Speaking

I am eager to share my unique perspective with people seeking to connect Scripture, spirituality, and everyday life, and would be delighted to offer a talk or retreat for your parish or other group.

Everything you see here is adaptable, from two hours to several days, in person or via Zoom.  See what people are saying about me by visiting my Testimonials page! 


UPCOMING EVENTS

POSSIBLE TOPICS

EVENT HISTORY

INTERVIEWS

SPEAKER REQUEST


UPCOMING EVENTS

Conference for Mercy Higher Education
Campus Ministers Retreat,
June 10-12

Finding God in Ordinary Time (Week-Long Preached Retreat)
SSJ Center for Spirituality, Ocean Grove NJ
Tuesday through Monday, August 20-26

A summer retreat in a beautiful setting holds the promise of a profound encounter with God—but what about the other fifty-one weeks? Literally, most of our days are spent in ordinary time. Once we are back in the routine of regular life, how do we hold on to that connection and continue to notice and savor God’s presence? On this retreat, we will pray with the wonders of the created world, surprising encounters with strangers, challenging and awe-inspiring experiences, poignant moments of life transition, and heartbreaking goodbyes. Discovering the sacred in the commonplace, we will return to our ordinary days with a renewed vision of how God may indeed be found in all things.
Cost: $650; follow the link above to register.

An Afternoon with Mary and Martha
Neumann University Cultural Arts Forum, Aston PA
Thursday, October 24, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Biblical sisters Martha and Mary are best remembered for their conflict in Luke 10, leading women today to identify with one or the other.  Through the gift of dramatic interpretation, we will listen to the famous incident from Martha’s perspective, challenge the stereotypes often associated with these sisters, and reflect on how God calls each of us to “choose the better part.”

On Pilgrimage
Foulkeways Vespers Gathering
Sunday, November 3, 6:30 – 7:15 p.m.

The Contemplative Journey and God’s Healing Touch
Contemplative Formation Reunion Weekend, Mariandale NY
November 8-9 (private event)


Possible Topics

I would be delighted to offer a talk or retreat for your parish or other group. Everything you see here is adaptable, from two hours to several days, in person or via Zoom. Check out the topics below, or sample my list of previous engagements.

As my new book Finding God Along the Way: Wisdom from the Ignatian Camino for Life at Home is being released in January of 2025, I am developing a series of retreats around the theme of pilgrimage. Stay tuned!

Advent:
Choosing the Better Part / A Retreat with Mary and Martha

Lent:
Living the Lent We Get / Allowing Life to Become its own Lenten Discipline

Any Season:

Take Nothing for the Journey
The Stories that Form Us
Abide In Me as I Abide in You
Finding God in Ordinary Time
Healing Encounters
Grief and Grace
Joseph: Carpenter / Dreamer / Foster Father / Saint


Dramatic Interpretations of Women in Scripture
Scripture gives us the bare bones of stories, but through Ignatian prayer we can encounter God more deeply by immersing ourselves imaginatively in the text.  I have written four monologues–the fruit of such prayer–from the perspective of various Gospel women whose lives were changed by an encounter with Jesus.   Drawing on my theater background (God wastes nothing!) I have performed these monologues in retreat houses, church halls, living rooms and classrooms.  In the process, participants gain insight into the working of God in their own lives.

The Women:

  • Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
    How does our desire to do things “well” keep us from seeing what God is really asking of us? (Available via Zoom as well as live!)
  • The Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4:4-42)
    What would it be like to see our complicated lives through the compassionate eyes of Jesus?
  • The Woman with a Hemorrhage (Mark 5:25-34)
    When life has cast us down, how do we find the courage to reach out for healing–again?
  • The Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:1-11)
    When we find ourselves far from our best selves, how does God invite us back?

A sample gathering might include:

  • Unpacking the Scripture together
  • Dramatic monologue
  • Quiet time for personal reflection
  • Sharing of participants’ insights

The time frame is adaptable–anywhere from a 50-minute class to a 90-minute mini-retreat or a morning/afternoon/evening segment of a full retreat.

Other Passions
Anything that appeals to you from my blog is fair game!


INTERVIEWS

In the summer of 2020 I had the great pleasure of being interviewed by Mary Fran Bontempo and Kristin Smedley, founders of Brilliantly Resilient, about my leap of faith into becoming a “freelance me.” They had me back again in 2022 as Finding God Abiding was coming out. Enjoy!

And in the spring of 2019 I had the good fortune of being a guest on two different shows on RVN TV.  Each interview is just under half an hour.  Enjoy!


RETURN TO TOP

Use the contact form below if you’d like more information or to arrange a talk or retreat at a mutually convenient time.

1 thought on “Speaking”

  1. As the Spiritual Development Associate for the Baltimore-based Ignatian Volunteer Corps, it can sometimes be a challenge to find unique, fresh ways in which to inspire our volunteers, many of whom have been with IVC for years. What a blessing we all experienced last Thursday when Christine led our mid-year day of reflection! It was just the right blending of presentation, reflection questions and thoughts, personal prayer time, and group interaction. Her portrayal of Martha from Luke’s Gospel was captivating. In the tradition of Hebrew Midrash, Christine brought Martha to life for us, enabling us to relate to this Biblical figure in a very real way. I highly recommend Christine and her gifts to you!

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