I offer additional opportunities and progamming under the banner Gaudium, Ministry of the Word. These include: individual spiritual direction, preached or individually directed retreats, days of recollection or presentations to various faith groups.

The name, Gaudium, Ministry of the Word expresses a chosen perspective and motivation.  Gaudium, Latin for Joy, extends a respectful nod to ancient forebears.

As the first word of Gaudium et Spes, the Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, the name intentionally echoes the incarnational “stance” expressed by that pastoral declaration: “The joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well.”

Finally, this Ministry of the Word finds inspiration in Evangelii Gaudium, the Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis.  May we who aspire to live a faith grounded in the Gospel be characterized by the joy of the Risen Christ.

You may contact me at 651-343-5877 or through email: rburbach@umn.edu.

Richard Burbach