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May 2, 2022, Adrian, Michigan – A statement by Mahatma Gandhi that there is one truth but many paths to that truth “seems to be the consensus of millions, even billions, of people in the 21st century.”

Sister Susan Van Baalen, OP

That was the opening statement of Sister Susan Van Baalen, OP, in her April 21, 2022, spirituality presentation on world religions, “One Truth, Many Paths.” The live streamed event was part of a monthly series of presentations on spirituality sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Spirituality Committee.

Noting that we are “all on our personal journey,” Sister Susan invited her audience to open themselves to the spiritual gifts of other faith traditions – while maintaining their fidelity to their own faith tradition, the one that God is calling them to follow. 

“Even if I believe my tradition is exactly right for me, I can also believe that their tradition is exactly right for them,” she said. She described this as an inclusive stance to world religions. A further step on this path, she added, is religious pluralism, which leads people to “embrace some of the rich practices” of other traditions while remaining true to their own. 

Sister Susan said that most world religions have common values. “There are as many commonly used names for the union with God as there are faith traditions,” she said. “In each, [religious practice] stems from a journey of letting go of all that is not of God – all thoughts, words, and actions of this world – and living in unconditional love.”

Sister Susan spent much of her talk describing the different practices and common principles of Eastern spiritualities, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism and the “people of the book,” including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Watch Sister Susan’s entire presentation below.
 

 

April 18, 2022, Adrian, Michigan – Sister Esther Kennedy, OP, a Dominican Sister of Adrian, invites you to join her mindfulness community to deepen your understanding and commitment to a daily meditation practice. Monthly Days of Mindfulness are hosted at Weber Retreat and Conference Center on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and include lunch. The schedule for the next four months is as follows:

• May 7, 2022, Living in Gratitude. Each day, we receive a new 24 hours of life. Be here, be awake, be grateful.

• June 4, 2022, Living in Presence. Your presence is who you are. Every moment that you are awake to who you are is a holy moment. Living from our fuller presence can bring us joy and help to heal our wounded world.

• July 9, 2022, Healing into Wholeness. We were born whole, with no separation between our inner and outer lives. Along the way, we may have experienced a lack of trust, a sense of not being heard, or fear for our safety. With awareness, we again sense a dawning wholeness and wellbeing.

• August 13, 2022, To Be So Generous. Generosity comes from an awakened heart and is the basis of such qualities as kindness, sacrifice, mercy, and forgiveness.

Mindfulness sessions are held at Weber Retreat Center. All guests will be screened for COVID-19 and required to wear masks when not eating.

The cost is $35 per session. Registration is required and is available at www.webercenter.org; click on “programs.” Registrations may also be made by calling 517-266-4000 or emailing [email protected]. Limited scholarships are available.

Weber Center is located on the campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse, Adrian. For information, call the Weber Center at 517-266-4000.