WOMEN’S CORNERSTONE
What
is the Women’s Cornerstone Weekend?
The
annual Women’s Cornerstone Weekend is a spiritual experience through which we
become more conscious of how Christ is the Cornerstone of our lives, enabling
us to live, grow and become more loving and vital persons.
Who
runs the Cornerstone Weekend?
The
Cornerstone Weekend is led by a team of parish women who have already
participated in Cornerstone.
Why
should you attend Cornerstone?
During
Cornerstone Weekend, you will listen to, reflect on, and share experiences that
demonstrate how the Holy Spirit works in real life . . . how Christ walks with
us every step of the way . . . how He is the Cornerstone. In other words, the Cornerstone Weekend brings
religion to life.
When
and Where is Cornerstone?
The
Cornerstone Weekend will be held January 23rd & 24th,
2009 at
How
can you register?
All women of the parish are
invited (non-parishioners will be placed on a waiting list.). You may call the parish office (973-226-0979)
and we will be happy to send you a registration form, or you may print out the
form below (select the text and print selection) and mail it to Notre Dame or
drop it off.
*Fr. Ed’s
DOWN-TO-EARTH PARISH SPIRITUALITY
“This had to be one of the most profound experiences of
my life!” a comment heard from one of the
women last week after mass. What could that have been? The
birth of a child? Talking with the Pope? An hour with
the Dalai Lhama? Winning the national
megabucks jackpot? Actually, it was none of these grandiose experiences. It was
something far more personal, enduring and spiritual. That woman had just taken
part in the recent Women’s Cornerstone – our 13th at Notre Dame.
Maybe not
everyone would have used those same words to explain what had taken place at
the Women’s Cornerstone. But everyone would admit in varying degrees of
emphasis, that the experience was rich and spiritually rewarding. But, why? Why would a group of educated, worldly-wise, and
mature group of women react in such a vibrant way? What was it about the 26
hours they spent together that moved them to express their joy, happiness and
inner peace with such conviction?
It’s never
easy to capture a profound experience in words. A rich, personal, dynamic,
inner experience gets lost in translation. Human words are limiting. For a
believer, a deep personal religious experience is always rooted in
identification with God’s Spirit. What moves a person to say:”I’ve had one of the most profound
experiences in my life,” is a profound, personal awareness of oneness in
being with others and with God. It’s somehow being more vividly and consciously
aware that one’s life and self-identity is also shared and understood by
another, or by others. One begins to comprehend that such connectivity is of
God. We feel it; we can’t fully comprehend it, but we enjoy it and revel in it.
We begin to recognize and appreciate that we are
all of the same fleshy, human substance, and that’s O.K. It’s
precisely those broken vessels that are used as bearers of God’s Spirit.
Understanding that we share with others the personal struggles, pain and
misfortunes of life leads to empathy. Empathy leads to community. We are one.
Community leads to the conviction that we are sisters and brothers to one
another. We are on pilgrimage together. We can sustain and support one another.
We need not think that we are alone, that no one else will ever be able to
understand or touch the painful limits of our personal affliction. We can learn
from one another; we can help bear one another’s oppressive burdens. When
others are misjudged, hurt or abused in ways that we have not experienced
personally, we understand immediately. We are kin; we are sisters; we are
linked and strengthened by the same Spirit. We can push along on our pilgrim
way, as bitter or sweet as that may be, because we travel that road together.
We’re not meant to do it in isolation. Those that have been on the way before us, have left us examples of transforming power, as they
reach out their hands in reassurance: “Don’t
worry; we’ve been here on this road with you, and we will show you the way.”
To share
even partially in such an experience is refreshing and regenerating. No one can
enter into another person’s skin. But sharing common experiences along the way,
talking about them, embracing them, laughing and crying about them, is an
enormous grace. It can even be the
reason for someone to say: “This was one
of the most profound experiences of my life.”
Fr. Ed
Space is limited. Please
register early.
Women’s
Cornerstone 2009 Registration Form
I would like to participate
in Women’s Cornerstone 2009
on January 23rd & 24th
Name
Address
Home #
Work #
Email
Family Member/Emergency Contacts:
Name
Relationship
Daytime Phone e-mail
Name
Relationship
Daytime Phone e-mail
So that we can make your Cornerstone the best possible
experience, please give us information about your dietary needs:
Vegetarian Vegan Lactose
Intolerant
Nut allergies Other Allergy
Return form
with payment of $50 to:
Notre Dame
Parish Office,