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Future Listing of BCF Activities

Greetings to each of you. I continue to be inspired and grateful for the amazing facilitation of the Boundless Compassion programs you are engaged in through various activities. Many six week studies of the BC book have taken place and Circles of Compassion are being formed or are already active. (I’m especially touched by Sr. Maggie in the Northwest Territory of Canada, who drives five hours one way to meet in a Circle.) Mary Jo Wulf and Jeannine Kosman have led a four day BC retreat in central Iowa. It was so successful that they plan another one in July. (Program listings at the bottom of this newsletter)

I am gathering information on all the programs that BCF are currently undertaking and hope to have that in a file available for you to glean ideas for your own activities. We will also use this information at the next training session in mid-June to give new BCF ideas for “what to do.” (Still unsure about the training planned in CA because registration has been slow. If you know of anyone in the western regions who could be a facilitator, please encourage them to come to the training. Contact Erin Matteson. (Bottom of this newsletter for details)

 

New Resource 

An Alternate Process for “Compassion and Suffering.”

This could be used in place of the reflective process that uses stones.
(Thanks to BCF Cindy Chicoine for alerting me to Kriah.)

Kriah, a Jewish Ritual of Grief

Kriah is a Hebrew word meaning “tearing.” It refers to the act of tearing one’s clothes or cutting a black ribbon worn on one’s clothes. This rending is a striking expression of grief at the loss of a loved one. The internet gives the following reasons for practicing Kriah: It deepens the sense of pain and sorrow. It recognizes the sanctity and importance of life at a time of loss. The cathartic process rids the heart of cruelty and anger by sensitizing it to loss, thereby fostering return, reconciliation, and repentance.  Tearing the clothing is symbolic of the rending of the relationship between the deceased and those still alive.

Here is how I envision using this at our Four Day BC retreat in Nebraska this June:

After the presentation on “Compassion and Suffering,” the ritual of Kriah will be introduced. Then each participant will receive a wide, black piece of material that has been partially ripped. A small safety pin will be at the top of the material and a needle threaded with black thread will be inserted on one side of the ripped material.

Participants will be invited to the following process: sit with the ripped piece of material, reflect on the wounds of their life, choose a particular time when they felt their heart /life ripped apart like the black cloth. After naming and sitting with this reality, turn their spirit toward hope of healing by slowly sewing the rip in the black material. If they feel comfortable doing so, they can wear this on a piece of their clothing for the rest of the day, as a reminder that healing can follow severe experiences that tear heart/ life apart.

 

Boundless Compassion Facilitator Training Workshops

Please consider inviting and encouraging those who qualify for this training to register with either the Nebraska or the California workshop. (see below for contact information)

 

 

May our compassionate presence continue to grow in depth and quality,

Joyce

Compassion provides safe shelter
to hold one another in hard times.

(Catherine Nerney,  The Compassion Connection)

BC Facilitator Training Programs for 2019

Notice below that we have extended the option for who can be a facilitator. Once they’ve studied the six units on Boundless Compassion, consider sending them to be trained to be on your team.

June 21, 2019
Schuyler Nebraska
Led by Valeria Lewandoski, Joyce Rupp, and Margaret Stratman

Info/flyer:
www.osms.org
or [email protected]

June 22, 2019
Modesto, California

Led by:  Erin Matteson (certified BCF)

Info/Flyer:
www.soultending.net
or [email protected]

 Who Can Attend?

Due to many BCF now leading study groups using the Boundless Compassion book, and the hope that more teams will be formed by BCF already certified, we’ve extended the possibility of training to the following:

Anyone who has participated in a four day or a weekend Boundless Compassion retreat, a six-session study or similar study on Boundless Compassion (led by Joyce Rupp or a certified BCF) that included the themes of the Boundless Compassion book is welcome to participate in the facilitator training workshop.

Four-Day Boundless Compassion Retreat
June 16-20, 2019
St. Benedict Center, Schuyler, Nebraska

Led by: Valeria Lewandoski, Joyce Rupp, and Margaret Stratman

Flyer: www.osms.org
or email: [email protected]

This is the last four-day retreat that I will be leading. After this June I will serve as coach and consultant for BCF who are planning to lead the four-day retreats. Please encourage those you know who might be interested in this retreat to attend in June.