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Retreat Schedule > The Chosen: A Spiritual Reflection Retreat

The Chosen: A Spiritual Reflection Retreat

An Ignatian, Semi-Silent Extended Weekend Retreat for Adults

October 6 - 9, 2023

Groups Attending: Individuals

This retreat is currently at capacity or registration is closed. Please call the office at 847.381.1261 with questions.

Summary

During this retreat you will have the opportunity to reflect on the life of Jesus and his first followers in a whole new way. Together with other retreatants and members of our Ministry team at Bellarmine, you will watch The Chosen, the first-ever multi-season show about Jesus starring Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie as Jesus.  

To learn more about The Chosen, check out their website or watch the “Season 1” trailer here.

Retreatants can choose to watch either Season 1, 2 or 3.

Description

The show is receiving great reviews including from many Bellarmine retreatants and members of our Ministry team:   

Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ: 

“For those who fear another cheesy Bible drama depiction of misty eyed disciples and an overly pious Jesus spouting holy sayings, I have two words for you: "Fear not!" The Chosen is a refreshingly original, deeply moving, artful retelling of the Gospel. Its multi-season format allows for a much deeper dive into the everyday interactions among Jesus’ disciples than we’ve ever seen dramatized before.”
Learn more about Fr. Michael

Maureen Garvey: 

“I believe that God can speak to us through our imagination.  In the series, The Chosen, we accompany the characters (Jesus, Mary, Mary of Magdala, Nicodemus, Peter, Matthew, etc.) by imagining scenes from the gospels in new ways. I love the humor and humanness of the characters in The Chosen. The movie makes the New Testament stories come alive and have meaning for me today. As I dig deeper, I experience God in a personal way, encouraging me to love as Jesus loved. ”
Learn more about Maureen Garvey

Fr. Roc O'Connor, SJ: 

“Even though I’ve visited Israel, walked the Way of the Cross, prayed in the Martyrium where tradition has it that Jesus died and was buried and rose again, visited the Mount of Olives, sat on the hill where Jesus most likely preached the Sermon on the Mount, I still wonder what people and places looked like in Jesus’ time. The Chosen offers an interpretation of the gospels by its choice of actors and setting that feels authentic. I’ve not found the same in other ‘lives of Christ.’ –Roc O’Connor, SJ”
Learn more about Fr. Roc

Rev. Carol Ann Munro

“I’ll admit to having been a skeptic at first. I’ve rarely liked the ways I’ve seen Jesus portrayed in films, and have usually been highly critical of the ways scripture has been used, or misused, in the telling of the story in media. The Chosen flipped my world! Here was a Jesus I actually yearned to follow! Having The Chosen as a spiritual resource has deepened my appreciation of Jesus’ humanity, the disciples’ overwhelmed confusion at what they were being asked to do not unlike my own),and God’s creative interweaving throughout. I delight in being a part of the Bellarmine retreat because of the great joy of being able to experience the episodes with others, sharing insights, and how God is speaking to them through this wonderful portrayal of Jesus’ ministry — a ministry that continues to be ongoing in all of our lives!”
Learn more about Carol Ann

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Retreat Leaders

Bellarmine Jesuit Ministry Team and Additional Spiritual Directors

The ministry team and other trained Spiritual Directors lead the spiritual direction of retreats and programs at Bellarmine.  

Maureen Garvey

Maureen Garvey holds an MA from the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin. She and her husband, Kevin, completed the Diaconate Training Program in 2004 at the University of St. Mary of the Lake. Maureen completed a 30-week at home retreat of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and volunteering twice a week as a member of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps. Maureen meets with people seeking spiritual direction in person at Holy Cross Church in Deerfield, IL and online.

Rev Carol Ann Munro

Rev. Carol Ann Munro is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.  She has served as a parish pastor, hospital chaplain, development officer, retreat leader and spiritual director. Primary areas of focus for her ministry have been 12-step spirituality, adult faith formation and biblical literacy.   She is currently a volunteer with the Ignatian Spirituality Project, which provides spiritual companioning for people recovering from homelessness and addiction.