Saturday, March 5, 2011 10:15 AM–1 PM
Listening, Hearing, and Living Series: Business and Benedict with Father Simon McGurk
Simon McGurk
Is it really possible to navigate the demands of business, home life, and self care with wisdom, gentleness, productivity, and delight? What do rhythms of monastic life teach us about in our daily work, our choice of career, and living into our vocation? How might these profound rhythms impact our business life, enhance personal satisfaction, and generate a climate of respect?
Father Simon McGurk—prior, educator, and leader of St. Anselm’s Monastery in Washington, D.C.,—guides our discovery of the profoundly simple ways that the wisdom and practice of the monastic way can foster radical balance in our lives and reconciling transformation in our world. We will learn to embrace our work and vocation with refreshed intention, practical wisdom, and a sense of balance, encouraged by this community of wisdom.
Whatever your tradition, faith perspective, or life stage you will be welcome!
About the Listening, Hearing, and Living series
These once-a-month, Saturday sessions set apart time and space to listen for the ancient yet evergreen rhythms embodied in the monastic way of Saint Benedict— a gentle model for practical, balanced, harmonious living. In this “monastery beyond walls” we still ourselves to hear deep spiritual wisdom for our lives— our families, our work, and our relationships. We gather with the support and encouragement of others of like intention to live lives that embrace balance and foster reconciliation and renewal throughout our world.
We listen, we hear, we live.
In a dynamic learning dialogue woven from the wisdom and practice of scholars, leaders, and active contemplatives steeped in the Benedictine tradition, we enrich our experience of community, wisdom, and transformation. Sessions can be experienced independently or as part of a complete series each year. Whatever your tradition, faith perspective, or life stage—if you seek the way of balance and reconciliation you are welcome.
Order of the Day
10 am Gather for registration with light refreshments in Perry Auditorium, 7th floor
10:15–10:45 am
Welcome, Centering, and Setting of Intention
10:45 am–12:45 pm
Presentation and learning with guest speaker
12:40–12:55 pm
Reflections with guest speaker
12:55 pm
Blessing
1:15–2:15 pm (optional lunch gathering)
Hospitality
Shared Meal: Brown bag lunch and facilitated conversation with guest speaker
To more richly experience the fellowship and hospitality along the Benedictine way, you are invited to stay for an optional brown bag meal from 1:15 to 2:15 pm. Bring a lunch to share or pick one up in the Cathedral Store. There is always plenty to go around!
About Simon McGurk
Fr. Simon McGurk was born in north-west England in 1943. He attended the Benedictine boarding High School of Belmont Abbey, Hereford, England and later studied theology at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Fr. McGurk returned to Belmont Abbey in 1969 to teach in the High School as housemaster, subject and sport teacher, and finally headmaster until 1988. From 1989 to 1994 he was retreats and guestmaster at the abbey, then pastor of the Abbey’s parish until 1997. He was then appointed pastor of the city parish of Hereford and Dean of the county’s parishes.
In 2001 Fr. McGurk was sent to Peru as superior to Belmont Abbey’s recent foundation near Piura, principally to train the Peruvian novices. Expecting that to be his last job, he was called to Washington D.C. to be Prior of St. Anselm’s Abbey, also by its foundation a monastery of the English Benedictine Congregation. There he amuses himself with American monks, leads the liturgy, gives talks and retreats, and tries to foster all things Benedictine.