About this Retreat
seeks to find, participate in, and seed community experiences of deepening into the fullness of our true selves and then asking the discerning question, “What is mine to do?” The way of discernment came as a gift to Lois during her training as a spiritual director. She is deeply grateful to be working with Grainger Brown — a longstanding discernment mentor for her. She values community experiences that help us lean into the long view of Spirit—and the imperative to BE love—as vision and practice equal to the precariousness of our times. Lois worked at Wood Lake Publishing for 30 years, was a program mentor for the Pacific Jubilee SoulGuiding program, and was director of spiritual nurture at Naramata Centre. Now Lois offers spiritual accompaniment to her multi-generational household (age six to 83) as well as individual spiritual direction and online retreat leadership.
Learn about Lois’ spiritual accompaniment practice here. www.canadianjubilee.ca/spiritual-directors/lois-huey-heck
The Reverend Doctor Murray Groom is an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada. Retired from parish ministry, he now exercises his vocation as a spiritual director/soul guide. He regularly conducts extended retreats into Silence at Bethlehem Centre in Nanaimo and at Naramata Centre in the Okanagan Valley. His prevailing interests include the role of the guide on pilgrimage, the interface of the wild with the tame, the wisdom of global mythologies and the well-being of his family. When not travelling with his wife Susan, he lives in the South Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.
Learn about Murray’s
spiritual accompaniment practice.
Details of this retreat
“Dust and ashes touch our face” begins the Lenten hymn of the same name by Brian Wren. We are invited to re-member that we are both stardust and clay vessels and as such we will know joy and sorrow. This season of turning invites us to another re-set, a return to the land of our souls where body and Spirit exist not in opposition or warfare but in their sacred symbiosis. In the good company of the sages and mystics — those we walk with now—and those who have gone before, let’s dare to turn gently toward the gifts of bright sadness and walk together into more fullness of being. We’ll listen to ourselves, to each other, and to the sound of sheer silence. Resilience for times like these is to be found in territories like this.
During these slowly-lengthening evenings, we’ll be companioned by word and image, music and silence, and one another. As we quiet into deep reflection of Lent’s first weeks we’ll meet anew three traditional practises: prayer— justice toward the Holy, fasting—justice toward self, and almsgiving—justice toward neighbours.
Bright Sadness is the sixth in this series of contemplative online events for “times like these" offered since January 2025 through the partnership of Naramata Centre and Pacific Jubilee.
Photo taken by Lois Huey-Heck
AGES: 18+
BURSARY AVAILABLE: The Naramata Centre Heartwood Bursary is available for most programs, based on financial need. If cost is a barrier to participating in this program, please consider applying for the bursary. Click here to apply https://www.naramatacentresociety.org/personal-retreats/#bursary
This event is offered through the partnership of
Pacific Jubilee and Naramata Centre
Bursary funds are available through Naramata Centre.
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