GROWING SPIRITUALLY IN THE 4 SEASONS
"To everything there is a season . . ."~Eccl.3
Sister Bethany Fitzgerald, SSJ
Sister Bethany Fitzgerald, a Sister of St. Joseph of Watertown and a
native of Cape Vincent, graduated from SUNY Potsdam in education,
earning her MA degree in formative spirituality from Duquesne
University, Pittsburgh, PA. She has training in the field of addictions, and
has completed the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator Training Program.
During the past several years, she has been involved in the field of
education and spirituality in the diocesan formation for ministry
program, on college campuses, in deaconate formation, in local schools
and parishes as well as formation director for her religious community.
She has served as campus minister for 11 years at St. Thomas Moore Newman Center in Canton.
Presently Sr. Bethany's Community sponsored ministry is Faith Formation Educator. She offers
workshops, days of reflection, retreats, faith sharing groups, seminars on spirituality and various
courses in Christian/Catholic spirituality and world religions. She serves as facilitator for the
Sisters of St. Joseph Social Justice Committee, co-director of the Lay Associate Program and is a
member of the Diocesan Laudato Si Committee. Sister Bethany has a special interest
in exploring the relationship between religion and science, through the Faith and Ecology Groups
throughout the Diocese.
native of Cape Vincent, graduated from SUNY Potsdam in education,
earning her MA degree in formative spirituality from Duquesne
University, Pittsburgh, PA. She has training in the field of addictions, and
has completed the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator Training Program.
During the past several years, she has been involved in the field of
education and spirituality in the diocesan formation for ministry
program, on college campuses, in deaconate formation, in local schools
and parishes as well as formation director for her religious community.
She has served as campus minister for 11 years at St. Thomas Moore Newman Center in Canton.
Presently Sr. Bethany's Community sponsored ministry is Faith Formation Educator. She offers
workshops, days of reflection, retreats, faith sharing groups, seminars on spirituality and various
courses in Christian/Catholic spirituality and world religions. She serves as facilitator for the
Sisters of St. Joseph Social Justice Committee, co-director of the Lay Associate Program and is a
member of the Diocesan Laudato Si Committee. Sister Bethany has a special interest
in exploring the relationship between religion and science, through the Faith and Ecology Groups
throughout the Diocese.
Journeys come in all forms and a retreat during the spring, summer, fall or winter with quiet moments in the mountains or by a river, riding a horse or just enjoying the camaraderie of others on the same path could be a start.
Experiencing nature gives us opportunities for the renewal of our souls and spirit. Through my web pages you may find inspiration for your spiritual journey. Enjoy. Sister Bethany Fitzgerald SSJ
Sister Bethany resting on the mountain.
Contact Information:
Email: [email protected]
Phone No: 315-212-6592 cell 315-782-3460 home
Address: 1425 Washington St.,
Watertown, New York 13601
If you would like further information and updates on programs,
please email Sister at the above address.
Email: [email protected]
Phone No: 315-212-6592 cell 315-782-3460 home
Address: 1425 Washington St.,
Watertown, New York 13601
If you would like further information and updates on programs,
please email Sister at the above address.
The Cycle of Seasons
Trees in four seasons
The seasons of the earth, the seasons of our lives... times of planting, of growth, of fruition, of gathering, times of dormancy and inward stillness. Times of vitality and outward action.
In ancient cultures, rhythms of human life were closely tied to the rhythms of the natural systems, as reflected in ECCLESIASTES 3-8:
To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun.
A time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal ...
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance ...
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to lose and a time to seek;
a time to rend and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate
a time for war and a time for peace
Each season has its own phase -- of life, of growth, of history with its own tasks and its own timing, its own role to play in our unfolding as human persons created in God's own image.
Each season has messages from the Creator on how to live our lives fully as Jesus came to teach us. He often used images from the earth to teach us the true meaning of life, as with the example of the grain of wheat that only if it dies, will it yield a rich harvest. This is what Jesus himself did, and so tells us we must do if we desire to live life to the fullest. See John 12:24-25
