1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

Volume 48
Spring 2012
Number 2
Why Would Anyone Want to Come to the Quiet?
George is 38 years old, married with three children, whose oldest is just entering high school.
As a computer security analyst for a Fortune
500 company, George travels about ten days a
month. He savors time with his wife and family, but complains that there just is not enough
time for the important things in life. It seems
as soon as George begins to relax on a Saturday afternoon, he gets a text from his boss that
preoccupies the rest of his day. George worries
about how he is going to pay for three college tuitions in a few
years. Also he and his wife seem to be going in different directions in their lives. He tries to pray but he is just too busy and
distracted.
in Big Sur for the privilege of not having a TV in their rooms or
being able to get online. Many folks today are willing to pay big
money to get unplugged and experience the Joy of Quiet.
When I was missioned to rural Alaskan villages in the mid1990’s there were three speeds—slow, slower, and dead. As a
city boy at first I found myself bored—always looking for something to stimulate me and excite me. Gradually I began to see
the Quiet of rural Alaska as a gift that I have taken with me back
to the city. I always have a place of Quiet and prayer in my heart
that keeps me anchored and in touch with my deepest desires.
Practically I keep anchored to my deepest desires with God’s
grace and the Ignatian tools of the daily Examen of Consciousness and an annual 8-Day Retreat.
And then there is Lauren—28 years old, apprentice in hotel management, very busy
with her friends and
career but dating a
man on the East Coast
where she often travels. Lauren wonders:
should I change my
job and re-locate to the
East Coast to pursue a
more serious relationship with this special
man? Where is God
leading me?
Jack is 70 years old,
and he has just retired
from a very successful
career as a college professor of history. He enjoys more time now with his wife and
four grandchildren. And yet retirement seems kind of empty
to him and he wonders if there might be more to life before he
dies?
Each of these individuals, George, Lauren, and Jack would profit from a weekend away from home, away from normal duties
and relationships, and unplugged from all the devices that keep
us so in touch. In other words, “The Quiet” of Bellarmine Jesuit
Retreat House provides an opportunity just to slow down and
begin to listen to the deepest desires of your heart, and in these
deepest desires find where God might be leading you. A retreat
at Bellarmine will give you some important tools for taking this
Quiet into your daily life so that you stay anchored and focused
on what is really important in life.
The December 29, 2011 New York Times contained an article by
Pico Iyer on the Joy of Quiet. He speaks of people who part with
$2,285 per night to stay in a cliff-top room at the Post Ranch Inn
part of your life.
Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House offers
you this opportunity
to come to the Quiet
and make a retreat. At
first this all may seem
scary and like a waste
of time—perhaps you
are thinking this could
be boring or that you
have other more important things to do.
And yet as many former Bellarmine retreatants can testify,
once you get hooked
on God working in
your deepest desires,
your annual retreat
will become a regular and indispensable
The spiritual life is about an ever deepening spiral into greater
and greater intimacy with our God. For those who have never
made a weekend retreat, this is a great time to unplug and start.
For those who have yearly made a retreat at Bellarmine, consider coming twice a year to deepen the experience. Or consider
coming on one of our two individually directed retreats offered
this summer. Remember, if you can’t come at your regularly
scheduled time with your group, there are almost always some
openings for retreats at other times. Just call our office or check
our schedule online at www.bellarminehall.org.
I look forward to each of you coming again to the Quiet of a Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House program in the near future.
Sincerely in Jesus Christ ,
Father Paul B. Macke, S.J.
Executive Director
An Internship in
Farewell Phil Kosiba
Spiritual Direction in
the Ignatian Tradition
at Bellarmine Retreat
House in Barrington IL
Thank you Phil Kosiba for
your many years of service
on our Board of Directors.
Phil is moving on to retirement this June. Thankfully,
he has agreed to act as a consultant on any building projects. Phil began his board
duties with Fr. Hayes. Fr. Hayes had many building questions that Phil was able to assist him with, which eventually became the beginning plans for our new building
addition. Phil was the volunteer owner’s representative
for the construction of our Conference Center and Jesuit
Residence. Fr. Dillon became the Director and the building construction really took off. Phil acted as Board Chair
under Fr. Dillon, Fr. Steve Hurd, and Fr. Mark Andrews.
