The Chicago District hosted \u201cA Day of Recollection\u201d with Fr. Larry Janowski on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the Garden Chalet in Chicago Ridge, IL.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fr. Larry shared reflections on prayer and one\u2019s relationship with God as it relates to prayer.\u00a0 He further explained the differences between reflective prayer (think reflection, vocal or mental word-centered), affective prayer (more inclusive of emotion than reflection but still uses words) and contemplative prayer (beyond words and thoughts with feeling a profound and simple union with God).\u00a0 Fr. Larry also reflected on Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister\u2019s definition of prayer, which she describes as consciousness (awareness of God), immersion (falling into God) and relationship (connection with God, eventually melting into God completely).\u00a0 He also shared with the group a short pamphlet on centering prayer, which was a wonderful take-away for the group as they began to further enrich their prayer relationship with God.<\/p>\n
Fr.\u00a0Larry is a native Chicagoan, alumnus of St. Michael the Archangel Slovak Parish in Chicago and has been a Franciscan Friar (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province) for over 40\u00a0years.\u00a0 He is the author of several books of poetry and currently teaches poetry at Loyola University Chicago, while also being the co-chaplain at the Felician Sisters\u2019 motherhouse in Chicago and assisting on weekends at St. Barbara Parish in Brookfield, IL.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The day ended with the celebration of Mass and a good road map for enhancing one\u2019s current relationship with God through a daily life of prayer.<\/p>\n