Fall/Winter 2000-01 Newsletter

The Spanish Corner

By Ilse Reissner

We continue growing and also experiencing “growing pains” with joyful and grateful hearts for all the blessings we receive from the Lord.

Our Formation for Service in Spanish was attended by 19 people, but what I found extraordinary is that we had eight men, three with their wives and the other five on their own, all different ages and an interesting mix of people. We had a Methodist minister from Texas, a Jesuit priest from Wisconsin with two assistants, a couple of psychologists, an economist, a policeman who works with young people in his parish and two more that plan on doing the same thing, plus one person involved in the Prison Ministry. Only one person was local, the others came from Argentina, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, California, Texas, Wisconsin and other cities in Florida. Two of these wonderful people are already planning Introductory programs that I have been invited to help with, one at the Jesuits Retreat Center in Milwaukee and the other at the Oblates Retreat Center in Dickinson, TX in October this year. So, keep us in your prayers.

In El Salvador, our contact person, Leila Membreno, has done a tremendous job in teaching Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer. Last year, in August, we had our first Introductory, with her and I as presenters, and over 20 people have continued to this day practicing the prayer and attending the weekly meetings. Leila organized another weekend retreat this year in August, similar to the one we offered in 1999. Many of the people from last year came back, and joined many new ones that came, for a total of 69 participants. I was very impressed with the group’s spirituality and commitment in spite of many obstacles and opposition from the local church, due to the “newness” of this form of prayer that many still confuse with “New Age.”

After the weekend, Leila and I proceeded to Nicaragua, a neighboring country in Central America, visited with Nuncio and two Carmelite priests, and are tentatively planning to offer an Introductory there in 2001.

Last, but not least, we have TWO MORE PILGRIMAGES TO THE HOLY LAND “in the cooking.” The first will be for our Spanish friends, with a Spanish-speaking priest and a Spanish-speaking guide. 

We depart on May 8, 2001 and return on May 21 (14 days). 

COST $2,449 FROM MIAMI or ORLANDO. 

The brochures are being prepared at this time. If you are interested, please contact us– 
Ph: 407-767-8271, or Fax: 407-767-6414. 

The second will be at the beginning of May 2002, with Fr. William Meninger as spiritual director and our good friend “Samir”, from previous trips, as our guide. 

We are calling it “In the footsteps of Peter and Paul.” We will go to the Holy Land for a week, walking the steps that Peter walked with Jesus, and then board a ship for a cruise visiting the places Paul visited to bring the “Good News” of Jesus to the Gentiles. No price available yet.

IF WE CAN HELP YOU IN ANY WAY WITH YOUR SPANISH MINISTRY, DON’T HESITATE TO CALL. THAT’S WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR. IF YOU WISH TO HELP US, YOU MAY SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO: 

Extension Contemplativa Internacional, 
284 Curlew Cir.,
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701-7658. 

(That’s part of the “growing pains” I mentioned in the beginning...)
We want to thank the people that have sent the old copies of “Mente Abierta, Corazon Abierto” so that we can “recycle” them, as we are almost out of print. If you have any copy that you don’t have any use for, please remember us, and we will send you a new one if you wish for half price when they are published.

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