The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

Sister St. Joseph Brennion offers an “Art as Prayer” program that allows people to get in touch with God through artistic creation. She encourages participants to use line, form, and color to adore and thank God in ways beyond words. Sister St. Joseph reminds beginners that “to play quietly before the Lord with hands that form shapes and spread color does not take skill; it takes only time and the desire to connect with a loving God.”

Twenty minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Center City Philadelphia lies the Franciscan

Spiritual Center, a place where all are welcome and the rush of everyday life recedes behind the calm that surrounds those who have focused their energy toward the life of the spirit. Ask anyone who has been there and they will tell you. There is a feeling within the Center. Some describe it as a “touch of God,” others as a “connectedness;” others simply call it “holy ground.” For Sister Christa Thompson, the Center’s director, it is “like an embrace of the divine—love beyond words.”

Although retreats and other spiritual programs have been a part of the sisters’ ministry since the 1920s, the Center itself opened its doors in 1997. Designed to provide places, programs, and people to help individuals meet God, the Center offers a wide range of experiences—everything from spiritual direction, to Reiki and massage, to day or extended retreats. “We try to have something that can reach just about everybody,” said Sister Christa. “We are always looking for what we can do to help persons find peace, to help them speak and listen to the God who loves them.”

Many Paths, One God

Programming at the Franciscan Spiritual Center reflects the belief that there are as many ways of encountering God as there are people. Whether it’s Taizé prayer, walking the labyrinth, or spirituality through art that sparks a person’s interest, those who come to the Center have the opportunity to choose among many paths leading to the divine.

In addition to regular programming, the Center’s staff is eager to develop special sessions for particular groups. Church congregations, mom’s clubs, grieving comfort circles, and HIV/AIDS support networks are among those who come regularly to the Center for customized programs.

Randy Schafer, lay minister of spirituality and nurturing at Elam United Methodist Church, discovered the Franciscan Spiritual Center while exploring area facilities for a program for her congregation. There she found a welcoming atmosphere and the freedom to help design an experience tailor-made for her group. “When I toured the facility I realized there was an art studio,” said Randy. “I had always had an idea about using a potter’s wheel as the center of a meditation on the reading from Jeremiah that talks about how we are the clay in God’s hands. When I talked to the staff about it, they put me in touch with Sister St. Joseph Brennion, an artist who developed the most beautiful meditation for us to begin our program.”

That meditation set the tone for a day that was attended by seventeen members of the congregation—all of whom had enthusiastic responses to their time at the Center. “One person after another came to tell me how connected to God they felt there,” said Randy. “Many of them are going back for other programs so it is a place that will bless our community many times.”

Mind, Body, Spirit

The Center’s staff looks at each person not only as a unique seeker, but also as a whole and complex individual. “We take into consideration all the elements of a person—intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual,” said Center staff member Sister Celeste Crine, a certified massage therapist and Reiki practitioner. “We help each person to examine his or her life, look at where there is an imbalance, and work toward integration.”

For some, a good first step is stress reduction through T’ai Chi Chih, traditional massage, or Reiki. Although many of these services are offered in secular settings like day spas or even health clubs, their focus is very different at the Center. “Even when we talk about stress reduction, it is for the purpose of relaxing so that we can hear God speaking to us,” explained Sister Celeste. “The more balanced we are the more we become the person God created us to be.”

Spiritual direction is another way the staff at the Center helps people to step back from the mundane and get in touch with how God is present in their lives. A spiritual director’s role is one of “companion,” listening with individuals to how the Spirit is at work in their everyday lives as well as in prayer. Sometimes just talking is enough to help people see more clearly how God is at work. At other times the spiritual director will ask questions that help individuals to go more deeply into what they are saying and feeling. Occasionally simply sitting in silence will allow people to notice what the Spirit is saying to them. “People who come for regular spiritual direction, usually on a monthly basis, are very sincere and serious about their spiritual journey,” said Sister Celeste. “Over time their relationship with God deepens and they have an ongoing experience of change in their lives.”

