Get tips on vacations with God at Benedictine monasteries at Oct. 25 program
Women interested in just such a wonderful time of quiet reflection and prayer will want to attend "Vacationing With God: Staying at Benedictine Monasteries," a program that will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, in the Lighthouse room of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville.
Paula Kosin, a St. Thomas parishioner and a member of the church Behavioral Health Team and facilitator of its "Grief to Growth" support group, will explain how easy it is to plan such a vacation based on her own "spiritual travelogue" experiences from past years. Also a licensed clinical professional counselor, Kosin admits that her love of driving vacations has led her to discover amazing places where God permeates the entire environment.
She says, "Benedictines invite us to come for a while into their world to pause, reflect, pray and deepen our spirituality." Chuckling, she adds, "Where else but a monastery can you spend the weekend with 50 single Catholic men?"
Active in other parishes and on the diocesan level, Kosin also has worked in human resources and corporate training at Citibank, her own organizational and career consulting practice, career counseling, marketing communications, and in student affairs at Syracuse University.
"Vacationing With God" is being sponsored by Sophia's Circle of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, a ministry that offers three micro retreats annually for women for the purpose of exploring topics related to spiritual reconnections of faith. Each program begins with wine and light refreshments.
Reservations, at $10 each payable, by check or in cash, at the door, are encouraged by Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Walk-ins the evening of the program also are welcomed.
Reservations and more information about "Vacationing With God" are available by contacting Marge Coronado, religious education assistant at St. Thomas, at (630) 355-8980, ext. 118, or at mcoronado@stapostle.org.
In making reservations for more than one individual, please be sure the names and phone numbers of all women in your party are included.
St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet, strives to bear the Good News of God's unconditional love to all generations through worship, faith formation, witness and service. Organized in 1984, the St. Thomas faith community numbers more than 3,400 households of more than 10,750 people. Complete news and information on parish events, guest speakers and special programs is available at www.stapostle.org. For general parish information, please call (630) 355-8980.