Presented by Rt. Rev. Br. Mark D’Alessio
Mary Oliver is a favorite of poetry lovers of all ages for her lyrical, intimate, and sensitive poems, many of which use nature as a lens for exploring a wide spiritual spectrum of human emotions, from love and joy to sorrow and despair. The best of Oliver’s work reminds us to pause and take a breath, revel in our surroundings, and not take anything for granted.
Join us this year for our annual Mary Oliver Retreat at Wisdom House, led by Br. Mark, one of our most popular facilitators. Together we will explore Thirst (2006), the luminous collection Oliver wrote after the death of her partner. In Thirst, Oliver opens her heart to loss while stepping more deeply into the language of prayer, praise, and spiritual yearning. At once tender and fierce, these poems name the rawness of mourning, the ache of absence, and the stubborn beauty of the world that continues. Throughout, they shine with hope and the possibility of renewal.
As Oliver writes: “Another morning and I wake with thirst / for the goodness I do not have / I walk out to the pond and all the way / God has given us such beautiful lessons.” Thirst invites us to discover how grief can open us more deeply to this rhythm of love, loss, and surrender.
Through reflection, contemplative practice, and guided conversation, we’ll invite Oliver’s poems to become companions on our own journeys of loss, healing, and hope. No prior knowledge of her work is needed — only an openness to allow poetry to speak to the heart. Come walk with us through Thirst and discover how grief, too, can open us more deeply to love, resilience, and the quiet hunger for God.
$85 | COMMUTER, lunch included
We’re honored to offer scholarship opportunities to programs and retreats, creating opportunities for everyone. Please call (860) 567-3163 to find out more.
The health and safety of our guests and staff are of paramount importance to us. We follow the COVID-19 guidelines provided by the State of Connecticut and the CDC. If Wisdom House is forced to close to comply with the guidelines issued by the State of Connecticut or the CDC, we will return all funds received to date.
The Rt. Rev. Br. Mark D’Alessio is a Franciscan friar in the new religious society of the Companions of Francis and Clare. He’s also a interspiritual Christian bishop and priest, spiritual director, chaplain, retreat leader, author, and past President and Executive Director of the Psychotherapy & Spirituality Institute which draws together the inspiration of the church with the wisdom of psychological care.
As a Franciscan, he’s committed to serving those who are sidelined, most vulnerable and at risk. Last year, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless awarded him with their “Unsung Hero” Award for his ministry as a crisis counselor and program coordinator at a shelter for men and women who are homeless and as a chaplain at a residential treatment center and school for children with learning and emotional disabilities.
A long-time seeker and practitioner of spiritual wisdom, he’s initiated into multiple spiritual lineages, both East (Buddhist) and West (Christian); does his best to affirm the Christian Wisdom tradition within a wider inter-spiritual framework; and, looks to God’s science and spiritual heroes (such as Thích Nhat Hanh and Francis and Clare of Assisi) as sources of inspiration and hope.
Br. Mark is a graduate of the Guild for Spiritual Guidance, founded by Henri Nouwen and Madeline L’Engle, where he is currently a faculty member and community leader. He's also a faculty member at All Faiths Seminary International for the training of interfaith ministers.