The Best is Yet to Be: A Spirituality for the Growing Older Years

Program Overview

A program for those experiencing grief and for ministry professional development 

A curving gravel path through pine trees with blue water and sky in the background.

If we don’t listen to the world’s stereotypes, myths and jokes about growing older, our lives are filled with possibilities, growth, depth and joy, particularly in the things that matter. This course is for:

  • you who are maturing persons of integrity, living in wholeness and holiness, touching theworld with gifts that are so needed
  • you who are ministering and working with/to people who are growing older

During this course - through presentations and conversations – we will

  • explore how we view aging (especially in a society that at times is ageist)
  • recognize and discover ways to respond to the needs of this time of life
  • survey some practices, virtues and characteristics that gracefully guide this time of life
  • reflect on some of the blessings that come at this time of life – and ask, “What is God’s Dream for me Now?”

Topics & Materials

Topics:

  1. Orientation
  2. Our Response to Growing Older
  3. The Needs of our Lives as We Grow Older
  4. Some Supportive Practices as we Grow Older
  5. Blessings that Come at thisTime of Life – and Planningfor the Years Ahead

Optional Reading:

Let This Be the Time: Spiritual Essentials for the Second Half of Life; available from Twenty-Third Publications 

Schedule

Schedule

Tuesdays: Feb. 10* | Feb. 17 | Feb. 24 | Mar. 3 | Mar. 10

Time

7:00-9:00 p.m. ET

Modality

Online

Cost

$200 per semester

*Orientation and Group Introduction is 7:00-7:30 p.m. ET

Instructor

Janet Schaeffler, O.P.

Janet Schaeffler, O.P. continues the ministry she was involved in
for many years in parishes and as Director for Adult Faith Formation for theArchdiocese of Detroit, as she:

  • leads days of reflection/retreats, parish missions, and workshops/presentations throughout the country and Canada
  • facilitates gatherings and retreats for communities of women
    religious
  • facilitates online courses for the University of Dayton and Boston
    College
  • serves as a pastoral services team member for RENEW International
  • serves as an elected member of the Executive Committee of the
    Board of NCCL (National Community of Catechetical Leaders)

Janet created and publishes GEMS: a twice-monthly newsletter from an ongoing international best practices study on adult faith formation.

The author of hundreds of articles and several publications, some of her most recent books are:        

Let This Be the Time: Spiritual Essentials for Life’s Second Act

A Season of Comfort and Hope (Advent 2025)

What Pope Leo Says About Peace, Dialogue and Love: 30 Days of
Reflections and Prayers

Guided by the Directory for Catechesis: Transforming the Vision
and Practice of Parish Catechesis (co-authored with John Roberto and
Catherine LaVecchia) 

Deepening Faith: Adult Faith Formation in the Parish

Hope, An Anchor in Today's World

Janet was one of the 4-member team who wrote the Leader's Guide to accompany the U.S. Bishops’ Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation, Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us.

In April 2010 Janet received the Distinguished Service Award in Catechetics from NCCL.

Janet has been named as one of the people who have made a "significant contribution" to the field of Christian religious education in the North American context by the "Christian Educators of the 20th Century Project,” Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, La Mirada, CA

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