Welcome to the December 2008 edition of the Laconneau
Monthly Newsletter.
IN THIS ISSUE
• Book of the Month
• Upcoming Pilgrimage
• Upcoming Festival
• Regional News
• Regional Calendars
• Contact Laconneau
BOOK OF THE MONTH
The Gnostic Gospels
By Elaine Pagels
From Amazon.com: "... Pagels suggests that Christianity could have developed
quite differently if Gnostic texts had become part of the Christian canon. Without
a doubt: Gnosticism celebrates God as both Mother and Father, shows a very
human Jesus's relationship to Mary Magdalene, suggests the Resurrection is
better understood symbolically, and speaks to self-knowledge as the route to
union with God. "
UPCOMING PILGRIMAGE
For centuries, pilgrims have ascended the winding way to the abbey church of
the Magdalene crowning the hill at Vezelay, often crawling on their hands and
knees in penitence and petition. Construction on the basilica of La Madeleine
began in 1096 and it very quickly became the fourth most popular of all sites of
Christian pilgrimage, attesting to the enormous sway that the Magdalene still
held over the hearts and minds of the population of that time, a thousand years
after her death. Based on legends that she and her family had fled to Gaul as
refugees before the first orthodox gospels were even written, the fascination and
hold that Mary Magdalene held over this ancient land was both powerful and
mystifying. What was the fascination that has held a whole nation in its thrall for
nearly two millennia? Was Mary really the founder of the Celtic Church? Was
there a connection between Mary and the Cathars? If so, has her cult survived to
this day in the countryside of Celtic Europe?
After the death of Yeshua, did Mary really flee from Jerusalem to travel to
Southern France with her sister Martha, her brother Lazarus, Joseph of
Arimithea, and other disciples, to work and preach among the people of Gaul,
and eventually to found the Celtic Church before supposedly retiring from public
life to spend the last thirty years of her life in a hermits cave in the mountains of
Ste Baume? Is there any real evidence to support the popular theories and
legends behind the life of this mysterious woman?
What was it about this mysterious woman that led her followers, Cathar and
others like them, to die in their thousands during the holocaust of the
Albigensian crusade rather than deny their faith and belief? Join with us as we
travel through the magnificent country of Southern France to make a spiritual
journey back in time to explore this fascinating legend, and attempt to find
answers to some of these questions. Marvel with us as we seek to understand the
wondrous power of this extraordinary yet enigmatic woman who left behind such
a rich spiritual heritage, and yet with whom history has dealt so harshly, and with
such premeditated injustice.
LACONNEAU SPRING FESTIVAL
Laconneau Spring Festival
Friday, May 1 - Sunday, May 3, 2009
Artemis House, Greenville, NC
Spring Festival marks the beginning of summer. As with the Autumn Festival,
this is a time between dark and light, night and day, winter and summer. We are
holding the Spring Festival in full accord with the principles of our Tradition.
Come join us at Artemis House in Greenville, North Carolina for this wonderful
weekend of council discussion, workshops, feminine spirituality and festivities.
Lend your voice to the power and love of other sisters such as yourself who feel a
burning need to see change in this world.
The fee for the festival is $275.00. Please also budget for $20.00 per day to cover
lunches and other expenses. Housing is available in the homes of the Greenville
sisters and in hotels in the area. Please contact Elaine at
carolinas@laconneau.org for more details.
For more Information on the Spring Festival:
http://www.laconneau.org/festivalspring.html
REGIONAL NEWS
Laconneau Scholarship Fund
The Laconneau scholarship fund has been established to assist women who are
unable to afford the cost of classes. If you are in need of a scholarship, please
contact your local Laconneau coordinator.
Laconneau would like to express appreciation to Beverly Bowers, Linda Dodds,
Lorely Halici and Christina Koch for their generous contributions to the
scholarship fund during the past month. Thank you for helping to make it
possible for more women to attend Laconneau classes.
If you would like to make a donation to the scholarship fund, please make your
check out to Alex Guyol and send it to P.O. Box 261 Kingston, NJ 08528.
If you have questions, please email Alex at alex@laconneau.org.
Walk for Lonnie & Michelle
The fundraiser for Lonnie diCarlo and her daughter, Michelle, has been
concluded. Through your kindness, $2,000 was raised. Thank you to Kathy
Slawson, Stella Koch, Liz Ralston, Nancy Miller, Gretchen Pennybacker, Judy
Kern, Lisa Ritter, Sally Whitehead, Amy Gutzmer, June Racicot, Kathryn Cliatt,
Lorrie Burns, Ginny Brien, Marilyn Berman, Alison Bastow, Christina Koch,
Kathy Parker, Pat Kerner, Deb Nesmith, Lynn Palmer, Kathy Koch Sullivan, Lisa
Felix, Janet Cam, Linda Dodds, Mary Byrnes, Beckie Berez, Rebecca Noftsinger,
Mandi Bucceroni, Manuela Morais, Annissa Cameron, Erica Conaron, Verna
Cauvin, Anna Boss, Jen Fabrick, Cherylle Corpuz, Carol Orndorff and several
anonymous contributors for your generosity. Your contributions will go a long
way towards assisting Lonnie and Michelle.
California News:
Sisters from the Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Washingon, DC circles were
privileged to be present at the first Laconneau classes to be presented on the West Coast.
A Magdalene Seminar and Level I Beginner’s Course were held November 14th through
16th in El Sobrante, CA outside of Berkeley. Our thanks to Rina Baker for all her kindness
in hosting the classes.
