2010 PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
Thomas Merton Reading Group—Victoria, BC
On the second Wednesday of each month, a group of Merton readers meet at Cadboro Bay United Church, 2625 Arbutus Road in Victoria from 1 – 2:30 pm where they informally discuss a particular book on or about Thomas Merton. The group is open to new and long-time Merton enthusiasts. For more information, please contact Basil Shammas at srb4747@telus.net.
Sat. Jan. 16 – Sat. Jan. 30
Pilgrimage Program—Thomas Merton in Cuba
Donald Grayston & Judith Hardcastle lead a two-week pilgrimage program to Cuba.
See www.mertonincuba.ca for details.
The 2010 program is full.
The next pilgrimage to Cuba is scheduled from Jan. 15 – 29, 2011.
Fri. Mar. 5
Pre-Conference Public Talk
Bonnie Thurston presents a pre-conference public talk at
7 pm at the Centre for Peace (Great Hall) at Canadian Memorial United Church, 1825 West 16th Avenue in Vancouver. Cost is by donation at the door.
Sat. Mar. 6 | Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Fulfillment through Interfaith Engagement
I believe that the only really valid thing that can be accomplished in the direction of world peace and unity at the moment is the preparation of the way by the formation of [people] who are . . . able to unite in themselves and experience in their own lives all that is best and most true in the various great spiritual traditions.
Thomas Merton to Dona Luisa Coomaraswamy January 13, 1961
Annual one-day Merton conference co-sponsored by the Thomas Merton Society of Canada and Canadian Memorial United Church & Centre for Peace.
Location: Centre for Peace at Canadian Memorial United Church, 1825 West 16th Avenue in Vancouver.
Keynote speaker: Dr. Bonnie Thurston, former Professor of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and internationally recognized writer and speaker on Thomas Merton’s interest in interfaith dialogue, particularly Buddhism and Sufism.
Other presenters: Barry Cooke, Bill Apel & Andrew Webber, Ray McGinnis, Jerene Broadway, Susan McCaslin, Don Grayston and Ron Dart.
Registration: Contact Susan Cowan at the Thomas Merton Society of Canada at tmsc@telus.net or 604-669-2546.
Cost: $50 (TMSC members) for full day or $30 half day; $55 (non-members) for full day or $30 half day. Cost includes refreshments and lunch.
Tuesday, March 9, 16 & 23 |
Time: 7:30 – 9:00 pm
An Introduction to Thomas Merton
Co-sponsored by Christ Church Cathedral and the Thomas Merton Society of Canada
At these three drop-in sessions, Merton scholar Donald Grayston will provide an overview of Thomas Merton’s life and thought. You will discover why Merton, who lived as a monk of Gethsemani in rural Kentucky for twenty-seven years, is considered by many to be a 20th century spiritual master. Lectures and discussions will focus on Merton as writer, poet, social justice activist, student of comparative religion, proponent of interfaith understanding, and spiritual guide.
Location: Christ Church Cathedral Parish Hall (lower level) at the corner of Burrard and Georgia in downtown Vancouver
Speaker: Donald Grayston
Cost: Drop-in / no charge
Info: Christ Church Cathedral @ 604-682-3848
Wed. March 10
Vancouver Public Library Talk
Topic: Visions on the Road: A Personal Odyssey with Jack Kerouac, Thomas Merton and Henry Miller.
Angus Stuart presents a free public talk in the Alma VanDusen/Peter Kaye Room at the Central Branch of Vancouver Public Library (lower level), 350 West Georgia & Hamilton Streets in Vancouver from 7 – 8:30 pm.
Angus Stuart is an Anglican priest at St. Francis-in-the-
Wood in West Vancouver, and a Board member of the Thomas Merton Society of Canada.
Friday, March 19 @ 7:30 pm
Shabbat Service at Kolot Mayim Reform Temple
Victoria Jewish Community Centre
3636 Shelbourne Street in Victoria
Guest speaker: Dr. Edward K. Kaplan
Everyone is welcome.
Sat. March 20 | Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Fulfillment through Interfaith Engagement
Annual one-day Merton conference sponsored by the Thomas Merton Society of Canada.
Location: The University Club of Victoria, University of Victoria campus
Keynote speaker: Dr. Edward Kaplan, Professor in the Humanities, Brandeis University, Boston
Other presenters: Barry Cooke, Susan McCaslin, Ray McGinnis, Amineh Pryor
Registration: Contact Susan Cowan at the Thomas Merton Society of Canada at tmsc@telus.net or 604-669-2546.
Cost: $55 (TMSC members) for full day or $35 half day; $60 (non-members) for full day or $35 half day. Cost includes refreshments and lunch.
Thurs. May 6
Marywood Retreat Centre, Cranbrook, BC
Public Talk—Speaker: Ron Dart
Fri. May 7
Marywood Retreat Centre, Cranbrook, BC
Retreat—Leader: Judith Hardcastle
Sat. May 29 | 12 noon – 2 pm
Annual Auction (to benefit the Thomas Merton Reading Room at Vancouver School of Theology, Vancouver, BC)
Fri. June 25 – Sun. July 4
Pilgrimage Program—Thomas Merton in Alaska
Leaders: Angus Stuart & Ron Dart
The program is based at St. Herman’s Theological
Seminary in Kodiak, with visits to Spruce Island, Eagle River, and Juneau.
Information: Judith Hardcastle, TMSC Program Director
Annual Wine & Cheese Reception and Public Talk
5:30 pm at Vancouver School of Theology Library in Vancouver
Speaker: Ross Labrie
Merton Lecture: ‘Thomas Merton On Marx And Marxism’
Thurs. July 8, 7 pm, Epiphany Chapel (free)
Thomas Merton’s view of Marx altered appreciably in the 1960s as his growing detachment from Western capitalism led him to achieve a fine balance in his perspective of the politics of East and West. This distinguished his views from those of many in his church and country.
Ross Labrie, President of the Thomas Merton Society of Canada, is Professor Emeritus of the University of British Columbia, and the author of a number of books and articles on American literature. These include two books on Thomas Merton, The Art of Thomas Merton (1979) and Thomas Merton and the Inclusive Imagination. Co-sponsored by VST and the Thomas Merton Society of Canada.
Weekend retreat: Fri, July 9, 7-8:30 pm.
Sat, July 10, 9-5 pm. (Lunch included.) Sun, July 11, 9-12 noon
Vancouver School of Theology Summer School 2010
Welcomes Merton Scholars
Jim Finley—Following the Mystics through the Narrow Gate
Retreat Fees: $200
Jesus said, “Narrow is the gate that leads to life and few there are who enter it.” We will follow various mystics through this narrow gate, through the mysterious process in which we realize God is the very reality of ourselves, others, and all things.
James Finley lived as a monk at the cloistered Trappist monastery of the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where the world-renowned monk and author, Thomas Merton, was his spiritual director. www.contemplativeway.org
Co-sponsored by VST and the Thomas Merton Society of Canada.
Registration: www.vst.edu/main/programs/continuing-education or 604-822-9815.