By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

In times of despair and stress, the watches of the night can be seem desolate and interminable.

How to fill those dark corners with the light of faith was the focus of the 21st annual Spirituality Conference held Nov. 5 in Georgian Court University, Lakewood.

Entitled, “In the Night Watches: Spiritual Growth in Times of Uncertainty,” and presented by noted speaker and author Sister Joyce Rupp, a member of the Servants of Mary, the conference hosted by the Diocesan Upper Room Spirituality Center, Neptune, drew more than 350 from around the Diocese, state and as far away as New England.

They came in search of peaceful, prayerful ways to find solace and comfort amid the fast-paced, unsettled atmosphere of contemporary life.

They did not go home disappointed.

The day unfolded in the GCU Casino Building with meditation, quiet reflection and dialogue interspersed with poems, prayers and Scripture selected by Sister Joyce and interspersed with her gentle insights and humorous observations.

Focusing on the fact that we live in “uncertain times,” she spoke of how the darkest hours of the night can be when many people find themselves overwhelmed by thoughts of unpredictable circumstances that plague them.

At such times, she said, there is great comfort to be found in faith.

Encouraging everyone to take heart from the fact that “even Jesus” knew the hardest of times, she urged listeners to recognize that “we all need support when we are going through grief and loss.” No matter how dark the night, she said, the underpinning of an “undying presence” is always there.

“We need to trust” in that presence she said, for while the uncertainties of life are “not comfortable to live with, God is always there to rely on.”

Reliance on God is especially important now, when society is “living in the era of the great unknown. We need to trust, we need to have deep roots in prayer and Scripture,” said Sister Joyce, who urged her listeners to delve deeply into those roots this Advent.

“It will be Advent in less than a month,” a perfect time, she said, to explore the lives and faith of Advent personages including Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zachariah and their son John the Baptist, who faced uncertainty and monumental unknowns but trusted in God.

“Mary especially had a lot of unknowns in her life,” not only in her yes to God, but the trek to Egypt after Jesus was born. “She lost her child in the temple, had to cope with his departure from home and all the negatives spoken about him … all these uncertainties,” Sister Joyce said, adding that Mary still kept the faith.

“It takes a lot of faith to believe,” on that level, said Sister Joyce, who has authored numerous books on spiritual subjects that have been translated into seven languages that have been translated into seven languages including “Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons on the Camino” (Orbis, 2005) and “The Circle of Life” (Sorin Books, 2005). Her “Open The Door” from (Sorin Books) received the Best 2008 Spiritual Book from Spirituality and Practice.

“All these Advent personages,” she said, light the way for “those who sit in darkness.”

From Darkness to Light

A mid-westerner who grew up on a farm, Sister Joyce shared a love of nature that had evolved over her lifetime. As autumn leaves fell to the ground, Sister Joyce encouraged participants to make the most of an extended break by experiencing a period of silent reflection on the grounds of the former Gould estate now home to Georgian Court.

Sister Joyce shared a poignant story of rebirth and regeneration, focusing on a tree she once observed that had been cut down.

“We see a tree that is cut down and we think, ‘That’s the end of it’,” she said, adding that because of deep roots, “new shoots” were sprouting all around the base of the tree trunk.

During times of uncertainty, she said, the need is great to focus on our own deep roots.

Such stories were highlights of the day for Deirdre Shea, a member of St. Michael Parish, Cranford, and her father, George 83, of St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant. George Shea has attended the annual event for 13 years.

“She was really remarkable, and her stories are so applicable to her teachings,” said Deidre Shea, who appreciated the admonition to say ‘yes’ more “instead of living in fear and in darkness.

“I was very moved by this. It doesn’t mean saying yes to stupid things, like people taking advantage of us, but paying attention” and being able to differentiate between “yes times and no times.”

Shea also said she was moved by what Sister Joyce had to say about realizing you are not alone.

“We all think we are in a dark spot – more like a fog – but we need to realize that it’s not really dark and we are not really alone,” she said.

Kathy McBurnie, who helps coordinate adult faith formation in St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, called the conference a day of self-care for all those attending and shared how much she appreciated the format. “She used so many different resources: personal stories, prayer, meditation, poetry, song, moving meditation and [she] gave us resources to take home,” McBurnie said. “She is a good presenter. She keeps things moving.”

Kathleen O’Connell, a spiritual director at St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, echoed Shea, calling the day “enlightening, refreshing and needed.”

O’Connell, a hospice volunteer coordinator, said from her perspective, uncertainties are taking a toll on “our world, our country and our own personal lives. Everyone seems to be really on edge. I find myself praying so much harder in this time of confusion in the world.”

She appreciated the advice throughout the day to stop worrying. “You need to put it into God’s hands and let it go.”