The Many Faces of Beauty

Led by: Sister Jeanne Fallon, CSJ, and Fr. David Robinson, SJ, with Guest Facilitators John Keane and Ann McGlone

Most therapeutic practices in the modern world, that have aimed to bring balance and well-being into people’s lives, have focused on removing difficult or painful feelings from an individual’s experience. The ‘work’ began from a place of dis-comfort or pain, and attempted to bring a remedy to the problem(s) at hand. Focusing begins from a different perspective. The issue is not one of ‘fixing’ a problem, but rather one of open and receptive attention to the ‘felt sense’ within the body, which is not an ‘enemy’ but a ‘teacher,’ helping to illuminate the depths of what our body’s knowledge can teach us.

Not unexpectedly, many of these ‘felt senses’ contain memories of difficult moments and relationships. Receiving the body’s knowledge allows for a richer perspective and a deeper personal freedom. However, the felt sense does not inevitably involve what is painful. It can also embrace the sensations of wonder, gratitude, pleasure, and inner uplift. Our brief retreat will allow time to explore the enriching interaction between the felt sense, and sensitivity to the many faces of beauty in the world of the senses. We shall allow time for each of our sensate capacities to provide a portal to felt senses within that can expand our personal frame of awareness. Beauty can be a wise and liberating teacher whose ‘voice’ speaks through a wide spectrum of inner senses that can delight and surprise us on our daily walk of life. We’ll share those discoveries together!

This retreat can enhance the focusing resources of experienced practitioners, but will also introduce those new to focusing to an exciting area of exploration that can be a benefit to anyone in their personal path of self-learning and growth.

Welcome to all!

About the Presenters:

Jeanne Fallon, CSJ, is a Sister of St. Joseph, has had 36 years’ experience giving spiritual direction in both Papua New Guinea and USA, including the formation of spiritual directors for 18 years at the Center for Spiritual Development in Orange, California. Her pastoral experience in both countries provides a unique background for her programs, such as, spiritual discernment, the contemplative attitude and fostering a listening heart. As a retreat director and program presenter, she has a holistic approach integrating body, mind, spirit and emotions, promoting the healing of the whole person through Bio-Spiritual Focusing and an appreciation for the interconnectedness of all creation. Sister Jeanne has served as the Director of Formation/Novice Director for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange and worked at Loyola Institute for Spirituality in Orange, California. At present, Jeanne is back at the Center for Spiritual Development. Sr. Jeanne has a MA (Spirituality), from Gonzaga University, Spokane WA, a BA (Spanish), St. Joseph College, Orange, CA and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction, Center for Religious Development, Cambridge, MA.

Fr. David Robinson, SJ,  was born and raised in Billerica, Massachusetts. After completing undergraduate work at Boston University, he went to UC Berkeley for graduate studies in English Literature, and continued in theology at the Jesuit School of Theology and the Graduate Theological union, where he earned a PhD in Theology and the Arts in 1995. As a Jesuit, he began a decades-long connection to ministry in the Latino community, as well as pursuing advanced studies in music. On the professional front, he spent nearly fifteen years at the University of San Francisco at the College of Professional Studies, in the areas of Interdisciplinary Studies, Academic Administration, and Educational Mission and Spirituality. From 2007 to 2009, he was Director of the Nestucca Sanctuary Spirituality Center in Oregon. His ministry at the Loyola Institute for Spirituality included liturgical work with the CSJ sisters, support for Latino community groups, Ignatian pedagogy workshops, and spirituality and the arts projects focused on music, photography, and website development. For the last several years, he has been part of a BioSpiritual focusing cohort, offering retreats, classes, and workshops in focusing to a wide variety of groups and professionals. His ongoing exploration of beauty was first nurtured by his wanderings in nature in his home surroundings. As a Jesuit, this avocation has been nourished by photography, music, and website interests. On the personal front, he considers himself a work-in-progress—mingling interests in music, tennis, media, and global networks with an ongoing connection to international Jesuit educational ventures and organizational spirituality.

Registration

This program will be offered both in person and via Zoom. However, the Zoom option is available only to those who have prior experience with focusing. We ask that those who are new to focusing attend in person. Please select your option in the booking section below.

There will be a thirty-minute lunch break. Please bring a sack lunch that does not need to be heated as there won’t be enough time to leave the property for lunch.

All attendees must show proof of vaccination (including boosters, if eligible) to be maskless indoors. Otherwise, masks are required indoors.