Phil says his greatest gift from his Bellarmine association
was working with the Directors and the Board of very talented dedicated individuals.
Monday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30pm
Oct 15, 29, Nov 12, 26, Dec 10, 2012
Jan 14, 28, Feb 11, 25, Mar 11, 25, Apr 8, 22, May 6, 2013.
[Direct a Silent Retreat on a Weekend under supervision]
This seminar focuses on the dynamics of the spiritual direction conversation in the Ignatian tradition. It attends to listening contemplatively to the movement of God in the life of the
directee, discernment of those movements, and fostering intimacy with God. It lays out foundational principles in Ignatian
spirituality and Christian decision making.
It requires a commitment to the following:
• Attend all fourteen seminar sessions.
• Direct at least two directees during the year in monthly spiritual direction sessions and one
silent weekend retreat.
• Present one written verbatim adapted from your
experience as a director.
• Meet twice in the fall and three times in the
winter/spring for one-on-one supervision.
Pray for Bellarmine
Bellarmine invites you to pray for this ministry and to
ask others to join you on a retreat. Bellarmine also encourages you to support this ministry with your financial resources so that this ministry can continue to grow
and remain present in the Chicago area for many years
to come. Besides major gifts, bequests, and contributions
to our endowment, please help us fund needed maintenance projects like a new chapel roof, tuck-pointing, and
plumbing repairs in our oldest buildings
It is the hope of Bill Creed S.J., and Paul Macke S.J., that this
internship in spiritual direction will respond to some of the
apostolic priorities of Bellarmine Hall Retreat House. We
hope it will assist in the continued formation in the Ignatian
tradition of our lay colleagues who have already been formed
by the Ignatian tradition of receiving spiritual direction and
making a directed retreat.
Bellarmine Mission
The three texts you should order are: Barry & Connolly, The
Practice of Spiritual Direction; Bill Barry, Letting God Come
Close, Sparough, What’s Your Decision. We will welcome a
maximum of 12 and can conduct the seminar with no fewer
than 7, on a first come basis.
Statement
Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House is committed to fostering
the spiritual development of Catholics and other people
of faith through a variety of contemporary programs and
retreats that are grounded in the Spiritual Exercises of St.
Ignatius of Loyola.
Apply for the Written Application after May 1, 2012 and before September 10, 2012 by contacting Bill Creed S.J., at billcreed@aol.com. All will interview with either Bill Creed or
one of the Bellarmine Jesuit staff anytime after May 10th and
before September 21st. Acceptances will be made sometime
after the interview.
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Bellarmine Retreat Schedule
REGISTRATION OPENS JULY 1, 2012 FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEKENDS
(Please take note of those retreats marked NEW)
2012-2013 R E TREAT WEEKEN D SCH ED ULE
September 7-9, 2012 Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Jim Kubicki, S.J.
Attending: Matt Carpenter Group
September 14-16, 2012 – Couples Silent Weekend – Fr. Michael Sparough, S.J. NEW
Attending: Bob Gorman, Holy Family/Decatur, MI,John Kasting,John Holmes,Mark Lester, St. Anastasia HNS/Waukegan, St. Hubert/Hoffman Estates, St. Petronille/Glen
Ellyn, St. Monica/Carpentersville, Individuals
September 21-23, 2012 Men’s and Women’s Silent Weekend – Fr. William Barry, S.J.
Attending: Individuals
September 28-30, 2012 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Robert Flack, S.J.
Attending: Bernard Kash, Holy Family/Inverness, KC/Mt. Prospect, Our Lady of Fatima/ChicagoSt. John Neuman/St. Charles, St. Priscilla HNS/Chicago, Tom Tully
Group, Jerry Jendro, Joe Bussone, Individuals
October 5-7, 2012 – Women’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Paul B Macke, S.J. and Mary McKeon
Attending: Catholic Cemeteries, Gloria Kazimer, Holy Name Cathedral, Loretta Caravette, Margie McCalester, Mary Jane Fortman, Melinda Henson, Lighthouse Women’s
Group, Women of St. Isaac Jogues, Individuals
October 9-11, 2012 – Women’s Midweek Silent Retreat – Fr. Rick McGurn, S.J.
