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Catholic Church Ignatian Spirituality Prayer Travel

Retreating

monastery

Way back in March, I read an article in the Los Angeles Times about retreats.  The focus was on helping people find retreat experiences where they could get away from everything, have some quiet time, and get recharged.

What surprised and saddened me was the fact that there wasn’t a single reference to Christianity or Christian retreat centers.

Of course, I’m biased in this direction, and I also know that for over 2,000 years, Christians have made their way to the desert, the mountains, beaches, and quiet urban places to encounter God.  For centuries, Christians have practiced meditation, mindfulness, and silence.

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Catholic Church Gardening Inspiration Travel

Summertime Travels

santa barbara mission

I’ve been lucky to have travelled a bit this summer, more than usual.

I had the chance to make it out to my home state twice, and both times I visited some new places, including Old Mission Santa Barbara, founded on December 4, 1786 and the tenth of twenty-one missions founded throughout California by the Franciscans.