Stewardship of GratitudeAdult Studies and Small Groups
Welcome to the St. Raphael Scripture Study Community!
Where disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ open and empty themselves to the Holy Spirit who guides us and instructs us in moving the faith from the head to the heart.
Bible Study
The Mass And The Readings Explained With Dr. Brant Pitre
Friday mornings on Zoom
9:30am – 10:45am
Sign up to receive Zoom link
JOIN US ANYTIME!
From Catholic Productions:
• Deepen your understanding of the readings you hear at Mass.
• Get access to the most relevant weekly Bible study of your life.
• Learn about Roman Catholic Worship in the Bible and Tradition.
Applying the Scriptures to our everyday life can be a daunting task, but it is much easier when you aren’t doing it alone. At bible study, you will have the opportunity to build lasting friendships in Christ through praying and sharing the Word of God together. We hope to see you there!
Small Groups
Not all of us are called to be mystics, but we’re all called to the mystical life!
Grow deeper in hearing God speak to you and grow closer to others who desire this as well.
Just one hour weekly zoom meeting.
When: Starts Tuesday Sept 9 10:30-11:30a
Signup below to receive information and Zoom link:
Workbook also available
- Lesson Summaries
- The same Saint passages, Lectio Divina Scriptures, & Meditations you’ll find online in each lesson
- Space for journaling and notes
- Review Questions
- Discussion Questions
Order workbook for SOS Print Workbook – Catholic Mysticism & the Beautiful Life of Grace – Science of Sainthood
From Amazon – Catholic Mysticism and the Beautiful Life of Grace: Leonard, Matthew: 9780997774528: Amazon.com: Books
Digital version – Interactive Digital Workbook – Catholic Mysticism & the Beautiful Life – Science of Sainthood
Lectio Prayer
“Have you ever had an experience in prayer where you felt deeply, intimately connected to God? Have you ever felt like you were merely talking to yourself during prayer? Chances are most of us have experienced both ends of the spectrum, and no matter how healthy our prayer life, there is always room for improvement. We begin our study on prayer by exploring the importance of approaching it as a two-way conversation. Our speaking to God is one part of the conversation. Often it’s the other part, God speaking to us, with which most people struggle. Does God speak to us? And if so, how do we hear him?”
Crane, A., Gray K. Prayer: Intimacy with God. Copyright © 2016 Augustine Institute.
Parishioners and non-parishioners are welcome to attend this study. This study is a pre-requisite for the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL) retreat beginning October 2026.
In-person:
Mondays at 9:00 – 10:00 am in Parish Office
Zoom options available!
Curious? Here’s a short commentary by leader Judi Anderson:
https://vimeo.com/728608612
Risen Retreat
Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life
Erase the line between Heaven and Earth
Erase the Line Between Heaven and Earth
Are you a weekly Adoration pray-er who appreciates how your relationship with Jesus has changed, but now you want more prayer tools? The Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL) Retreat is an eight-month experience of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. It is a structured and guided prayer experience that helps strengthen and build your relationship with Jesus and Mary.
In the tradition of Ignatian Spirituality, the retreat focuses on the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus through a prayerful encounter with Scripture. The Ignatian principle of “finding God in all things” lies at the heart of the retreat.
The retreat extends from late September through May (32 Weeks). It involves daily prayer, weekly group meetings, and individual spiritual direction. Sign up by clicking the Register button below or by calling the parish office at 727-821-7989. Retreat begins week of September 28th, 2026.
Register by September 15
Testimonies from past retreatants
“After several conversations with current SEEL participants, I immediately knew that I wanted to join SEEL. Their testimonials and explanations confirmed that SEEL was exactly what I had been discerning I needed: a way to grow in Scripture and to have a spiritual director. God is amazing in how He always provides more than we ask for. Everyone needs to experience SEEL!
I learned the proper way to read Scripture using Lectio Divina. First, I listen for what God wants me to hear. Then, I ask Him to give me an understanding of what He is telling me, and finally, I ask Him to show me what to do. The desire to read Scripture every day was completely new to me. SEEL gave me a thirst to learn more about God through His Word. I felt driven to spend time with God, and I considered anything that kept me from the daily exercises to be a sacrifice—an unintentional fast.
I feel the peace of God more deeply and more frequently than ever before. I learned how to practice discernment, making my choices His decisions. I now strive to be more aware of God’s presence in every moment of my life. I have become deeply aware of how He works in and through me and others, seeing how a single event is often the beautifully ordered result of a chain of seemingly unrelated events. I want more!!” – Peggy Green
“SEEL came into my life through my husband’s experience with the program. He encouraged me to consider it, and his support proved essential for our family, especially with children ages 5, 8, 11, and 13.
I began the program already well-founded in daily devotions and a deep prayer life while receiving monthly spiritual direction. Yet, SEEL stretched me in positive and unexpected ways. Over nine months, it invited me to a deeper surrender, giving me new disciplines that opened my heart to receive the powerful graces God desired to give.
The experience was truly transformative. I entered SEEL joyfully grounded in a relationship with Christ, yet through SEEL, He revealed Himself to me in fuller and more intimate ways. Jesus introduced me to new depths of His love.
I leave SEEL with a deeper relationship with Christ, a renewed sense of purpose, strengthened holy habits, and a greater capacity to encounter God in every messy and beautiful moment of this pilgrim journey.”
– Marcy Huber
Metanoia Dawns
My heart learns God’s voice by touch
The hills echo my yes!
“The Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL) retreat has transformed my heart. My spiritual rebirth started five years ago when I first said “yes” to a discipline of daily prayer and reflection. However, after completing the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola, I now have a much more stable foundation on which to build my spiritual life.
I know deep in my heart that God loves me just as I am, and I can now return that love in ways I didn’t know were possible before. Being still, silent, and focused in prayer in today’s noisy world is very difficult. Yet, as I have developed the ability to sit in silent prayer, I am better able to hear God’s voice. I have learned how to create an environment of active listening that truly works for me.
In so many ways, God has touched my heart during this retreat. I know He led me to it because I needed His consolation in a special way. While I have participated in many retreats throughout my life and received many spiritual fruits, the SEEL experience has given me the greatest gift of all: a real relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ.”
– Brian Harvey
“Participating in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius has deepened my awareness that God is always present, gently inviting me into a closer relationship rooted in love, gratitude, and trust. Through the Exercises, my prayer life has been strengthened with contemplative prayer, reflection on Scripture, and other meaningful spiritual practices that guide me into intentional, reflective, and personal encounters with Him. I have come to recognize God’s presence in both ordinary moments and difficult challenges.
The Exercises have given me the grace to grow in spiritual freedom and trust in God’s will. They have helped me see more clearly that I am created in God’s love and called to respond with greater faithfulness, mercy, and generosity toward Him and others. I have learned to notice the movements within my heart—those that lead toward peace, joy, and freedom, and those that pull me away from God through fear, discouragement, or distraction.
This journey has strengthened my desire to place God at the center of my life and to seek Him in all things. I continue forward with gratitude, trusting that God walks beside me each day, guiding me to ask in every situation: ‘What is the loving thing to do?'”
– Bill Condon
