God of Evolution: From Earth Community to Omega Love — Thomas Berry and Ilia Delio in Dialogue
CCE Contemplative Enrichment Day
Saturday, January 23, 2027
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET)
The Rt. Rev. Br. Mark D’Alessio
What if evolution is the arena of God’s presence? This contemplative workshop explores the converging visions of Thomas Berry and Ilia Delio, who invite a faith spacious enough for science, Earth, and cosmos. Berry awakens us to the sacred Earth community and our place within the universe’s unfolding story. Delio, drawing on evolutionary science and the Franciscan tradition, proclaims Christ as Omega Love at the heart of an unfinished universe. Through reflection, dialogue, and practice, we will explore evolution as sacred story and ecological healing as spiritual conversion.
This program will be offered both in-person and online via Zoom. Information on how to access the program on Zoom will be sent to participants in advance.
This program will include morning and afternoon sessions of Centering Prayer.
Offering: $75, includes lunch
Scholarships are available, please contact Mike Smoolca at cce@holyfamilyretreat.org for more information.
Presenter Profile
The Rt. Rev. Br. Mark D’Alessio
The Rt. Rev. Br. Mark D’Alessio is a Franciscan friar, Christian bishop and priest, ordained lay Buddhist, spiritual director, author, and retreat leader, and former president and executive director of the Psychotherapy & Spirituality Institute. He serves as Mentor General of the Companions of Francis and Clare and Dean of its Institute for Interfaith Understanding and Practice. Ordained in multiple Christian and Buddhist lineages, his teaching affirms the Christian Wisdom tradition within a wider interspiritual framework.
Dietary restrictions? Holy Family is committed to making your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, and to that end, we can accommodate most dietary needs. Please email Marianne, our Dining Room Manager, at mbrady@holyfamilyretreat.org, if you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, so that we may make preparations in advance of your retreat.
Online registration will be available soon. Please check back for updates.