Have you ever found yourself distracted by shopping, decorating, entertaining or traveling during the Christmas season? Ever had a difficult time focusing on THE BABY (Jesus) or what the Father had in mind for Him? Ever looked back on Christmas evening and wished you had done a few things differently over the past few weeks?
Maureen O'Connell offered help in the form of an evening retreat on November 17, called
Mindfully Merry. Maureen, is an OLL parishioner, mom of four and a Licensed Professional Counselor with her own private practice. During the retreat Maureen presented an overview of
Catholic Mindfulness developed by Catholic Psychologist, Dr. Gregory Bottaro. She explained that by understanding better how our minds work we can become focused and tuned into our lives and the present moment. Our minds have a tendency to wander and when they do we often end up worried about the future or the past, instead of living in the here-and-now with peace and trust in God.
Catholic Mindfulness teaches people practical exercises to strengthen the muscle of focus and gives them a practical way to worry less and trust God more. Maureen led participants through practical exercises aimed at increasing one's ability to focus the mind and become more 'mindful.' Maureen closed the evening with practical suggestions for making Advent a true season of peace, joy, presence, and connection with what matters most.
To listen to the talks or learn more about Maureen O'Connell and her work as a Catholic therapist please visit her website at
www.starofhopecounseling.com