“What is Emerging” Reflections

During the past several years the Loretto Community has experienced profound changes. So much of what shaped our life is gone and the experience of endings, loss and confusion often prevails. Yet we know this is an invitation, a threshold,…

In July, many of the Loretto Community members and others participated in a retreat sponsored by Loretto Link — the theme was “Seeing with New Eyes” or “Seeing with the Eyes of the Heart.” Or as some suggested, “Seeing as…

An experience that seems to have re-emerged in recent history is that of “seeing with new eyes, with eyes of the heart.” Actually, the mystics of all ages have experienced this kind of seeing but used different words to describe…

Perhaps one of the most important lessons learned, or, re-learned, from the COVID-19 experience is that we are all one: one with all of humanity, all of creation and the cosmos, and one with the Divine Mystery! Thomas Merton teaches…

In her book, “The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution and the Power of Love,” Ilia Delio speaks of the all-transforming power of love, the source and goal of the evolutionary process. Below are excerpts from her book.* Read very…

It is April, the season of New Life! Is there New Life emerging in my/your life and in the Loretto Community? The idea of people and/or communities going through a transformation has been around for a long time, but it…

It is no secret that throughout the centuries ordinary people have been called to a prophetic vocation. Abraham Heschel taught that “there is the grain of the prophet in the recesses of every human existence.” And Matthew Fox suggests “the…

A gift from the Forum this past year was the lovely and challenging Advent Reflections 2020 booklet that was adapted from “Seeing Where You Belong in a Post-Pandemic World” by Mary Pellegrino, CSJ. The reflections and questions called each of…

In the past several years, perhaps from the time of the Apostolic Visitation, it seems that what has emerged and what continues to emerge within the Loretto Community is a greater awareness of who we are and what we are…

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) has been a favorite of Loretto folks for many years. His teachings and writings continue to inspire and challenge us, and so much of what he wrote in his lifetime is still pertinent today. We invite you…

A story told by Frank Tuoti in his book The Dawn of the Mystical Age (1979) goes something like this: Early in John Paul II’s papacy, the state of the Church caused him much worry, and so he invited a…

Our first virtual Assembly was quite amazing! The presentations were challenging, the discussions lively and meaningful. And even though we were unable to meet each other face to face, there seemed to be an excitement of something new happening —…