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THANK YOU FOR SHARING!
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We hope you will forward this
e-mail newsletter
to
friends and colleagues. The programs are offered in
an abbreviated form to make it
easy for you to “cut and paste” into your parish or
office newsletter. For more details, there are handy
links to our Web
site.
NOTE: To cut and paste, just highlight the
text you want to use and click “edit,” then “copy.”
Create a new e-mail or Word document, place the
cursor at the top and click “paste.” And there it is!
You might want to add: Transformations is located at
3427 Gull Road. To register call 269.381.6290 ext.
310.
Your help in sharing news about Transformations is
appreciated.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Who’s Caring for the Caregivers? We Are.
Pass it on!
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Friday, October 6, 2006
5th Annual Community of Caregivers
Gathering
Spirituality of Caring: The Rewards and Risks
Dominic Vachon, M.Div., Ph.D.
Last year, the Caregivers conference featured Lynn
Levo, CSJ, Ph.D. on the topic of “Developing
Emotional Skills for Effective Caregiving.” She
presented new evidence that suggests that
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) helps individuals deal with
daily emotional challenges that can make—or break—
our careers and relationships, no matter what our
profession.
This year’s conference grew out of last year’s
success in that people not only need to school their
emotions for effective caregiving, but that they need
effective strategies to bring their spirituality into
effective caregiving.
The presenter is Dominic Vachon, M.Div.,
Ph.D, a psychologist who is the Director of
Behavioral Medicine and Caring Science Training at
St. Joseph Regional Medical
Center in South Bend, Indiana. He is a Clinical
Assistant Professor in the Department of Family
Medicine of the Indiana University School of
Medicine. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the
Psychology and Theology Departments at the
University of Notre Dame.
His doctoral research focused on the
relationship between empathy and burnout, family
caregiving, factors in maintaining caring in difficult
work, the psychology of helping interactions, and the
spirituality of caring. He is the founder of the
Institute for the Support and Study of the Caring
Professions, a private consulting practice offering
programs for healthcare and other organizations
concerned about the stress in helping people.
In this day-long workshop, Dr. Vachon will:
Explain how a spirituality of caring helps
transform and transcend toxic encounters with
suffering by
providing meaning and energy for the work of
compassion
Explore what a spirituality of compassion is and
provide several examples from the perspectives of
different religious traditions and secular philosophies
of caring
Present the risks of spiritual grandiosity, spiritual
masochism, compulsive helping, and spiritual
codependence
Discuss techniques for strengthening our
spirituality of caring; and how this can contribute to
the healing process.
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How To Register ...
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ARE
YOU
READY?
This time of year can bring old memories
flooding back and trigger some unusual cravings.
Some of us get a taste for Campbell’s cream of
tomato soup or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Or the urge to buy new pencils
and paper or new socks and shoes. It seems that
the "back to school" reflex runs deep.
How do you respond to the call of fall? We
hope it will trigger the urge to sign up for a
Transformations class. There’s a whole menu of
classes to choose from. No homework required!
Usually. Tests? Not a one.
Just a few reminders...A free introduction
to
the Positive Aging Sage-ing Circle Series is
scheduled
for Saturday, September 16 from 9:30 to 11:15 a.m.
And don’t forget the Christian Mystics Series on
seven Thursdays starting September 21, 7-8:30
p.m.
Here’s a half dozen classes that are coming
up in the coming weeks. So go buy your new pencils,
a notebook or two, or make a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich...and come on back!
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Seize the Day - The Higher the Turnout the Lower the Burnout!
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Friday, October 6, 2006
Registration 8:00
a.m.;
Program 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
5th Annual Community of Caregivers Gathering
Spirituality of Caring: The Rewards and Risks
Dominic Vachon, M.Div., Ph.D.
In the continual encounter with human suffering,
helping professionals must find ways of responding to
pain that can help them avoid becoming demoralized,
emotionally detached and burned out. This workshop
explores how cultivating your spirituality of caring
helps to “metabolize” and transcend toxic encounters
with suffering and promotes healing in those we
help.
The cost is $65. Go to
Transformations’ Web site at
www.transformationscenter.org for the
day’s
schedule and more information on registration and
refund policy.
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Food for Thought: Films, Books and Dreams
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Tuesday, October 10 6:30 p.m. –
9:30
p.m.
Film for Thought - Enron: The Smartest Guys in
the Room (109 minutes)
Dr. Norman Hawker, WMU Associate Professor of Law
and executive board member of WMU’s Center for the
Study of Ethics in Society, will facilitate the
discussion following the film.
$5 in advance/$7
at the
door
This film is the unsettling true-life tale of the demise
of what was once one of the most successful
businesses in America. It shows how unbridled greed
can convert a culture of competition into one
of “synergistic corruption,” and it indicates that this
mentality has infiltrated corporate America and can
happen again. (This film is rated R.)
Three Thursdays, October 12, 26 and November
9
Spiritual Literacy: Books You Have Been Meaning
to Read
The Soul of Christianity: Restoring the Great
Tradition by Huston Smith
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. $20 for three sessions
Facilitated by Gertrude Maurer, SSJ
Huston Smith is the best-selling author of The
World’s Religions. His latest book, The Soul of
Christianity, is a passionate and illuminating
exploration of the common faith of the first
millennium. It not only presents the basic beliefs and
essential teachings of Christianity, but also illustrates
the link between religion and spirituality and argues
why religious belief matters today.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Dreams: The Language of the Soul
Laura Smith, SSJ, retreat and spiritual director
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. $40
(includes lunch)
The Bible gives us many examples of dreams as
instruments through which people hear both God and
echoes of their own souls. This workshop will explore
dreams and offer basic tools for interpretation of
your own dreams as a rich source of insight and
guidance in your spiritual life. Bring your journal.
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Did You Know: You Can Pray With Your Body As Well As Your Mind?
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Friday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m. (check in at 6:00)
to Saturday, November 4 at 4:00 p.m.
Praying with Our Whole Selves
Nancy Diment, Registered Yoga Teacher and Physical
Therapist, and Betsy Meagher, SSJ
$110 includes Friday snack, Saturday meals,
materials and a private guest room.
Commuters $85
Experience the restfulness of a retreat based on
listening to the wisdom of the body. We will use
breathing, relaxing and centering exercises of gentle
yoga, and focusing to help us bring our minds and
hearts to a place of prayerfulness. Those with some
physical limitations may participate without concern,
as Nancy’s skills include working with these
conditions. Dress comfortably and bring your journal.
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More 12-Step Wisdom with Fr. Jim O’Leary
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Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Working the 12-Steps: A “Mini Retreat” for Men
and Women in Recovery
Fr. James O’Leary 6:30 p.m. - 9:30
p.m.
$15 if
registered before October 24, $18 thereafter.
There are always new levels to explore in the 12
Steps. Discovering these new levels is a teachable
skill. Fr. Jim O’Leary’s straightforward approach and
depth of experience will help you learn these skills
and will give you a chance to experience, in short
form, what a longer retreat would be like.
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