Attending: Gloria Kazimer, Mary Jane Fortman, Melinda Henson, Nancy Herr, Individuals
October 12-14, 2012 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Doug Leonhardt, S.J.
Attending: Newspaper, Red Mooney/Jack Cullen, St. Norberts, Five Holy Martyrs/Chicago, KC Ryan/Chicago, Pioneer Group, KC/Spring Grove, Individuals
October 19-21, 2012 – Men’s Bill W Silent Retreat – Fr. Robert Hanlon, S.J.
October 26-28, 2012- Charis Ministries, Young Adult
November 2-4, 2012 – Men’s Silent Weekend, Fr. David Meconi, S.J.
Attending: Frank Condon Group, KC St. Thomas/Crystal Lake, Sacred Heart/Winnetka, St. John the Baptist/Johnsburg, St. Joseph/Wilmette, St. Anne/Barrington, Jack A.
Davis, Mazzuchelli’s Men, Individuals
November 9-11, 2012 – Women’s Bill W Silent Weekend – Fr. Gerry O’Brien, S.J.
November 16-18, 2012 – Men’s Bill W Silent Weekend- Fr. Jim Harbaugh, S.J.
November 30-Dec 2, 2012 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Michael Sparough, S.J.
Attending: Bob Finucane, Don Goodwillie, Don Kelly, KC/Harvard, St. Ignatius Fathers Alumni, Frank Gill Memorial, Rockford Diaconate Class, St. Walter/Roselle, and
KC Roselle, Individuals
December 7-9, 2012 – Men’s Bill W Silent Weekend – Fr. Gerry O’Brien, S.J.
January 4-6, 2013 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. David Meconi, S.J.
Attending: Four Shepherds
January 11-13, 2013 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Jim Kubicki, S.J.
Attending: St. Francis DeSales/Lake Zurich, St. Mary’s/Lake Forest, Al Raffin, Sts. Peter and Paul, Individuals
January 18-20, 2013 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Paul Macke, S.J.
Attending: Dr. Hugh Grimes Group, KC/Schaumburg, St. Charles, Michael Deutsch Group, Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity/Winnetka, Jerry Ryndak/Hampshire, Our Lady of
Perpetual Help/Glenview, St. Giles Men’s Society/Oak Park, Individuals
January 25-27, 2013 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Brian Paulson, S.J.
Attending: St. Patrick/Elkhorn WI, KC/DesPlaines, Our Lady of the Grove KC, St. Mary HNS, St. James the Apostle/Glen Ellyn, KC/Elmhurst
February 1-3, 2013 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Michael Sparough, S.J.
Attending: Mike Roche/Phil Zera Group, Individuals
February 8-10, 2013 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Rick McGurn, S.J.
Attending: Cathedral of St. Raymond/Joliet, Mary Seat of Wisdom/Park Ridge, St. Norbert/Northbrook, Individuals
February 15-17, 2013 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Jim Gschwend, S.J.
Attending: Divine Savior/Norridge, KC/Barrington, KC-St. Catherine/Dundee, Our Lady of the Wayside/Arlington Heights, St. Isaac Jogues/Hinsdale, St. Margaret Mary/
Chicago, St. James & St. Edna/Arlington Heights #2, Walsh Jesuit HS Alumni, St. Ignatius Alumni (Cleveland), Individuals
February 22-24, 2013 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. John P. Foley, S.J.
Attending: Naperville MM/PP/R/TH, St. Alphonsus/Prospect Heights, , Al John’s Group/Milwaukee Area, Individuals
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March 1-3, 2013 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Rick McGurn, S.J.
Attending: St. Mary Magdalene/Joliet, St. Francis of Assisi/Bolingbrook, Individuals
March 8-10, 2013 – Men and Women’s Silent Weekend – Fr. William Barry, S.J.
