Epiphany Retreat E-book

A NEW YEAR'S RETREAT

EPIPHANY

FROM THE C21 CENTER & LAURA KELLY FANUCCI

WELCOME AN EPIPHANY RETREAT I’m delighted you are joining the C21 Center community in prayer this January. The dawn of a new year is the perfect time to reflect and retreat from daily life to re-center ourselves in faith.

Epiphany is a fitting feast to pause and pray for illumination—for God’s light to shine on our callings, challenges, and questions. Now is a moment to ask, “What comes next?” My prayer is that this retreat will help you begin a year of peace and prayer as you journey with God. ABOUT THIS RETREAT GUIDE The Epiphany Retreat guide is designed to accompany you through this virtual retreat from the comfort of your own home. You'll find the Scripture passages for each day of the retreat, space for your own notes, and additional reflections. Please bring this guide with you when we meet virtually (or when you watch the recordings later).

A word about the Word: the Scripture translation found throughout this ebook is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)—a widely used translation by many Christian traditions. You likely have a favorite Bible at home, so I encourage you to use that translation as well. When we are praying with Scripture, it can be fascinating to see how different words or phrases call to us from the Word, based on the translation we read. Feel free to bring your own Bible to our retreat time as well.

EPIPHANY A WORD AND A WONDER Definitions: from the Greek “epiphaneia”: to manifest or show forth a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something when you grasp a core truth an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure when you see something amazing you’ve never seen before

a revealing scene or moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or clear way when you discover there’s no turning back from what you know now a Christian festival held on January 6 in honor of the coming of the Magi to the infant Jesus Christ when you remember the revelation of God

SESSION ONE • Epiphany • SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY

Matthew 1:18-25 • The Birth of Jesus Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.

When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.

But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’

All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

SESSION ONE • your reflections •

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

NOTES & THOUGHTS

THE BIRTH OF JESUS QUESTIONS TO PONDER

As you pray with this Scripture, choose one of these reflection questions, looking back on the past year: What was born during the past year that surprised you? (e.g., a dream, an idea, a relationship, a different kind of work, a new ability or capacity, an insight) How did you come to know God as Emmanuel in the past year—as God-with-us?

Now turn to the new year, looking ahead to what may come: What dreams are driving you forward? What questions are keeping you awake at night?

How might God be asking you to change your plans, to welcome a life different from the version you expected?

SESSION TWO • Epiphany • SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY

Matthew 2:1-12 • The Visit of the Magi In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

SESSION TWO • your reflections •

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

NOTES & THOUGHTS

QUESTIONS FOR DISCERNMENT AN INVITATION FOR A NEW YEAR Where is God at work moving in my life? How have I experienced God in unexpected ways over the past year?

What are the signs of the times that I’m called to notice? What issue or need in the world is tugging at my attention?

What voices do I need to listen to more closely or more often? What voices do I need to quiet or ignore?

What is my vision of what I could become in the new year? What is God’s vision for what I could become?

What parts of this calling can I do on my own? What parts need partners to help me carry out God’s dreams?

What knowledge or wisdom do I need to draw from my past to help me move into the future with hope?

What is God asking me to let go of, whether internally or externally, in order to move forward?

What prayer or words from Scripture might guide me as I continue to discern God’s calling?

THE EPIPHANY RETREAT IS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE C21 CENTER

The Church in the 21st Century (C21) Center at Boston College has been a catalyst and resource for the renewal of the Catholic Church in the United States for the past 20 years.

Drawing from both the Boston College community and others, the C21 Center engages in critical conversations facing the Catholic community and creates innovative resources that focus on four critical issues: handing on the faith, roles and relationships in the Church, sexuality in the Catholic tradition, and the Catholic intellectual tradition.

Discover more of the C21 Center's resources at bc.edu/c21

Epiphany e-book Copyright © 2025 Laura Kelly Fanucci.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Epiphany e-book is provided as a companion resource for registrants of the Epiphany retreat. Contents may not be shared or reprinted without express permission of the author. As a registered participant in the Epiphany retreat, you may have permission to print one (1) version of the e-book for your personal use.