News from the Carolinas:
A young women's dinner was held on Friday, November 7th. This month there
was a discussion of the book, Give Me Liberty: A Handbook For American
Revolutionaries, by Naomi Wolf. At the end of the discussion it was decided to
continue the talk at the Tipsy Teapot in Greenville on Thursday, November 13.
These timely discussions and monthly dinners continue to draw more young
women from the ECU and Greenville community. The next young women's
dinner will be held on Friday, December 5, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Artemis House in Greenville, NC is available for personal retreats. Overnight
accommodations at Artemis House include breakfast and dinner. Women on
retreat will have access to La Chapelle de la Madeleine for meditation and prayer.
They may also make use of the Laconneau library, which includes books and
films recommended on the Laconneau website. For an additional fee, a sister who
is a licensed massage therapist will be available to come to Artemis House for
massage. For further information contact Elaine at carolinas@laconneau.org.
Georgia News:
Several of the Georgia Laconneau community members attended the Fall Festival
at Artemis House in Greenville. It was a wonderful time of getting together with
sisters from other circles and learning together.
Laconneau Georgia will host the Magdalene Seminar on Saturday, December 6th
at Cedar Hill Enrichment Center in Gainesville. Please join us as we look at fact
vs. fiction and learn who Mary Magdalene really was. The Level 1 Beginner's
Course will follow on Sunday, December 7th.
Pennsylvania News:
The Philadelphia circle will host the Laconneau Level I Beginner’s Course on
Sunday, December 14 at 10:00AM. If you know of any women who would be
interested in attending the class, please email Pennsylvania@laconneau.org.
We continue to build and strengthen our community through regularly scheduled
gatherings in which women come to share their ideas and experiences. All women
are welcome and invited to attend classes, meditations and discussions. The tools
we learn enable us to build a foundation of strength within ourselves, which
becomes the base of our community.
Washington, DC News:
Seven women from the DC Laconneau community attended the Autumn Festival
in Greenville, NC. What we learned from this rich and rewarding spiritual
experience will help us to focus on examining and challenging ourselves and our
lives in the coming winter months.
In December, the Washington DC circle will be showing Parts 3 and 4 of “Secret
Files of the Inquisition.” This film is based on previously unreleased secret
documents from European Archives including the Vatican. The theme is of
torture and terror and the struggle for human rights and dignity in the face of
barbarity and repression.
GEORGIA: December Events
Monday, December 1, 2008
Meditation 6:30PM
Marietta, GA
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Meditation 6:30PM
North Decatur, GA
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Magdalene Seminar 9:30AM
Gainesville, GA
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Women’s Circle 7:30PM
Gainesville, GA
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Level I Beginners Course 10:00AM
Gainesville, GA
Monday, December 8, 2008
Meditation 6:30PM
Marietta, GA
Monday, December 15, 2008
Meditation 6:30PM
Marietta, GA
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Meditation 12:30PM
Gainesville, GA
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Meditation 5:30PM
East Decatur, GA
Monday, December 22, 2008
Meditation 6:30PM
Marietta, GA
Monday, December 29, 2008
Women’s Circle 7:30PM
Gainesville, GA
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Atlanta Calendar Online:
http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarAtlantaGA.html
Atlanta Region Coordinator: Lorrie - georgia@laconneau.org
NORTH CAROLINA: December Events
Friday, December 5, 2008
Young Women’s Dinner & Discussion 6:30PM
Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries (Chapter 2)
Greenville, NC
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Meditation 12:00PM
Reading & Discussion 1:00PM
Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
Friday, December 12, 2008
Women’s Circle 7:30PM
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Women’s Circle 7:30PM
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Greenville Calendar Online:
http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarGreenvilleNC.html
Greenville Region Coordinator: Elaine – Carolinas@laconneau.org
PENNSYLVANIA: December Events
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Meditation & Tea 6:30PM
Philadelphia, PA
Friday, December 12, 2008
Women’s Circle 7:30PM
Philadelphia, PA
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Level I Beginner’s Course 10:00AM
Philadelphia, PA
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Film Screening 7:30PM
Carve Her Name with Pride
Philadelphia, PA
Monday, December 29, 2008
Women’s Circle 7:30PM
Philadelphia, PA
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Philadelphia Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarPhiladelphiaPA.html
Philadelphia Region Coordinator: Anna - Pennsylvania@laconneau.org
WASHINGTON, DC: December Events
Friday, December 5 2008
Film Screening 6:30PM
Secret Files of the Inquisition Parts 3 and 4
Followed by Dinner
Washington, DC
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Meditation & Afternoon Tea 3:30PM
Falls Church, VA
Friday, December 12, 2008
Women’s Circle 7:30PM
Washington, DC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Women’s Circle 7:30PM
Washington, DC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
DC Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarWashingtonDC.html
DC Region Coordinator: Lorely - dc@laconneau.org
CONTACT LACONNEAU
Please contact your coordinator with questions or updated regional information.
In France: Jehanne jehanne@laconneau.org
In California: Alex alex@laconneau.org
In the Carolinas: Elaine carolinas@laconneau.org
In Georgia: Lorrie georgia@laconneau.org
In Pennsylvania: Anna Pennsylvania@laconneau.org
In Washington, DC: Lorely dc@laconneau.org
Contact Information Online: http://www.laconneau.com/Contact.html
Laconneau Newsletter Archive:
http://www.laconneau.com/NewsletterArchive.html
Please visit our website, www.laconneau.org, for the complete calendar,
further articles, Laconneau’s history and additional information.
You are receiving this newsletter because you attended a Laconneau course or
seminar. If you would prefer not to receive emails from Laconneau, please email
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