Bishop Emeritus Ronald M. Gilmore

Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas in 1969, and spent the next 47 years as Priest, Professor, Chaplain, Chancellor, Vicar General, and as Bishop of Dodge City Kansas. ( 1998 – 2011 )

He was invited to join Grace that Reigns in 2012 with a promise of giving one retreat. This invitation turned into ten years of ministry and a new call from Christ in his retirement. A gifted homilist, he is drawn to Carmelite spirituality and contemplative prayer. 

Bishop Gilmore has remarkable insight into the relationship between the experiences of consolation and desolation in prayer and the discernment process. In addition, he is an excellent storyteller and a spiritual director to many priests. Finally, he uses his experience and charisms of wisdom, knowledge, and storytelling to help individuals find a sense of purpose, especially in their golden years. 


A gifted writer, he has five published books: Another Way, Whispers from the Rooftops, Like the Dewfall, The Uncommandments of Growing Old, and Anchor of Hope.




RETREAT TOPICS TO PARISHES AND SMALL GROUPS:


1. God is Love: Renewing Your Sense of Wonder.

When asked which commandment was the greatest, Jesus said people should love God with all their heart, soul, and might. God sees each of us as unique and priceless. God loves us and shows us our worth through the people, places, and experiences we encounter. Sometimes, it isn't easy to feel worthy of love: we can even lose faith in the truth that God loves us.

If you lack the knowledge of God's love for you, you will miss much of your life's value. Bishop Gilmore will help you identify and break down the obstacles that prevent you from seeing the wonders of yourself and God in your life. You are a wonder! You are an unfolding story, a story far from finished and with a host of curious witnesses. 

Invite Bishop Gilmore for this talk on God's love, which will be accompanied by an encounter with Jesus in a period of Eucharist Adoration.


2.  The Path of Consolation and Desolation and Our Prayerful Response

St. Ignatius believed that there are two paths to prayer: consolation and desolation. A prayer journey can include deep periods of dryness where you thirst for God but, despite that, struggle to pray. On the other side, a prayer journey can feel like overflowing waters: where you feel yourself sinking into prayer as if God's presence surrounds you. These rhythms are described as consolation and desolation.  

Bishop Gilmore explains consolation and desolation in this retreat and how they affect our moods, motivation, and prayer lives. His insight digs deep to ask participants if they are moving closer to God through consolation or drifting from God through desolation. Discover how to navigate the ups and downs, see how the Lord comes to you no matter your path, and learn why it is essential to experience both areas.



3. Understand the Golden Years of Your Calling. 

When people approach their Golden Years, new and challenging situations appear. It should be a time in our lives when we are open to God's blessings and joys. 

Bishop Gilmore addresses the fear and societal obstacles that keep us from reaching our full potential in this retreat. There is so much more to life as we mature into our Golden Years. There is a unique call within your call. His book, The Uncommandments of Growing Old, will be a resource for this presentation.  

 

4. Suffering, Grace and God’s Healing Touch.  How to Navigate it.

Many fear suffering, struggle, and pain; these experiences cause us all anxiety. Suffering is part of human existence. When seen in the light of faith, it has immense value; it draws us closer to God as we ask for His mercy and healing hand. Suffering, particularly through illness, helps us be grateful for what we have and become more patient. It forces us to become introspective and draw closer to God, and trust in the prayers that our family and friends will say for us. 

In this retreat, Bishop Gilmore offers thoughtful reflections about the Anointing of the Sick, the ways people receive healing, and the differences between physical, mental, and spiritual healing. The influence of the devil in our healing journey and examples of reassuring prayers we can pray to make our journey of suffering easier are presented during this program.