Star Gazer August Update

3 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT AURORA LIVING

With the early-bird deadline for our next Aurora Living cycle fast approaching, we’re happy to be welcoming new 2024 applicants, and would love to have you consider joining us at the intersection of Word, Creation, Community, Justice & Contemplation. While the best place to start in finding further Aurora information is our program page at www.starofthenorth.ca/aurora here’s a response to three of your most frequently asked questions. NOTE: Early registration ends on September 1st.

Who is Aurora Living for?
Aurora is for those who desire a living, deepening relationship with Holy Mystery. The program is open to Christians willing to engage in the inner work of integrating contemplative prayer and social practice. Teachers, lay-leaders, post-secondary students, community builders, clergy, spiritual seekers, retirees... all are welcome!

What will I take away from this?
Our participants discover a transformed, integral life that joins faith and action together for the common good, and take away a deeper sense of belonging and commitment with God, others, and creation. A certificate is awarded upon completion. Ask us how Aurora might contribute to a Master’s degree or higher-education goal.

Can I apply for a single module? Do I have to start the program at the beginning?

While we encourage taking the full two-years for the maximum benefit, options are available for taking selected modules according to applicant needs and preferences. Please reach out for an option that might work best for you.

Please help us spread the word! Aurora Living: Formation Through Word & Creation is the signature faith formation program here at The Star of the North featuring a diverse group of world-class spiritual leaders, teachers, elders and authors as presenters. The emphasis of this program is to deepen our connection with Sacred Word and renew our relationship with Christ’s Spirit so that we may love, serve, and care for our common home. 

Aurora Living is an immersive learning community comprised of six integrated modules over the course of two years, offered both in-person or online. Each three-month module includes an opening weekend retreat, two Saturday retreats, small-group gatherings, monthly resources and optional spiritual direction. 

Teachers, community leaders, spiritual seekers and lay-leaders have found that Aurora Living provides grounding and growing in the Word of God, “Laudato Si” Care for Creation, community building, contemplative prayer, and justice as right relationship. Aurora Living is informative, formative, and transformative, with a focus on spiritual exploration more than doctrinal orientation. The program provides a rich exchange and learning experience about current faith and justice issues, most significantly the TRC Calls to Action, within a spirit of respectful dialogue. The monthly wisdom circles are proving to be an effective way of teaching communal skills of listening, speaking and discerning through personal and intellectual sharing to integrate the rich content of the process.

Join a vibrant community to grow personally and spiritually, and be more effectively involved in today’s Church and world.

Contact us at programs@starofthenorth.ca or call 780-459-5511

Come Walk With Us! Star Camino is September 7th

We are now less than a month away from our annual Camino Fundraiser taking place Saturday, September 7th, 2024, and we invite you to join us on this spiritual prayer walk in support of The Star.  

This year we have included an option to join in a special workshop entitled Listening to the Water: Stewarding the Sturgeon River (see information below).  For those who choose to join us for the workshop we will walk at 2:00 pm from the riverbank path. 

Whichever way you choose to walk, whether from where you are, or with us from The Star, we gratefully welcome you joining us on this day in The Season of Creation. Your contributions will be distributed to go towards:

• subsidies for people who need support to attend Star 2023/24 programs for retreat and renewal
• Women’s and Men’s Inner City Wellness Retreats
• replacing bedroom carpets and paint bedrooms on our second floor
• refreshing our bedrooms with new linens and blankets
• building a pathway to The Star’s greenhouse and garden

Click here to register www.starofthenorth.ca/camino. You can also register by calling us at 780-459-5511. We will contact you once you register to determine which option you’ve chosen. Thank you for supporting local retreat ministry. We hope to see you on the trail!

Register Now For Fall Programs

Star of the North Retreat Centre offers a wide variety of onsite/online programs and workshops throughout the year. There are ways to rest, renew, and revitalize from the challenges of life; to gain perspective, knowledge and self-awareness. There is also time to savour the joys of community in relationship with God, others, and creation more fully. We are committed to providing warm hospitality and respect for all who come.

Browse our 2024 programs by clicking www.starofthenorth.ca/programs or by clicking the Programs tab on our website. We encourage you to register early and take advantage of early-bird savings of up to 15% off. Please help us spread the word about local retreat ministry!