolations and desolations of our age
• celebrating of beauty and economic simplicity
• contemplative practices that root our human being in creation and creativity
• deepening our personal and structural ecological conversion.

The retreat will borrow from the gifts its participants to build community, celebration, reflection and energy for a vibrant, active response to the call of Laudato si.

• Group activities
• Not a completely silent retreat
• Limited spiritual direction available

Greg Kennedy – Ecological conversion is at the heart of Greg’s work and hope. As Executive Director of Ignatius Jesuit Centre, he aims to bring to life its mission of cultivating spiritual growth and ecological engagement in all IJC does. Laudato si has inspired and motivated Greg for the last ten years in his writing, thinking and action.