My stepmother Diane gained spiritual sustenance and strength at the Society of Saint John the Evangelist.
We’re down to just three days until the 100 kilometer fundraising bike on Saturday.
I’m getting my bike tuned up today at the bike shed at Millennium Park, the weather looks to be clear and about 55 degrees on Saturday and people’s support has continued to come in in the form of donations, words of encouragement and general good wishes.
All are appreciated.
Today is the third in a series of posts about the different organizations for which I am raising funds.
This entry is about the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, at which my stepmother Diane Lowenstein spent a lot of meaningful time over the course of many years.
The society’s web site contains the following information:
Our Ministries
We aim above all to be “Men of the Moment,” responsive to the call of God and the needs of our world in the present day. At our home and in our ministries, we aim to share with others gifts from the Spirit:
Silence and Sanctuary
We offer our monasteries as places of silence, sanctuary, and simple beauty, renewing them to meet changing needs. At home and wherever we minister, we accept and welcome all who come, including them in our worship, meals, and fellowship.
Guidance in Prayer and Spirituality
We offer guidance through preaching, teaching, retreats, workshops, and spiritual direction. In our guest houses in Cambridge and West Newbury we extend our hospitality to guests, who may come for an individual retreat or may attend group retreats on topics related to prayer and spirituality. We are especially available to students and others at critical stages of life formation, and to those whose vocation is the formation of others.
A Vision for Wholeness
We serve a wide spectrum of people, from the disempowered and marginalized to the influential and privileged. For several years, we have been affiliated with St. George’s College in Jerusalem, serving as chaplains on a number of pilgrimages to the Holy Land each year. Recently, we also have conducted mission trips to Africa. Individual brothers work in a variety of local and regional ministries—with students, with prisoners, and with persons affected by HIV/AIDS. We aim to be ministers of reconciliation, hope, and transformation. Our work helps people uncover their deepest desires, live with authenticity, and discover their place in the heart of God.
Diane found all of these qualities and more at the Society, particularly enjoying the silent retreats on which she often participated.
Many people at the memorial service in August and afterward have spoken about Diane’s spiritual practice and presence: the Society was a heavy influence in both.
Dunreith and I will be thinking of her as we bike on Saturday.
