Newsletter
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Dear Friends,
We witnessed new life with three families of barn swallows this summer. What a joy!
Other images of the summer tumble together like a kaleidoscope--a beautiful variety of images sliding into one another. In June, blossoms and hummingbirds, rain and video cameras: in July, trees thirsty for rain, board meetings and planning; August, unexpected cool days and more planning meetings.
Mixed with all of these images are the sacred stories of our retreatants--men and women from all walks of life who come apart from their daily activities to give space to open their innermost reality to God. We feel privileged to share this with them.
We invite each of you, our readers, to consider God's nudge for you to spend time to open yourself to God.
Round and About
- While Morag was away directing retreats in Chatawa in June, Mary and Sheila put the finishing touches on Clare's surprise birthday party. In July while Morag was on a retreat team in San Antonio, Mary and Clare planned and hosted an Independence Day party for Sisters and Parish Ministers.
- We have a new kitty. One evening Prince treed a cat. When Mary got him inside, the kitten came down the tree and instead of bolting off in fear, she nuzzled up to Clare. Until we can find another home for the little calico, we decided to give her a home. Her name is Mystery (Misty, for short) and she is beginning to trust humans; dogs, however, are a different story.
- The skunk saga continues... We have begun to invest heavily in peroxide, baking soda and dish soap to wash the odor off Prince, our main 'critter-hunter'. This concoction was given to us by a friend in Virginia, Agnes Hagen. If you are interested or in need, we'll share the recipe.
- No one was safe here on June 3rd. There were cameras everywhere. This was the day when a camera crew from Starkville was making the video we will be using for our capital campaign. Mary had the participants all organized and we were all so impressed with the professionalism of the camera crew. Needless to say, we are waiting eagerly to preview the video.
For Your Information
We have the Mastercard and Visa terminal in operation. Credit cards can be used in the gift shop or in making the donation for your retreat.From the Kitchen
When you register for a retreat, please let us know if you have any food allergies or if you are a vegetarian -- even if you have told us in the past, notify us each retreat, please! Thanks.N_o_t A_g_a_i_n ? ! !
Mary, Clare, Lawrence Bush and Morag (behind the camera) pause after pushing the John Deere onto the trailer for its regular visit to the shop.
So----- WISH LIST ... One new or nearly new John Deere Garden Tractor--to replace the 318 that spends most of its days in the repair shop.
THANK YOU ...
To the Catholic Foundation who gave us a $500 grant for partial scholarships for the abused and addicted.To our summer volunteers-
- Janet Kreber, OSF and Mary Klisart, OSF, from Dubuque, IA were here for 10 days in July. They helped cook for retreatants, clean, and make lots of jam. The result is that we have a wonderful stock of preserves for sale if you are looking for small "happies" for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
- Pat Clemen, OSF from Jackson, helped cook a weekend in June. Pat is so at home in the kitchen; we love her expertise.
- The Pines and Cady Hill have been here twice since the last newsletter. They raked, weeded flowerbeds and raked some more--whatever Mary needed to have done. In July Clare, assisted by Mary Ann Dee, worked with the women to freeze peaches for the coming year. We so appreciate their coming.