Attending: Loyola Dental Group, Ziggie’s Group, KC St. Bede/Ingleside, Santa Maria del Popolo, Young Men, Our Lady of Peace HNS, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel/Chicago,
Bill Galliani, Individuals
March 15-17, 2013 – Men’s Bill W Silent Weekend – Ms. Mildred Frank
March 22-24, 2013 – Men and Women’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Jim Kubicki, S.J. NEW
Attending: Dick Brooker Memorial, Franklin DuPuis Memorial, KC Ryan/Chicago, Assumption Parish/River Forest, Catholic Cemeteries, Marie Council KC/Park Ridge,
KC8082 Fr. McGivney, , Ed Gesualdo, Motts Tonelli Group, Ken Murphy Group, Individuals
March 28-30, 2013 – Holy Week Men and Women’s Silent Retreat – Fr. J.J. O’Leary, S.J. NEW
Attending: E. Hartrich Memorial, Ron Frost/Geldermann Memorial, KC Commodore Barry/Ed Gesualdo, McDevitt Clan, Mother Good Counsel, St. Martha/Morton Grove,
Individuals
April 5-7, 2013 – Men’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Doug Leonhardt, S.J.
Attending: St. James/Franklin,WI, , St. Therese KC Holy Ghost, , Holy Cross/Batavia, KC 8082 Fr. McGivney, Individuals
April 12-14, 2013 – Women’s Silent Weekend – Fr. J.J. O’Leary, S.J.
Attending: Gloria Kazimer, Marie Pfeiffer, Margie McCalester, Melinda Henson, Holy Name Catholic Women, Heart of Mary/OLW,Loretta Caravette, Our Lady of Peace,
Individuals
April 19-21, 2013, - Men and Women’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Robert Flack, S.J. NEW
Attending: Loyola Academy Father’s Club, St. Francis Xavier/Wilmette, Our Lady of the Wayside/Arlington Heights, Ed Gesualdo, St. John the Apostle/Villa Park, Al
John’s Group/Milwaukee area/Richard Antonello, KC/Additon, , Individuals
April 26-28, 2013 Cancelled NEW
May 3-5, 2013 – Women’s Silent Weekend – Fr. Michael Sparough, S.J.
Attending: Elizabeth Golden, Loretta Caravette, St. Adelaide, Women of the Cathedral of St. Raymond, Individuals
Holy Thursday Sedar Meal celebrated at beginning of Holy Week Retreat.
Next Year women are invited to join this special Holy Week Retreat,
from Thursday night through Saturday afternoon.
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Meet Our Staff
Those of you who have been at Bellarmine since
the middle of February would have already seen
our staff photos nicely arrayed on the wall outside
our chapel. We want Bellarmine Retreatants to
know who is on staff and what their responsibilities are. A familiar face can often lead to a happier place. (Thanks to Fr. Michael Sparough and
Fr. Paul Macke for the photos and Linda Ballowe
for the display)!
Obituaries
Since our last newsletter, we have been
informed of the death of the following retreatants. Please remember them in your
prayers. A Mass is offered each month
for all our deceased. Kindly inform us of
the death of any members of the Bellarmine Family.
Also new to the retreat house are name badges
worn by our staff personnel. Jesuits living in Community here at Bellarmine and all
employees wear nicely designed blue name tags with their name and title. Members
of our Kitchen staff as well wear Ceres Food Service Name Badges.
In this Newsletter we would like from time to time to feature one of our staff members. Today we would like to introduce to you, Mrs. Kelly Florek. Kelly is the latest
addition to our staff, beginning part time in 2011 and moving to full time November
21, 2012. Kelly’s title is System’s Manager. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and skills in accounting, computer technology and Development.
Kelly worked for the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus from 1992 to 2007,
as Office Manager for the Jesuit International Missions, Inc. There she managed all
financial and administrative functions of multinational mission services with combined revenues in excess of $250 million. There she interfaced with inter-departmental and national offices including Development and Informational Technology
(IT). Many of our retreat directors arriving on Friday afternoons light up when
they see an old friend from the Province Office has re-established herself in another
Jesuit Community. Kelly is married to Steve Florek and they have three boys, Zachary, Aaron and Luke.
In Development Kelly has completed our first two Annual Donor Reports. She
works on Grant Proposals, major donor individual appeals, personalized thank you
letters and calls. She assists the Operations Manager in special events planning and
execution.
In Technology Kelly has been studying our current software and comparing it with
national programs that could enhance our registration and accounting systems.
