WE LIVE IN DARK TIMES

We, therefore, must ask ourselves, this Advent, when the Christian world is awaiting for the coming of Christ at Christmas and we sing Joy to the World is  any kind of joy even possible?

St. John of the Cross rejoices YES!  But we need his life experience and insights to help us to open our minds and hearts to an interior joy so deep in our hearts that we  are unaware of it… yet it has been there all the time.  This joy does not depend on our circumstances and it transcends and transforms all trauma.

Mary Cruise comes from Seattle. She was educated by the Religious of the Sacred  Heart (very influential in my faith journey), attended San Francisco College for Women, a Sacred Heart College. She graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Home Economics in 1973. Later returning to Seattle University, she has  a BSN in Nursing, and has worked in many areas of nursing  practice over the years including owning three nursing businesses.  She has been a Lay Carmelite since 1977 and has years of experience teaching Carmelite formation. Currently, Mary has  begun a Carmelite Spiritual Direction graduate course from the UK. She is a charter  member of Heal Our Church in Seattle which advocates for healing for victims of  sexual and reproductive abuse by clergy.  She is an enthusiastic life-time  learner, loves to travel and explore the wonders of the world as well as having a great love  for her Carmelite vocation. It is her hope that her presentation on joy will change  your life!