Where We Worship
Retreat center invites all to worship, learn
By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Staff Writer
• Name of organization: Spiritual Life Center.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
• Our denomination: Ecumenical organization that serves all denominations in O'ahu's faith community.
The Rev. Nancy Conley, second from right, leads a group in a Healing Touch Prayer and practice session in Honolulu.
• Where we are: First United Methodist, corner of Victoria and Beretania, second floor.
• Our numbers: Two are on staff. About 800 lay people and clergy have taken part in our workshops, programs and retreats during the year.
• Our director: The Rev. Nancy Conley, a deacon in the Episcopal church.
• What we believe: "... in prayer, world peace, reconciliation and that all people are seeking God in one form or another," said Conley.
• Our history: In 1977 a small group of Maryknoll nuns had a vision of creating a retreat house for contemplatives. People of all faiths were welcome to rest and participate in different spiritual programs.
The center developed slowly; at one point a retreat house was located at St. Pius in Manoa. It then moved to a fourth-floor dormitory at St. Francis School.
In 1995 the center was invited to use office space at St. Stephen's Diocesan Center, and later the office moved to St. Clement's Episcopal Church temporarily. It relocated to First United in 1997.
In 1998-99 the center operated a full-time retreat house on Liliha Street, but that closed when the owner sold the property. After that, a retreat house was used in Kahalu'u; today retreats are held mostly at St. Anthony's Retreat Center in Kalihi.
• What we're excited about: In August the center began a program for group spiritual direction. A small group of ecumenical lay leaders meets once a month to pray together and meditate. Some of the group members are training in a two-year spiritual direction course being taught by instructors from Mercy Center in Burlingame, Calif., who come once a month to lead classes. Once certified, students in the class hope to take their teachings to the community.
On Dec. 22 the center is offering a $15 Solstice Event at Paewalani, in Kane'ohe, a facility run by the Sacred Hearts sisters. There will be a fire-lighting ceremony, Christmas carols, a lecture on the four elements and refreshments. It is open to the public.
"We make it as Christian as we can, but originally it was a pagan festival, like many of our Christian activities develop from," Conley said.
• What's special about us: "We welcome everyone," said Conley. "We teach spirituality and the contemplative way of living. We're grounded in God. We're faith-oriented."
They offer retreats and seminars for the religious community. Speakers come from the Mainland to teach subjects such as healing touch, the contemplative ways of prayer and enneagrams (an ancient method of classifying personality, to learn individual strengths and weaknesses).
The center has held an annual pilgrimage to Kalaupapa the last five years. Intermittently they arrange temple tours and interfaith activities. All of these activities require a fee, though the healing touch seminar is free.
• Contact: 523-1170 or e-mail spirlife@lava.net.
If you would like to recommend a faith organization for a Where We Worship profile, e-mail faith@honoluluadvertiser.com, call 525-8035 or write: Where We Worship, Faith Page, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802.
