September 21 - International Peace Day
International Peace Day was initiated by the United Nations in 1983. It is commemorated by the Sisters of Social Service at Holy Spirit Retreat Center each year. This year is the 10th anniversary since 9/11 in the United States. Since we will be joining with many other events in the Los Angeles area around that time, we will not have a public event on the SSS property. Rather, we ask all our friends and colleagues to join the Sisters of Social Service and their Associates in times of prayer and contemplative quiet during that day with the intention of an end to civil unrest,conflict, war, and the causes of war in our world today. The local is global and the global is local - so let us remember the values and actions of interfaith cooperation, peace and nonviolence, and the environmental integrity of the earth.
Here is a link to find International Peace Day events in your area:
internationaldayofpeace.org
September 24, "Connecting the Dots of Peacemaking: War, Economy and Environment"
Pax Christi USA - Join us as Sr. Simone Campbell and other Religious leaders speak to the issues shaping our culture, politics and spirituality
Click here for workshops and program
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
St. Agatha Gospel Choir
Summer Concert
6:30 P.M. - BBQ ; Concert - 7:30 P.M.
The St. Agatha Parish familyhas been no stranger to Holy Spirit Retreat Center. Their support and generosity have blessed our ministry for many years. Under the direction of Eddie Hilley, St. Agatha Gospel Choir will entertain with a variety of soul-filled and uplifting gospel music.
BBQ & Concert $25.00; BBQ only $15.00; Concert only $15.00
To reserve for BBQ & Concert, please call 818 784 4515 before or on 7/22. Walk-ins are welcome for Concert only.
May 2011
Please join us for the Hail Mary the Queen Children Choir’s concert of traditional and contemporary music filled with spirit, meaning and lively choreography, sure to delight all ages and musical backgrounds. Bring your friends and family to see this award-winning choir at any of the concerts listed below (full list on second page). They will be singing at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino in May:
Holy Spirit Retreat Center – Encino
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 7:30 p.m.
For more details or to r.s.v.p., please call Sister Marie Lindeman, SSS,
at (818)285-3360 or e-mail her at
mariesss98@yahoo.com
Choir Background
The Sisters of Social Service first sponsored the Hail Mary the Queen Choir to come for a tour in 2005 from their two parishes in the Philippines, Immaculate Conception Parish in Cubao and Mary the Queen Parish in Green Hills. In 2004, they won the Gold Medal in the Music of Religions category at the 3rd Choir Olympics in Bremen, Germany. In 2007, they traveled to the First Asian Choir Games in Jakarta where they won three medals – Gold in Spiritual Gospel, Silver in Contemporary, and Silver in Sacred Music. While still singing in their own parishes the choir assists other parishes and groups in fundraising activities.
Funds raised will support Sisters’ efforts in the Philippines and the U.S.
This concert tour will raise money for social services provided by the Sisters of Social Service ministries in the Philippines and in the U.S. These vital services and outreach programs help children, youth, families, adults and the elderly who are on the margin of their communities. During the past 16 years, we have expanded our programs and are now at three locations in the Philippines: Paliparan and Minantok, East Cavite as well as Nasugbu, Batangas. Recently, we built a formation house there and are happy to report that we have four young women in training to become Sisters.
2011 Interview in The Tidings
Sister Chris Machado, Holy Spirit Retreat Center Director, was interviewed
by Dr. Nicki Monti on an inspirational radio program called Healthy
Net Radio. Sr. Chris shared her calling to become a Sister, explored
the spiritual focus of the Holy Spirit Retreat Center and what it means
to her to be a woman religious within the complexities of today’s world.
You can hear her conversation with Dr. Monti at:
HealthyLife.net.
(The conversation starts about 4 min. 15 sec. into the segment)
The Tidings December 2010
Sr. Gail Young, Program Coordinator for the L.A. Archdiocese Office
of Justice and Peace, was recently featured in The Tidings. She described
her trip to Africa in connection with Catholic Relief Services and gives
talks on the impact of the work being done in Ethiopia and Tanzania
to parishes and ministry groups. Read her article in
The Tidings
Sister Lorenz will to to the Philippines
Sister Deborah Lorenz, Program Director for Holy Spirit as well as Mediation
Facilitator for the Los Angeles Archdiocese, is preparing to spend several weeks
in the Philippines teaching Formation coursework to the newest candidates
who are beginning their discernment process to become Sisters of Social Service.
We currently have 4 young women in the Philippines, two in Mexico and one in
the U.S. who are involved in this process.
