Seminar on Henri Nouwen: A Spirituality of Integration

Registration & Payment: tiny.cc/nouwen2018

Enquiries:  phone 6291 9744 Ext 118 or email eeyuing@east.edu.sg

Henri Nouwen is reckoned by many as one of the greatest spiritual writers of the last century whose continuing impact is felt cross-denominationally and globally. An author of more than 40 books, many of which were bestsellers worldwide, his writings focused on Christian spirituality–our life with God. Nouwen stayed faithful all the way with his missional thrust: to proclaim the gospel and how to flesh it out in our life.

Nouwen’s spirituality is a well-integrated spirituality–one that does not rigidly dichotomize spiritual concepts and methodologies in an “either-or” fashion but promotes a “both-and” mindset. His is a holistic spirituality that centers around the greatest commandment: loving God, loving neighbor and loving self–with its unified but intertwining inward, outward, and upward movements.

This one-day event aims at exposing us to an integrated spiritual life that Nouwen so embodied concretely with the hope that we too can more intentionally endeavor to live a life of love in a way that impacts others and the world around us. In this shared goal, Henri Nouwen stands as our reliable example and guide.

SEMINAR CONTENT

Session 1 – Henri Nouwen and the Three Movements of the Spiritual Life
a. Introduction (Brief Sketch of Henri Nouwen and his integrated spirituality)
b. Overview of the Three Movements: Inward (Self)/Outward (Others)/Upward (God)
Session 2 — The Integration of Spirituality with Psychology, Ministry, and Theology
a. Knowing Self/Knowing God (Psychology/Spirituality)
b. Loving God/Loving Others (Spirituality/Ministry)
c. Knowing God/Experiencing God (Spirituality/Theology)
Session 3 – The Threefold Way of the Heart
a. Solitude of the heart
b. Service of the heart
c. Prayer of the heart
Session 4 – An Integrated Spirituality
a. Integrated Summary
b. Plenary Interaction (Q & A)
c. Conclusion

ABOUT THE SPEAKER — DR WIL HERNANDEZ

Wil Hernandez, PhD, Obl. OSB, was born and raised in the Philippines. Prior to coming to the U.S. for graduate studies, he served full-time with an international, interdenominational parachurch organization for 18 years. He graduated with a PhD in practical theology with a concentration in spirituality in 2005 at Fuller Theological Seminary, with additional summer studies at the University of Notre Dame and Loyola Marymount University.

Wil is the founder and president of CenterQuest – a hub for the study and practice of Christian spirituality – which hosts a School of Spiritual Direction hybrid program (online/residency combination). A trained counselor and spiritual director, Wil devotes a big part of his time “companioning” others on their spiritual journey, aside from teaching courses and conducting retreats and seminars focusing on the spirituality of Henri Nouwen in churches and institutions across the U.S. and abroad.

He is the author of a trilogy on Nouwen, plus the latest released title called Mere Spirituality: The Spiritual Life According to Henri Nouwen.

A Benedictine Oblate of Saint Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo, CA, Wil also serves as a lector and lay Eucharistic minister at St. James Episcopal Church in South Pasadena, CA. Married to Juliet for more than 30 years now, they make their home in Arcadia, CA together with their two adult sons, Jonathan and David.