Saturday, February 20, 2010 7 AM–5 PM
Mid-Winter Monastic Quiet Day
Monastic Quiet days offer a unique opportunity to experience transformational rhythms experienced in monastic communities in the midst of our own daily living. Using a simple guide for guidance and reflection, participants begin their practice of silence on Friday evening in their own homes. Saturday morning participants convene at the Cathedral—gathering for 7:30 am Eucharist, followed by breakfast, periods for reflection, and lunch—all in silence. The afternoon includes time for prayer, meditation, reflection, and short learning sessions for response and sharing, and concludes with Evening Prayer in the great choir of the Cathedral.
Saturday morning participants convene at the Cathedral—gathering for 7:30 am Eucharist, followed by breakfast, periods for reflection, and lunch—all in silence. The afternoon includes time for prayer, meditation, reflection, and short learning sessions for response and sharing, and concludes with Evening Prayer in the great choir of the Cathedral.
Led by Kurt Aschermann, President of Charity Partners Foundation, active contemplative, and former senior vice president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Greg Finch, Director of The Community of Reconciliation at Washington National Cathedral.
About Dr. Greg Finch
Gregory L. Finch, DMin, MDiv, MTS, BEd, is executive director of the Community of Reconciliation at Washington National Cathedral and founder of the consulting firm Wild Geese Among Us in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Finch serves as adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the George Washington University School of Medicine as well as adjunct faculty at Wesley Theological Seminary and the Princeton Theological Seminary Center for Continuing Education. He is also a Society for the Arts in Healthcare consultant and serves on the editorial review board of the Society’s journal, Arts & Health: An International Journal of Research, Policy, and Practice.
Dr. Finch holds a doctorate in medicine, spirituality, and aesthetics along with graduate degrees with honors in divinity, spirituality and the arts, spirituality and medicine, arts management, and architecture from Princeton Theological Seminary, Wesley Theological Seminary, the American University, and Texas A&M University and was an associate fellow with Dr. Christina Puchalski at the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health. He is a speaker, retreat leader, and conference facilitator in the domains of aesthetics, the Community of Reconciliation and the way of Benedict, spiritual life, wisdom leadership, and wellness.
About Kurt Aschermann
Kurt Aschermann is an independent consultant who also serves as President of the Charity Partners Foundation. He has also been an active contemplative for over 30 years. Since experiencing Benedictine spirituality at Holy Cross Monastery in upstate New York (where he has been an Associate for 23 years) Kurt blended his active business, family and private life with a serious commitment to a balanced contemplative life. Aschermann believes his life is experienced best in silence, contemplation and prayer and play!
Kurt is Senior Adviser to Club de Niño’s y Niña’s de Mexico, the boys & girls clubs of Mexico. Mr. Aschermann was most recently Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Development Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He has extensive experience in charitable giving and developing relationships with strategic partners, including sports leagues, corporate sponsors, celebrities, athletes, and media.
Mr. Aschermann has been a professional athlete in the Chicago Cubs system, a school teacher, and worked in government/politics. He is a well-known speaker and lecturer on nonprofit/for-profit relations and board development in the US and internationally. He has authored three books, Coaching Kids to Play Baseball and Softball and Coaching Kids to Play Soccer, published by Simon & Schuster and his first book of children’s fiction BJ and the Amazing Doctor Directions was published in 2009. In 2002, Mr. Aschermann was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.