In accounting Kelly reconciles the monthly bank statements and prepares reports for
the Board and Jesuit Community. She is a great asset to our staff and we hope you
will welcome her to her full time position at Bellarmine.
Remember Bellarmine
Gerald Cahill
January 31, 2012
Michael Asma
July 16, 2011
Steven Kordek
February 19, 2012
Alois Kolbeck
January 27, 2012
Jerry J Donohue
December 7, 2011
Walter F Stromek
September 26, 2011
Edith E Sparough
February 26, 2012
Michael McConville
April 13, 2011
Patrick Dawson
May 3, 2011
Deacon William P. Worden
March 30, 2012
James McPartland
December 16, 2010
Walter Tokarski
December 21, 2011
Eleanor (Nel) Theresa Ochylski
April 16, 2012
To enable Bellarmine to flourish for decades to come, consider including the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in your
will and estate plan. Inquire about the planning of your will, at no cost to you. Call 847-381-1261
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Bellarmine Hall
Board of Advisors
Rev. Paul B. Macke, Execuitve Director
Mr. Tim Reuland, Chair
Apostolic Committee:
Marjorie Beane, Chair
Kate DeVries
Fr. Jim Dixon, S.J.
Jim McMahon
Sr. Mary Sharon Riley, R.C.
Building, Grounds and Operations
Committee:
Phil Kosiba, Chair
Bob Foley
Tim Reuland
Development Committee:
Charles Foos, Chair
Executive Committee:
Tim Reuland, Chair
Marjorie Beane
Phil Kosiba
John Kurkowski
Finance and Investment Committee:
Pat Furgat, Chair
John Kurkowski
Gene Croisant
David Meagher
J E S U I T R E T R E AT L E A G U E
OF CHICAGO
420 West County Line Road
Barrington, IL 60010-4043
847-381-1261
847-381-4695 fax
e-mail: bellarmine@bellarminehall.org
www.bellarminehall.org
Bellarmine Biz
By Kelly Florek
As promised, here is the second edition of Bellarmine Biz where I am
determined to keep our friends/readers in the loop with noteworthy
events and changes happening here in the office and around the house
that may affect you.
When is the last time you visited www.bellarminehall.org ? Our web
site is ever-changing and we’d love to hear what you think of it! We’ve
added new pictures, updated the schedule, fixed some registration
problems and continued to explore new ways to improve the services it
provides ~ please check it out soon!
During Lent we included a link to “40: The Series”, a 14-episode video series where “each episode acts as a Lenten
allegory and is accompanied by reflection questions that
help viewers make connections between the story line,
scriptural references and the meaning of Lent.”
We are dedicated to supplying up-to-date information as well as useful
material in addition to providing an electronic means of registering for
retreats (and/or making donations if you are so inclined.)
Efficiency through technology improvements: We have
been doing everything we can to catapult our technology
here in the “house” and in our offices in particular out of
the dark (and too slow) ages into newer and speedier operations. We started by updating from Microsoft 2003 to
the current version and have slowly gone through Accounting and Data
system upgrades, most recently moving to Microsoft 365 Office (aka: the
“Cloud”).
Bellarmine has been on the receiving end of some extremely lovely new pieces of furniture! Friends have
been kind enough to donate wonderful new tables, chairs,
couches and a handsome “breakfront” (china cabinet to
me!) which you are sure to notice the next time you are
here.
Here are a couple of re-peats that are so important we decided to include them in this issue as well as the last:
We need your current email address! We hope to move
toward sending this newsletter and other correspondence
via email if it is convenient for you, as it would save us
valuable dollars. Please let us know if your email has changed. (We
promise to keep your information confidential.)
Have any special occasions we can celebrate with you?
Let us remember you in a special prayer at our daily Mass.
Maybe you would like us to include your Wedding Anniversary with a special intention, or pray for a deceased
loved one on the anniversary of their death. No matter what the occasion, if it is important to you, please share the date with your Bellarmine
family, because it is important to us too!
Please do not hesitate to contact me with comments regarding these
matters, or information I’ve requested here. My email address is kellyf@bellarminehall.org, my phone number is 847-381-2625.