Family, career and financial obligations are always pressing. Cell phones and email, great conveniences to be sure, can often result in even greater intrusions into our time. If a little peace or silence manages to creep in, our iPods quickly take care of that.
People are so burdened with obligations, rushing from task to task, that their spiritual life may be suffering. A 2007 poll, for example, found that a majority of Christians say that they are often too busy for God, with 60 percent of respondents saying that the harried pace of life “gets in the way of developing my relationship with God.”
Amidst the frantic world around it, the St. Pius X Spiritual Life Center is situated on 20 serene, wooded acres in Blackwood. Tree covered walkways, outdoor Stations of the Cross, a Meditation Garden and Faith Walk and a full-service retreat center beckon to area Catholics to take a break from the frenzied pace of daily life and make time for God.
The Center recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, yet the Center’s longtime presence on Peter Chesseman Road across from Camden County College is still a great unknown for many South Jersey Catholics.
“Many people pass the sign and know it’s here, but are unsure what it is,” said Father Francis W. Danella, OSFS, director of the Center. “Yet, the spiritual life center is a resource for our parishes and for all the people of the diocese to enhance their relationship with God and one another.”
“We provide a place where people can step back, gain perspective, and grow spiritually. With hectic and harried lives, one of the greatest treasures we offer here is space and time,” he said.
The St. Pius X Spiritual Life Center, which is supported by the House of Charity-Bishop’s Annual Appeal, offers guided and directed prayer experiences, spirituality programs, evenings of theological reflection, and a variety of retreat experiences. Last year $376,000 from the Appeal was disbursed to support the programs of the Center.
Most of the Center’s day and evening programs consist of a meal, a presentation by one of the Center’s staff members or a guest speaker, time for interaction, and Liturgy.
Father Danella stresses that the Center is not just for clergy and religious. “The Church has emphasized the vocation and mission of the lay faithful. Everyone must assume responsibility for the life and mission of the Church. Retreat experiences are invaluable for gaining insight, enlightenment and deeper awareness about living our lives as Catholic Christians,” he said.
In the coming weeks, the Center will offer a range of retreats, including “Padre Pio: His Life and Spirituality,” “The Will of God,” “The Heart of Jesus,” and “A Day of Reflection with Themes from the Gospel of John.” A Women’s Prayer Breakfast also will be held, while weekend preached retreats on “Mary, Woman of Hope” will be held in the fall and next spring.
“Jesus himself often withdrew from the crowds, going off to a quiet, secluded place to pray,” said Mariann Gettings, director of the House of Charity-Bishop’s Annual Appeal. “As Jesus’ disciples, we follow His example by making time for prayer, reflection and growth in the faith. The programs of the St. Pius X Spiritual Life Center provide wonderful opportunities for this. We are so grateful for the generosity of parishioners to the Annual Appeal which makes all of this possible,” she said.
For more information about the programs offered by the Spiritual Life Center, see www.stpius10th.org.