Embracing the Spiritual Discipline of Solitude to Enhance Your Ministry

The past few years have been hard. As servant leaders connected to various ministries, our personal and professional lives have been turned upside down. We’ve all been working overtime and in innovative ways to care for those we serve. As we begin to emerge from more than two years of varying levels of isolation, it’s time to pause, reset, and reconnect! As we move forward, let’s not leave the spiritual discipline of solitude behind, but rather, let’s learn how to embrace spiritual introspection as a way to grow a deeper spiritual community.

Have you ever considered the benefits of a workout for your faith? Deepening our connection with our faith requires a plan, the right mindset, and practice – just like exercise. Whether our spiritual practice and routines involve a walk, meditation, or prayer, mindfulness techniques can be applied to help us grow in our ability to be more present with God and others.

Take Home Tool Box for Your Ministry Education and Outreach

• Practical examples/exercises – including mindfulness resources and techniques – to help your faith community find meaningful solitude, inner peace, and community connection
• Mental health practices to help regulate emotions and decrease stress, anxiety, and depression
• Educational resources identifying the medical & scientific connections to the mind/body/spirit

Keynote Speakers

Padma Fanning is the Clinical Mindfulness Instructor for St Luke’s University Health Network. She has studied and practiced mindfulness and meditation for 37 years. She is a certified Breathworks Mindfulness-Based Pain Management instructor and a qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction instructor.  

Lu Mauro, M.Ed., CPRP, is a Professional Development Specialist at St. Luke’s Penn Foundation and the former director of SLPF’s Wellspring Clubhouse. She has 38 years of experience and leadership in community behavioral health services, including training in compassionate communication and tai chi. 

Reserve your seat by May 3! For questions, contact Rev. Sue Conrad Howes, Staff Chaplain, at 215-257-5194 or susan.howes@sluhn.org.