Community Meditation Room now open at St. Michael's!!

I’m excited to announce the opening of our new Meditation Room, located next to the kitchen with it’s own exterior entrance.  

The goal of the St. Michael’s Meditation Room is to provide a quiet, sacred space where individuals can pray, reflect, and connect with God in a personal and peaceful environment. The meditation room is designed for solitude and introspection, allowing visitors to deepen their spiritual journey without distractions. 

• Encouraging Personal Prayer & Reflection – It offers a space for individuals to meditate on Scripture, pray for guidance, or express gratitude. There are several baskets around the room with gratitude cards, scripture quotes, and brief meditation practices. Items marked “take home” can be taken with you, or given to someone you know who might appreciate them. These include prayer bears, mini prayer shawls, scripture bookmarks, and angel wings.
• Prayers, Praises & Meditation Wall- a feature of the room is an interactive wall. There are three different colors of tags to write a Prayer request (blue tag), a praise/gratitude thought (green), or an inspiring thought, quote or scripture passage (white) and then hang on the wall. There are detailed instructions in the room. The prayer requests will be prayed for each week by members of our Pastoral Care Team, and a dark blue tag will be placed over the prayer request with the date the prayers were said. For private prayer requests, there is a designated box where you can place your request tag. Rest assured that the prayer team members will prayer for your request in confidence.
• Providing a Retreat from Daily Life – The room serves as a refuge from the noise and busyness of the world, promoting inner peace. It has additional soft lighting so the overhead lights don’t have to be used, and a variety of comfortable seating options and calming window treatments. It can be accessed anytime using the exterior door.
• Facilitating Spiritual Growth – Through silence and contemplation, parishioners and visitors from the community can deepen their faith and relationship with God. There are a variety of items throughout the room to inspire and encourage you in your faith journey. 
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To make room for the Meditation room, we have shifted locations of some spaces. This room previously housed the library, which shifted across the hallway in what was the old music room. The new music room is located past the sacristy in the cottage area, which still houses a separate bedroom and full bath for overnight guests- new signage is on order. 

I encourage everyone to stop into the Meditation Room anytime, whether on the weekend or during the week and sit in this beautiful space for a few minutes. It is a wonderful place to find calm, peace and consolation in an otherwise busy, and chaotic world. 

I want to thank those who have spent many hours creating this marvelous space, Laura Korn, Maureen Corporal-Vel and Sue Van Oss, they did wonders turning their vision into reality. Thanks to Joanne Syversen for being the Pastoral Care Team liaison on this team as well and members of the Christian Formation Team for their input. Thanks to Mark Bolhuis and Laura for their paint job, and Jerry Davenport, Chuck Sterrett, Steve Neinast and Andy McGowan for their assembly/furniture help. 

Check out the video below.

Peace, Fr. Bill

Photos from Rooted in Simplicity- A Hygge Day of Reflection April 5 2025

2025 Shared Scholar Program

Dr. Thomas Cimarusti- When the Soul Sings, the Spirit Soars