Growing Old Gracefully
With Jennifer Frenz and Sister Paula Hagen
June 21, 2025
Growing Old Gracefully: A Day of Reflection and Renewal
Come as you are. Leave renewed.
Facilitated by Sister Paula Hagen, OSB and Jennifer Frenz
In a culture obsessed with youth, aging is often seen as something to resist or conceal. But what if growing older is not a loss—but a gift? What if this stage of life offers unique purpose, deep wisdom, and sacred abundance?
Join us for “Growing Old Gracefully,” a soul-nourishing day of community, rest, and reflection at St. Paul’s Monastery. Drawing on Scripture, spiritual and personal insight, and honest conversation, we’ll explore the beauty, meaning, and vitality of life at every age—especially the later seasons often overlooked by society.
Together, we’ll reclaim aging as sacred. Expect thoughtful discussion, quiet spaces, a shared meal, and Benedictine hospitality that welcomes your whole self—body, mind, and spirit.
Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” Come experience that abundance with us.
Goals
- To reflect on life as a blessing
- To establish a Keystone Practice (small and daily) of joy, hope, and grace
- To review research on positive aspects of preparing for the aging process
- To reflect on attitudes of gratitude for your spiritual growth
Retreat Schedule
- 10:00am Welcome
- 10:10am Icebreaker: What do you hope to take from this retreat?
- 10:30am Opening Prayer Life is a Blessing by S. Joan Chittister, OSB (lectio divina)
- 11:00am Reflect on Three Secrets on Aging
- 11:30am Reflect on your Keystone Practice for nourishing joy, hope, and grace
- 12:00pm Lunch in small groups with discussion of Keystone Practice
- 1:00pm Create a list of resources to strengthen your spiritual practice
- Beauty in nature and poetry
- Art and visio divina
- Exercise (labyrinth)
- Friendship
- Community need
- Prayer that feeds the soul
- Spiritual director/companion
- 1:30pm Community and friendship needed to age in health
- 2:00pm Prepare for final group prayer ritual to age gracefully
- 2:30pm Closing Ritual
About the Leaders
Jennifer Frenz
Jennifer Frenz is a graduate of the Spiritual Direction Formation Program at Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality. She is a trained group facilitator with a Business degree from Purdue University. Jennifer is the mother of 3 adult children and has been happily married for 34 years. She is a member and volunteer at Our Lady […]
Learn more about Jennifer Frenz
Sister Paula Hagen
Sister Paula Hagen is the co-author of Ministry of Mothers Sharing. For over thirty years, she has created and facilitated various national retreats for hundreds of parishes. Currently, she is a retreat facilitator at the Benedictine Center of St. Paul's Monastery.
Learn more about Sister Paula HagenCategories : Community & connection, Prayer & meditation