Spring/Summer 2001 Newsletter

The Spanish Corner 

By Ilse Reissner

    Some exciting news that we would like to share with you is - As announced previously, Extensión Contemplativa has two fundraising events coming up in the near future: two contemplative pilgrimages (our pilgrimages are quite different from any other tour you may have been part of, and those that have joined us in the past know this very well!) The first will be a very intense 13 days in the Holy Land, visiting as many significant places in the life of Jesus as possible and ending with a half-day retreat. It is mostly intended for those of you that understand Spanish, as both our guide and our priest will be Spanish-speaking. Date: It was originally planned for May, but now postponed until November 3rd. Our airline will be ALITALIA, giving us a chance to offer a post-extension of four days in Italy, visiting Rome and Assisi. Cost: $2,402 for the basic part (from Miami or New York) and $643 for the Italy extension. (Air/land, hotels, breakfast, dinner and all expenses are included, except airport taxes, tips, and visas.) 

    The second 11 or 18-day contemplative pilgrimage will depart on April 26, 2002, and will follow the footprints of Peter and Paul. Our guide will be our old-time friend Samir, who has been with us in the past, and our spiritual director, Fr. William Meninger, who spent three years in this area as a Biblical scholar. We will spend one week in Israel, focusing and reliving events in the lives of Peter and Jesus, fly to Athens/Thessaloniki in Greece to join those not going to Israel, and, for six days follow Paul's steps in Greece in our comfortable motorcoach, and then embark for a three-day cruise to visit the Greek islands and Ephesus in Turkey. Cost: for Greece only, $2,675, for Israel and Greece, $3,795 from New York on Olympic Airways. (Air/land, hotels, shore excursions, breakfast, dinner, and all expenses included except airport taxes, tips and visas.) If you are interested, please contact us at (407) 767-7567, or Fax (407) 767-6414 and we'll send you a brochure. 

    Growth - When our Board met in January, we decided that each one of our members would be serving the needs of those places where a Spanish-speaking representative of Contemplative Outreach is required. Adalberto Henriquez will travel to El Salvador and Nicaragua in Central America, and two local people will be his support contacts. A visit to Argentina in April is being planned by Dr. Hugo Mejía or Ricardo López, again with two local people serving as their support contacts (one of them is moving from Miami to Argentina, where she is originally from, and the other participated in our Formation Program in July in Orlando). Isabel de Marion-Landais was in Puerto Rico for a weekend workshop on Lectio Divina, will return within the next couple of months; and, due to geographical location, will be following up with Carmen Sánchez. A visit to Venezuela is being planned next. Meanwhile, Carmen Sánchez is going to offer our first seven-day retreat in Spanish in Miami on October 18th to 24th (cost is $400, phone number to call for registration is (305) 661-6966, Fax (305) 666-2075). And, another Formation for Service is being planned for next year. 

    Our second bi-annual international meeting will be held in Orlando the weekend of July 20 - 22. We ask our readers who feel they can make a contribution to the Spanish national and international effort to let us know if they would like to attend, as the space is very limited at the San Pedro Retreat Center. We would also like to have your ideas and suggestions for this meeting. Donations for Extensión Contemplativa can be sent to Contemplative Outreach, indicating on your check that your donation be used for the Spanish Ministry. 

Thank you… Adiós, amigos - hasta la próxima - que Dios los bendiga a todos…!

Other Spring/Summer 2001 News Articles

Fr. Keating's Commentary | President's Letter  |  Spanish Corner  |  A Poem  |  Book Reviews  |  Updates