“Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.” Matthew 11:15 Dear Friends, My husband’s heart beat so hard, I could feel it through the fabric of his shirt.He was anxious, worried, but after a series of tests, the doctors have assured him that the jangling beat–while uncomfortable–is relatively harmless; something, they tell us, to simply be aware of, to listen for.I rest my cheek against the hollow of his collarbone and am mindful of how much our nearly thirty-five years of marriage have opened and deepened our lives, together. This morning, I stood in the very center of Cranaleith’s...
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Volunteering at Cranaleith: George Whalen
As I was approaching retirement from a long career in Philadelphia City government, I started to think about what was I going to do with the balance of my life. I had always been interested in Religion and I was active in several groups at our parish. I also studied Theology at LaSalle University before retiring and taught Religious Studies at the Penn State Abington campus location for several years after retiring. Another driving force in this assessment of my future was a desire to give something back in my golden years. Along the way in my career there had...
Stories from the Mercy Station: Summer 2022
Each Wednesday from July 6 to August 3, campers (5 years-old and up) and counselors from the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia spent the day at Cranaleith, where they were engaged in fun, and often meaningful, activities around the 10-acre Sanctuary of Trees. One such activity was the Mercy Station, where Cranaleith’s Program Director, Bernadette Rudolph, guided the campers to use nature and other techniques to learn something about themselves and the world in relationship to Mercy. Bernadette shared some of her observation from the Mercy Station, along with some pictures of the campers at Cranaleith. She also shared some...
Cranaleith Program Director On Popular Podcast
Bernadette Rudolph, program director at Cranaleith Spiritual Center in Philadelphia and a certified Spiritual Director, was a guest on the popular, “The Forgiveness Lab” podcast. Her episode is titled, “Forgiveness and the Spiritual Journey.” From The Forgiveness Lab: “She [Bernadette] endlessly explores how God is mixed up in human lives and tries to help others see it as well. Bernadette has a rich background that has included teaching at Villanova and Marywood Universities, pastoral ministry in a parish setting, serving as a diocesan director for Family and Community Development, being a middle and high school teacher and a K-8 principal,...
Memorial in Bloom
For the employees at Selzer Company in Warrington, PA, Donna Arnold was more than just an accountant and coworker for 20 years. For them, she was a shining light. “Everyone loved her. She was the best. She touched every person with kindness,” said Elizabeth “Liz” Kenney who works at Selzer. When Donna passed away “rather suddenly” earlier this year, her colleagues at Selzer knew they wanted to honor her life and legacy. Liz Keeney had an idea: Plant a memorial tree and plaque at Cranaleith Spiritual Center and have a memorial service at the tree. Liz is no stranger to...
It Only Takes a Moment
Video: “It Only Takes a Moment,” written and performed by Steve Hart, Cranaleith Board Chair. It only takes a moment to support the work of Cranaleith. Your support helps us to fulfill our mission to offer a contemplative space for all those seeking wholeness and transformation for themselves and society. We are committed to making Cranaleith accessible to all, especially to persons who are poor and those who work in solidarity with them. We seek to invite those at the center of need and those at the center of influence to reflection, reverent dialogue, and meaningful partnerships. It only takes...
New Executive Director Announcement
A Message from Cranaleith Board Chair, Steve Hart Dear Cranaleith Community, Since the retirement of Deborah Kost in February, the Board of Directors has been engaged in a regional search for Cranaleith’s next Executive Director. Working with the non-profit executive search firm Lambert and Associates, and including input from many of Cranaleith’s staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to hire Dawn Hayward, PhD, as Cranaleith’s new Executive Director. Dawn began in this role on Tuesday, June 7, and I join the Board in sharing our excitement at having Dawn take the reins of leadership...
Cranaleith's "Ski" Ulinski Remembered
Zigmont “Ski” Ulinski 1940 – 2022 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 Guests who have come to Cranaleith over the past 23 years experienced a man whose presence grew from the heart of Cranaleith’s mission. Ski offered a hospitality that was simple, compassionate, joyous and generous. Accompanied by his golden retrievers who extended the same gifts, we often found him chatting with guests in a way that was utterly other-centered and accepting. Men and women from every walk of life found Cranaleith “common ground” because of Ski....
Board Member Presents at Ignatian Conference
Cranaleith Board member, author, and Professor of Religion and Theology at LaSalle University, Maureen O’Connell, PhD, will lead a breakout session at the Ignatian Spirituality and Leadership Conference at Saint Joseph’s University on July 28 in Philadelphia. Her sessions, Undoing the Knots: Spiritual Resources for Anti-Racist Discipleship, is based on her recent book, “Undoing the Knots: Five Generations of American Catholic Anti-Blackness.” Learn more about the conference HERE.
Board Member's New Book Reviewed
Cranaleith Board member Maureen O’Connell’s latest book, Undoing the Knots: Five Generations of American Catholic Anti-Blackness, was reviewed Emma McDonald in the national publication, Commonweal, which praised the work as “a project of unraveling.” Read the full review HERE.