Welcome to the Encounter Interfaith Retreat

This retreat was 'live' in 2021, but the resources are timeless! We invite you to peruse the options for interfaith exploration below and select the experiences that are of most interest to you. Spend a little time each day or devote an entire afternoon to your reflection - choose your own adventure with us as we ENCOUNTER INTERFAITH!Questions? Need supplies? Want to chat with us? Contact us at campusministry@bellarmine.edu.

2021 Opening Meeting Recording

2021 Closing Meeting Recording

Getting Started

Suggested Supplies

Camera/Photos
Journal
Writing utensil
Open mind and heart ❤️

Photography Reflection

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Sometimes a picture can mean even more. A picture can represent something intangible or inexpressible in words. How we would like you to do this is to take a photo(s), find a photo you have already taken, or find a photo online that represents different abstract concepts related to faith. While we would prefer that you take these photos over the course of the retreat, we also understand that sometimes our surroundings can be less-than-inspiring.

Photo Journaling Prompts:

Take a photo(s)/find a photo(s) in your files or online that shows the divine at work in nature. Many faith traditions believe we born from nature, reliant on nature, and should be one with nature. Let's get back to our roots (maybe literally) and reconnect with the intelligent and divine design of the natural world. In your journal, reflect generally on how this captured scene reflects the theme we provided.
Take/find a photo of a moment where you observed the divine at work through others. What is their story? How have they impacted you and the world around them? Do you think this spirit is at work in others constantly without us even noticing? How so?
Take/find a photo of a moment in your life where food (making it, eating it, sharing it, etc.) has brought you closer to your spirituality or helped you to encounter another's spirituality. What about that food or experience was so meaningful? How did you feel more connected to spirituality or others?
Take/find a photo of a family heirloom or passed-down item that is meaningful to you. Think about who first owned it (if you know) and who gave it to you. Reflect on the gifts they have contributed to your life. How do you honor them? How would you like this item to be passed on after you?

Introductions to Major Faith Traditions

World Religions At a Glance

Faith Themes in Pop Culture

Choose a theme or several from below to explore those concepts as imagined within popular culture. Some of these topics may relate to a particular religious or nonreligious worldview, while many incorporate teachings and beliefs from several traditions, with plenty of room for "artistic interpretation!" We hope you can use these prompts as a starting point to think more about your own beliefs and those that differ to expand your perspective and understanding.

Let's Get Spiritual

We invite you to engage in spiritual practice in different ways with us while you retreat. We have several opportunities to join us in real time - and even in-person - available throughout the retreat week. Check them out below!

Mindful Walk: Try it on your own at a time convenient to your schedule
Loving Kindness Meditation:

Labyrinth Meditation: Try it on your own with finger labyrinths
Lectio Divina+:

Once you complete any of these activities, take a moment to reflect on the journaling prompts below:

Describe your experience with the spiritual practice introduced today.
How did you feel beforehand, and how do you feel having completed this activity?
Was there any moment in the practice that you felt especially connected to the Divine/the world around you? Describe the moment.
What did you enjoy most about this experience? What was most challenging?
Is this a practice that you would like to try again in the future? How will you plan to incorporate it into your current spiritual practices?

The Agape Project

When beginning interfaith work, it is important to get to know other people of a variety of worldviews. Check out an episode of your choice from our Agape Project podcast to listen to interfaith stories of selfless, unconditional love in action within our campus community. Each podcast episode spotlights one member of our BU community - representing several different worldviews - through conversations with peer ministers. The podcast is accessible on all major podcast streaming services.

Listen to the Agape Project

Schedule an Agape Chat to talk with a Spiritual Peer Mentor (SPM) about your own worldview, spiritual practices, calling and purpose in life, and more! Email campusministry@bellarmine.edu to get connected to an SPM.

After listening to an episode of the Agape Project, consider these questions for your journaling response:

What resonated with you in the stories you heard?
Where did you hear agape love present?
Where have you experienced agape love in your own life?
What would our world look like if in every interaction we had, we allowed agape love to lead us?
Where might we be more present to those moments in our everyday if only we paused to notice?
How will you show someone agape love today?

Interfaith Intersections

If you've never participated in one of our Interfaith Intersections/Satsang dialogues, or you've been to them all, we invite you to take a moment to listen to a recording from years past. Each dialogue brings together 3-4 panelists representing a variety of worldviews to share their experience of a specified topic for the month. Once we hear from each guest, all participants are invited to join in the conversation, sharing their own worldviews and responses to what they've heard. It's another great place to begin interfaith cooperation, and we hope you'll join us live for future dialogues!

Interfaith Intersections Archives

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