Our Ministries

Spiritual Direction is companioning another on his/her journey to God. The focus of direction is always on the Lord and the way the Lord seems to relate to each person. It is primarily concerned with encouraging individuals to place themselves before God who reveals God's Self to them and leads them into freedom.

Directed Retreat is usually a 6 to 8 day retreat in silence and solitude except for daily meetings with the director (person chosen to accompany individual during retreat). The director may offer scriptural readings and/or other suggestions to help facilitate the individual's awareness of God's presence and movement in his/her life.

Reiki is pronounced "Ray-key" and is an ancient healing art. It is a Japanese word meaning universal (rei) life force energy (ki). This life force energy is flowing all the time in and around all living things. When our "ki" is high, we feel good, confident, strong and ready to enjoy life and to meet life's challenges. When it is low, we may feel "down", weak and become vulnerable to illness.

What is it like to receive a Reiki treatment?   Reiki is a method of healing which is gentle and non-invasive. The recipient remains fully clothed, lies on a massage table or may sit on a straight chair. The treatment is given to promote relaxation, harmony and healing for the body, mind and spirit. Quiet music is most often played to enhance the relaxation. The practitioner reverently and gently, lays hands on the recipient, slowly moving over the body, connecting with each of the body's energy centers.

What are the benefits of Reiki?
-- Supports the body's natural healing abilities
-- Re-establishes spiritual equilibrium
-- Restores balance and harmony to physical, mental, emotional levels of one's being
-- Promotes healing by loosening blocked energy

Candle Crafting has been a part of Ritiro ministry for the past thirty years, and is an expression of "hands-on-prayer." Making candles involves entering into the creative process using paraffin, wicking, additives, colors and scents. There is a period of waiting with expectancy which climaxes in the "birthing" moment when the candle is freed from the mold, and ready to give of itself in order to share light.

Our Craft Department makes Tau crosses with a brown cord or a pin. We also have stationery with a variety of Franciscan designs and symbols. Brochures are available. Contact allegritiro@yahoo.com for more information.

Other Ministries
Though prayer for our Congregation and for the world is our primary ministry, at times we have been asked to serve on Congregation boards, committees and/or teams. These have been opportunities to stretch us, to exercise our gifts and to minister with other Allegany Sisters. We also extend ourselves in different ways, such as serving in the local soup kitchen, helping poor inner-city children receive a Catholic education, working at Canticle Farm, and a participating in a weekly silent prayer witness for peace.