Foot reflexology, an ancient practice that has been in use for as many as 5,000 years, is another holistic therapy available at the Center. Shown here being performed by Sister Mary Walsh, foot reflexology involves applying focused pressure to reflex points in the foot which correspond to other areas in the body. Benefits include increased circulation, relaxation, and release of tension.

Getting Away from the Everyday

Even for those who take part in and appreciate a variety of offerings at the Franciscan Spiritual Center, retreats remain an ideal way for many to take time away from the everyday concerns that keep them from concentrating more deeply on their relationship with God. The Center provides a wide variety of such retreats—some lasting a day, others a weekend or even a week or more. The experiences integrate solitude with communal prayer and sharing. Some are centered around a particular theme that helps shape reflection. Some include individual spiritual direction along with group interaction. All are designed to facilitate a sense of prayerful calm.

“Often people come to retreat very stressed so the beginning of the retreat is usually spent inviting them to slow down and become more open to God,” said Sister Celeste. “Soon you see people becoming more focused, centered, and reflective—even in the way they speak and move. By the end, you can look at the group and see a difference on their faces. They have reached a much deeper sense of peace.”

One of the challenges of making the most of the retreat experience is learning to take that sense of peace and of deeper relationship with God back into everyday life. “It takes perseverence in prayer and a commitment to taking time every day to remember what happened at the retreat,” said Sister Celeste. “It isn’t easy but the rewards for doing it are great.”

Ann Bock, a secular Franciscan who makes it a priority to attend at least one retreat at the Center each year, knows first-hand the benefits of continuing to focus on the retreat experience long after she has re-turned home. “The retreat itself may last only a weekend or five days but it is something I can draw on for the rest of the year,” said Ann. “It fills my spirit. It’s an essential component of my everyday presence with God.”

A Very Special Morning

For those who may only have a few hours to get away or who are looking for an experience they can attend regularly throughout the year, the Center offers a contemplative morning once a month at Clare House. Located just a block away from the rest of the Center, tucked into the woods and surrounded by walking trails, Clare House is the perfect setting for those seeking a place for quiet prayer. Contemplative morning groups range from just three people to up to a dozen. Some are regulars. Others come just now and again when they are able to get time off work or feel they need a special opportunity for prayer and reflection.

Nancy Frick started attending the contemplative mornings three years ago looking for a time and place to focus on her spirituality. “When I go there, it is like I place myself in another world for two hours. It is a solid time for reflection when I don’t have to worry about anyone but me,” said Nancy. “The time of centering reunites me with Jesus and reminds me that all the other things revolve around Him. Because I have time to reflect, I see the Lord working in my life sooner.”

For Randy Schafer, the contemplative mornings have been one way to continue the connection she began with the Center during the program she designed for her church. “The contemplative mornings, the days of reflection I have attended, it all has been such a blessing in my life,” said Randy. “Finding this Center was like making a sacred discovery.”

A Walk Toward God

Whether people come to the Franciscan Spiritual Center once a week or once a year, whether they seek God through T’ai Chi Chih, spiritual direction, contemplative prayer, or a combination of all three, what they find is a sanctuary where they can stand back and see God. “Everyone has a different path to meet God and we want to be there to walk with them toward that,” said Sister Christa. “Being at the Center is one big invitation to spread the Good News, to help people to open their ears, their eyes, their arms, and their hearts, and know God.”

For more information on the Franciscan Spiritual Center contact: (610) 558-6152, fscaston@osfphila.org. Learn more at www.fscaston.org

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HOW YOU CAN HELP...

• Make time for your own spiritual life. Creating a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God takes time and commitment. Set aside a special time each day for prayer and reflection. Treat yourself to a day, weekend, or even week-long retreat at your local church or spiritual center.

• Encourage others on their spiritual journey. Be available for friends, family members, or fellow parishioners who are looking for someone to share and support their spiritual experiences. Although each person’s relationship with God is personal, many people find it helpful to share their experiences with others on a similar path.

• Volunteer at your local spiritual or retreat center. Places like the Franciscan Spiritual Center are often looking for people to help cook meals, work in the gardens, or help prepare for visitors.

• Give to the ministry. Funds are needed for the building of hermitages and to provide scholarships for those who cannot afford to attend programs at the Center. Make tax-deductible contributions online via our secure website.