Denver Catholic

LOCAL NEWS I 11 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I FEBRUARY 12, 2014 services, foster care, child care, food assistance and additional counseling services. "We ask: 'What do you need?'" Grandon said. "Then if we help them, they don't have to take the route of abortion. "It's a more comprehensive approach to end abortion." The third annual Beacon of Hope benefi tting Lighthouse, and now also benefi tting wom- en's services of Charities, is set for March 8 at Wings Over the Rockies at the site of the former Lowry Air Force Base. It will begin at 4 p.m. with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Samuel Aquila at Church of the Risen Christ, then move to the Wings Over the Rockies for an open bar, silent auction, dinner and a keynote address by abor- tion survivor and inspiration for the major motion picture "October Baby," Gianna Jessen. (See a story on Page 3 for more on Jessen.) "What we really have to do is broaden the Denver Catholic community's awareness of how to effectively end abortion," Grandon said. "(Lighthouse) has been a pi- oneering effort and I believe we've done things God's way," she continued. "It's bearing great fruit already. We have to continue to trust in God and he will continue to bless it." Tickets for the gala are $125 each and can be purchased at www.ccdenver.org/galatickets. Wings Over the Rockies is locat- ed at 7711 E. Academy Blvd. Julie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie. fi lby@archden.org; www.twitter. com/DCRegisterJulie A BEACON OF HOPE GALA FOR LIGHTHOUSE AND WOMEN'S SERVICES When: March 8 Mass: 4 p.m. with Archbishop Aquila at Risen Christ Church, 3060 S. Monaco Parkway Dinner and gala: 5:30 p.m. at Wings Over the Rockies, 7711 E. Acade- my Blvd. Speaker: Gianna Jessen, abortion survivor, inspiration for "October Baby" Tickets: $125 Register: www.ccdenver.org/galatickets More information: 720-377-1385 Lighthouse From Page 3 BY JULIE FILBY When asked to refl ect on his last 10 years serving in the Arch- diocese of Denver, Oblates of the Virgin Mary Father Ernest Sherstone replied: "I'm not sure where to begin." Father Sherstone, founding executive director of the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality, has received a new mission in his congregation and will move to the Boston area in about two weeks. Beginning March 1, he will serve as director of St. Joseph Retreat House for the Oblates of the Virgin Mary in Milton, Mass., a Boston suburb. "I will miss the people in Den- ver a lot," he told the Denver Catholic Register. "I hope serving at the retreat house will be a new challenge for me." The native of Manitoba, Can- ada, has served the archdiocese since moving here from Mon- treal in 2004 to open the Lanteri Center, housed in a historic 1880s building at 22nd Street and Trem- ont Place. The center launched the fi rst year by providing spiri- tual direction—guidance and ad- vice—in deepening one's faith life based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. In spiritu- al direction, a "directee" forms a long-term relationship with a "director"—for a timeframe that could vary from one year to fi ve to more than 10—and the two meet on a regular basis. One of his longtime directees is Wendy Sue Curley. "I'm going to miss Father Er- nie," she said. "No matter what my life looked like, whether I was single, married, and now with kids, he was like a gentle father guiding me though each phase." When starting spiritual direc- tion eight years ago, she was sin- gle and now is married with two young daughters. "His primary concern has al- ways been my relationship with the Lord," she added. "What I love about him most is his authentici- ty… and I'll miss his dry, witty sense of humor." Curley is also a par- ticipant in the center's formation programs for spiritual directors that was established in 2005. "We have graduated two class- es from the fi ve-year program," Father Sherstone said. "And there are two classes going on right now." Lanteri Center staff consists of priests and laity, as well as grad- uate students that accompany Christians while growing in their relationship with God through prayer, Scripture and spiritual exercises. The ministry has now expand- ed to include a satellite program, offering the formation program over three intense courses over a year. "With the satellite program, staff will go anywhere in the na- tion," he said. The center has also added a summer residential program that allows participants to come to Denver for two to three weeks each summer over the course of three years, and receive the equivalent of the fi ve-year for- mation program. "It allows us to reach people in different ways," Father Sher- stone said, adding that the pro- gram reaches beyond the Cath- olic Church to other Christian denominations. "It's an enrichment to our program," he said of the wide reach. "It provides a wider view of things." As of Jan. 1, Oblates Father Greg Cleveland took over as di- rector of the Lanteri Center. Fa- ther Sherstone will leave Denver Feb. 28. A farewell gathering is set for Feb. 23. It will begin with noon Mass celebrated by Father Sherstone at Holy Ghost Church at 1900 California St., followed by a reception from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. All are welcome. "Come and thank Father Ernie for his nearly 10 years of faithful service to the Lord here in Den- ver," said Father Cleveland, "and wish him well for the future." For more information, contact the Lanteri Center at 303-298- 1498, lantericenter@aol.com or visit www.lantericenter.org. Farewell to Father Ernie FATHER ERNEST SHERSTONE FILE PHOTO BY JULIE FILBY/DCR THE LANTERI Center for Ignatian Spirituality at 416 22nd St. was co-founded by Oblates of the Virgin Mary Father Ernest Sherstone in 2004. A Beacon of HopeGala Keynote Speaker Gianna Jessen Saline abortion survivor and the inspiration for the major motion picture, "October Baby." for Lighthouse and Women's Services Saturday, March 8, 2014 at Wings Over e Rockies www.ccdenver.org/galatickets Be part of the miracle to end abortion. Proceeds will benet Catholic Charities Lighthouse and Women's Services. Registration closes February 27th. Buy your tickets today online or call 720-377-1385. Saturday March 1st, 2014 Dust off your boots and grab your cowboy hat, as you join us for the Our Lady of Lourdes Annual Gala. This is OLOL's one and only major fundraiser of the 2013-2014 school year. This will be a fun filled evening with a silent and live auction, wonderful dinner buffet, cash bar, casino tables and of course dancing. Evening begins with 4:30 Mass. Please contact school for more information. 303-722-7525 2256 S. Logan St. Denver, CO 80210 Thank you for your support!

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