Nairobi, 23 April 2011
This was first of the training that I offered on Christian mindfulness training. It is an outflow from my ongoing PhD project; however, this one day workshop was not part of my research. This training is now becoming one of my passions, as I also integrate elements of this package in other trainings and retreats.
Here is the outline of the contents of the training:
1. ‘Jesus Prayer’ (an ancient Christian Contemplative Practice) in 7 steps, with the help of the Audio CD that I have recently prepared. Click here for more details on the CD.
2. How to journal – as a means to deal with one’s emotions and to grow spiritually.
3. A Labyrinth Walk through a prayer garden at DBYES, Nairobi, getting in touch with oneself, God, and others.
The Holy Saturday training had 29 participants, most […]
Spirituality
Spiritual Exercises
Jesus Experience – 7 Step Retreat
Nairobi, 20 April 2011
The popularity of the 7 Step Retreat is now on the rise. Or it is that whenever I am asked to do a retreat for young people these days, I just follow this outline. This morning I concluded another two full-day retreat for about 200 youth at the Don Bosco Boystown. The Boystown is one of the Don Bosco institutions at Karen, Nairobi. It is a technical school that was started in 1985, following the model of Boystown of Father Flanegan, Nebraska, U.S. Our Boystown also admits girls for the secretarial courses during the day programme.
Using John 1:35-42 as the key text I elaborate a 7 step retreat that trace the pathway of the Christian Life Journey: Thirst (two disciples of John the Baptist), Signs (Look there is the Lamb of God!), Search (What do you […]
Come and See: 7-Step Retreat
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 12 April 2011
Last weekend (8th to 10th April) 52 youth gathered at the Mbagala Spiritual Centre for a weekend retreat that I was privileged to animate together with Mr Prosper Dionis. Prosper has been my faithful companion in several training programmes and retreats since the year 2000. The retreat, that is part of the annual programme of the Chuo Cha Maisha programme, was organised by the Don Bosco Youth Educational Services (DBYES-Tanzania) that I had lauched in 2005. Chuo Cha Maisha programme is a Christian lifeskills training programme run by DBYES-TZ in the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam. Every year the programme reaches out to about 300 youth from 6 to 7 parishes; it runs from July to May every year with 20 days of training. The training is offered by a voluntary youth group: Don Bosco Youth […]
Via Lucis – Version 2
A pious exercise called the Via Lucis has developed and spread to many regions in recent years. Following the model of the Via Crucis, the faithful process while meditating on the various appearances of Jesus – from his Resurrection to his Ascension – in which he showed his glory to the disciples who awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14, 26; 16, 13-15; Lk 24, 49), strengthened their faith, brought to completion his teaching on the Kingdom and more closely defined the sacramental and hierarchical structure of the Church.
Through the Via Lucis, the faithful recall the central event of the faith – the resurrection of Christ – and their discipleship in virtue of Baptism, the paschal sacrament by which they have passed from the darkness of sin to the bright radiance of the light of grace (cf. Col 1, 13; Eph 5, 8).
For centuries the Via Crucis involved the faithful in […]
Being Here and Now
Sit and calm yourself. Take a comfortable posture, with your feet flat on the floor if you are seated on a chair, and keep your back straight. Close your eyes.
Become aware of the fact that you are breathing. Do not manipulate your breathing. Just be aware that you are breathing in and out. As you breathe out, relax the different parts of your body: have you closed your eyes too tight? Relax your facial muscles. You can actually let go of your lower jaw without opening your mouth. Enjoy the moment.
Relax your neck, your shoulders, and above all your stomach. Keep your back straight.
Keep paying attention to your breathing. Each time you realise your mind was wandering, bring back your attention to your breathing. Be here and now!
Now and then become aware of your feelings. How do you feel?
End the exercise by becoming aware of the fact that you are in the presence of God. Be at peace!