About the Course
A four-week book study, featuring this highly anticipated conclusion to Fr. Ron Rolheiser’s spiritual classics, The Holy Longing and Sacred Fire. Each book study will include a review of the material and lots of time for small group sharing. Facilitated by Sarah Donnelly, Fr. Ron will join the first three book studies if he is available, and will join us for the last hour of the June 3 book study for questions and conversation.
Each phase of life presents us with its own unique opportunity to connect with God and to bless those around us—even and perhaps especially in those later decades when careers, raising kids, and mortgage payments are behind us. So argues beloved author Ronald Rolheiser. During life’s first years, we embark on a search for meaning and discover in ourselves a profound, unquenchable thirst for the Divine. And when we reach adulthood, we realize that we are called to give our lives away―to our spouses, children, careers, friends, and neighbors in need. But in the end, we must learn to let it all go.
In this, and with characteristic attentiveness and care, Fr. Ron accompanies readers on a spiritual journey through life’s final years and the mellowing of our souls. In these years, bitterness can give way to forgiveness, mere imagination to profound and subtle faith, wishful optimism to virtuous hope, and control to surrender. Readers will learn to see in Jesus a model for a spirituality of holy passivity rather than activity and find in him the courage to overcome the darkest nights of faith.
Drawing on the work of John of the Cross and Henri Nouwen, Fr. Ron outlines a spirituality capable of giving away one’s death―and by that a spirituality of truly living.
May 13 - Part One: Chapters 1-3
May 20 - Part Two: Chapters 4-5
May 27 - Part Three: Chapters 6-8
June 3 - Part Four: Chapter 9 and a conversation with Fr. Ron
Participants are asked to source their own copy of this book.
Access to the recording of these book studies will be sent to all who register.
Your Instructor
Book Study Facilitator: Sarah Donnelly, M.Div. Author: Fr. Ron Rolheiser OMI (joining on June 3)
Sarah celebrated 30 years in ministry in 2024. She is a spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and served as the Director of Programming at Queen’s House Retreat & Renewal Centre in Saskatoon SK for 7 years prior to the retreat centre closing in August 2024. In October 2024 Sarah launched her own small business: Spirit River Community – A Retreat Centre Without Walls, www.spiritrivercommunity.org. She is a graduate of St. Peter’s Seminary (M.Div.) in London, ON and received her spiritual direction training through The Haden Institute: Spiritual Direction in the Jungian Mystical Christian Tradition. Sarah is also a graduate of the Forest Dwelling Program, Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, studying the Spirituality of Aging. Following this program, Sarah and Nancy Phillips (Program Coordinator) co-created a two-year online program called Growing in Wisdom: Seeking Deeper Generativity, www.growinginwisdom.ca where she serves as Program Administrator. You can learn more about Sarah at www.sarahdonnelly.ca
Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI
Ron Rolheiser, OMI is a Roman Catholic priest, member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and served as president of Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas for fifteen years before retiring in September 2020. Fr. Ron is a theologian, professor, and award-winning author. He holds Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Ottawa and Newman Theological College Edmonton and Master’s degrees from the University of San Francisco and the University of Louvain, Belgium along with a PhD/STD from the University of Louvain. Specializations: systematic theology, philosophy, Augustine mysticism, and spirituality. Apart from his academic knowledge in systematic theology and philosophy, he has become a popular speaker in contemporary spirituality religion, and the secular world. He writes a weekly column that is carried in over 70 newspapers around the world and has published 17 books. You can learn more about Fr. Ron - and read his past and current weekly columns - at www.ronrolheiser.com