The Center for Christian Spirituality at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, South Orange, will offer a series of retreats titled, “70x7:  Faith, Family, and Forgiveness, Part II” at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church, Cedar Knolls, and St. Paul Inside the Walls, Madison.  This seven-month journey takes retreatants towards healing and transformation as they accompany one another in a spirit of prayer and camaraderie.

The first lecture of the series Dec. 13 runs from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by Mass at 12:10 p.m. in Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church, 75 Ridgedale Avenue.  This lecture will highlight Shakespeare’s plays that dramatize the process of forgiveness and its power to heal and redeem.  Included will be clips from “Shakespeare Behind Bars,” along with inspiring music, designed to lead from the tempest to peace and from spiritual imprisonment to true freedom.

Presenters will be Gregory Glazov, associate professor of Biblical studies and coordinator of the Great Spiritual Books Program, Seton Hall University, and Dianne M. Traflet, associate dean, assistant professor of Pastoral Theology, and founder and director of the Institute for Christian Spirituality, Seton Hall University.

Future dates and topics being held in Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church are as follows:  Jan. 17, “Forgiveness in Rwanda:  Forgiving Our Enemies;” Feb. 28, “Betrayal in the Book of Genesis and the Institution of the Eucharist;” April 11, “The Spirit of Forgiveness in ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Anna Karenina;’ May 9, “Love and Forgiveness:  The Witness of Prisoners of Auschwitz,” and June 6, “Praying for Forgiveness: With the Mysteries of Light.”  March 28, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do: Forgiveness as Redemptive Suffering,” will be held in St. Paul Inside the Walls, 205 Madison Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All lectures will run from 9 a.m. to noon followed by a 12:10 p.m. Mass unless noted.  Pre-registration is encouraged.  To register, contact, Anna Capizzi at [email protected] or 973-275-2440.