Abbot Philip Lawrence, OSB, will be traveling to Tucson, Arizona, this first weekend of January, 2016, in acceptance of an invitation to lead a five-day retreat for a number of bishops from some of the western and south-western states. They will be meeting at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in that city. The topic for this year’s personal retreat by these bishops is the Year of Mercy, in accord with Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy. Abbot Philip is sometimes asked to give retreats to diocesan clergy as well as to various monasteries throughout the world. He has said that this invitation is a “privilege to accept because Mercy is a virtue and admonition that permeates the Rule of St. Benedict.”