Providence Spiritual Outreach (PROSO)
Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don’t you know you are worth much more than they are? Mt. 6:26
Today’s world cries out for signs of hope, love and God’s care. Uncertainties and changes over these last years have affected everyone. PROSO Ministry is for adults trying to factor faith into the puzzle. You will find time for prayer, reflection, and respectful individual or group conversations that can help you discover God’s presence in your daily life.
Enjoy our newsletter!
PROSO News Fall 2022
PROSO News Summer 2022 (pdf)
PROSO News Spring 2022 (pdf)
PROSO News Fall 2021 (pdf)
Virtual and in-person Retreats, Conversation Groups, Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Consultation
Retreats and Workshops
Take some precious pressure-free “sacred space with God” away from family, work and responsibilities. PROSO retreats take place in-person or using a Zoom platform. Events are held when people are available, including on nights and weekends. Dates, themes and times vary.
See PROSO Current Offerings for more information and to register.
Photo by Sister Barbara Fry, CDP
Conversation and Roundtable Groups
Small groups gather with a Sister or Associate of Divine Providence on the Zoom platform to explore issues relevant to everyday life and faith. The gatherings include brief prayer, input, personal reflection questions and meaningful, honest and respectful faith-based conversations.
See PROSO Current Offerings for more information and to register.
Consulting and Custom-Designed Events
Let PROSO help your school, Church, non-profit or other group host a virtual or in-person retreat, workshop, in-services or conversation group. See PROSO Consulting for a list of 2022 topics . We also provide hourly individual and group spiritual assessments, consultations, and spiritual outreach services tailored to your specific needs.
Personal Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Consultation
People who seek God seek out other people who seek God. Find out how that the PROSO team of Sisters and Associates offer group and personal and group spiritual direction, retreat direction, and other types of spiritual support and encouragement. These services may take place virtually or in-person, depending on the situation and geographic location.
See PROSO Spiritual Direction for more information and to register.
Featured Events
Lenten Journey: Tenacious Hope
Lent is the perfect time to seek God with greater tenacity and open our hearts to Christ’s love and grace. Learn something new, stifle old fears and embrace the challenges set before us as People of Providence in our world today. See PROSO Current Offerings for more information and to register.
Retreats: Harbor of Hope Retreats
Find rest, strength and safe harbor in the heart of Providence during these changing times. Deepen your trust and let God’s peace, possibilities, and joy transform your heart and the world at the Fall Harbor of Hope Virtual Retreat Weekend. The retreat will be offered in various virtual and in-person and virtually formats throughout 2022-2023. See PROSO Current Offerings Fall 2022 – (cdptexas.org) for more information and to register.
Conversations: Weaving a Future of Hope Roundtables
Build relationships and share seeds of faith and hope that are germinating during these times of change and transition. Find encouragement, wisdom and a broader perspective by joining a scheduled group. PROSO can also help you form a roundtable. New Weaving a Future of Hope Roundtables are added throughout 2022-2023. See PROSO Current Offerings Fall 2022 – (cdptexas.org) for more information.
PROSO Team
Click on a Team Member’s name for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions about PROSO
What is the story behind PROSO?
Providence planted the seed of PROSO in 2020 when retreat center where Sr. Joyce Detzel, CDP served temporarily closed due to Covid. She responded by helping to create a prayer check-in and virtual retreat ministry for socially distanced adults. Life took an unexpected turn when she, like millions of others, became unemployed due to the pandemic. This difficult time became an opportunity for Providence to transplant the ministry into another setting!
The Congregation of Divine Providence of Texas supported her idea and missioned her to create a virtual outreach ministry for adults tossed by the waves of pandemic, social, and personal change. The concept grew by word of mouth and a team of CDP Sisters and Associates began to design an in-person and virtual spiritual outreach program firmly anchored in trust in God’s goodness, care and love. In January 2021 PROSO ministry started providing flexible spiritual outreach services responsive individual and group modern-day spiritual needs.
Why is the ministry named PROSO?
God sustained hungry birds and starving people for centuries with the ancient grain, Proso millet. Matthew 6:26, a favorite Scripture quote of the Sisters, speaks of God’s loving providence. “Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest or save food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don’t you know you are worth much more than they are?” Matthew 6:26
Since Civil War times, the Sisters have carried this unfaltering message of hope and trust in God’s provident, loving care throughout the US and Mexico. PROSO is the acronym (Providence Spiritual Outreach) for their newest ministry that employs traditional, digital and virtual spiritual outreach that nourishes modern-day spiritual hunger.
What is Spiritual Hunger?
Our spirit craves nourishment like our body does food. Spiritual hunger is obvious when we thirst for God or crave “more” – more faith, more hope, more connection with others, and more life, joy and peace. It can also be subtle and disguised when our appetite for God dwindles away. Old faith practices hold less meaning and it becomes harder to pray. Pandemic life and other challenges can both intensify spiritual famine as well as increase our desire for richer blessings.
Who Attends PROSO?
Adults of all ages and faith backgrounds are welcome. Events appeal to church members, educators, first-responders and essential workers, caregivers and other interested adults. Come alone or register with family and friends. PROSO also hosts private retreats and conversation groups for churches, schools and other groups.
Why is PROSO Different?
Catholic Sisters (nuns) and their lay colleagues gather people to access the “spiritual PPE” of prayer, presence and encouragement. The ministry is rooted in boundless confidence that God loves and provides for us and invites us to work together to improve our life and world. PROSO does not replace professional mental health providers, financial experts, social workers, ministers and chaplains. However, some Sisters and Associates offer such services through private practices and ministries.
What is the cost?
PROSO relies on standard fees and the support of foundations, organizations and private individuals to sustain the ministry and provide spiritual outreach services to those in need.
How can I find PROSO events and services?
Events are scheduled throughout the year across the US. Because many events and services are available virtually (online), PROSO events can happen anytime, anywhere! Methods of spiritual outreach are designed to be flexible, affordable, relevant, and responsive to changing social distance and Covid-19 requirements. Check our PROSO Current Offerings regularly to see the most recent and upcoming events.
For more information
Contact Sr. Joyce Detzel at proso@cdptexas.org or call 210.707.8400.
For more information about PROSO ministry and services, click the Request Information button and complete the form.
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