Nouwen Lecture and Retreat at Fuller Seminary

May 7th, 2005
Submitted by: Willy Hernandez

Henri Nouwen's literary executrix, Sr. Sue Mosteller teamed up with Jeff Imbach, president of the Nouwen Society (Canada) to conduct a public lecture around the theme "Communion, Community, Ministry" at Fuller Seminary, Pasadena campus April 27, 2005. The evening event was well attended by Fuller faculty, staff, alumni, students, and interested folks from all over Southern California.
The following day, some 80 Fuller faculty and students headed to Mater Dolorosa for an overnight retreat, also led by Jeff and Sue, focusing on "The Spirituality of the Christian Leader with Henri Nouwen as Guide." Towards the end of the retreat, during communion time, people eagerly shared one after another, often in a very emotional tone, how the retreat had impacted their lives. One student voiced what seemed to be the overriding sentiment of many Fuller attendees: "I think this kind of a retreat should be mandatory for everyone at Fuller, at least once a year! There is a tendency in seminary to value knowledge of the head over the heart and it is easy to become caught up in the competition for grades and forget why we are here in the first place. Thanks for giving us an opportunity, through the gifted guiding of Sue and Jeff, to recover our hearts. I know the effects of this short retreat will stay with me much longer.”

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