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News from Governor’s Island March – April, 2005 After three months of house renovations, the workers are gone, and almost everything is good working order, including the Marianist community. Folks familiar with the pre-renovation state of the main house are amazed at what a little imagination and a chunk of money can produce. Among the improvements: an entirely new floor with radiant heating, an efficient kitchen and serving area; better water pressure, new carpeting, up-to-code electrical, and a more spacious fireplace room with a new fireplace. Other happenings Mothers’ Day Special May 6 – 8. Moms, grandmas, spouses and kids are welcome to enjoy the Island, to relax and just have fun. Arrive and leave as your schedule allows. The only scheduled events are meals and a special mass on Saturday evening. Suggested donation requested; to make reservations: 937.842-4902 or retreatsm@yahoo.com. Some other events: Weekend Visitors UD Biology: Bro. Dan Klco’s students
analyze the quality of the water flowing into Chaminade-Julienne High School’s three day FLIGHT Retreat. Marianist Sisters, Dayton, community retreat. Nazareth Community Queen of Apostles parish, (Beavercreek) Fr. Mike Nartker, S.M., on a home visit from Africa for a family reunion. Recent Visitors: Bros. Stan Mathews and Ken Thompson for an overnight stay. Bro. Victor Forlani for a few days; the Marianist Novitiate community for a weekend retreat. Bro. Richard Dix for a look-see at what his office and Bro. Tom Payne have wrought. Mr. Tom Wittmann and son, Fr. Chris whose expertise with watercraft launches our little fleet each season. Jeff Warren for a private retreat. Bro. Charlie Gausling who visits regularly to help with many maintenance items. Our Family Vacation Retreats July 5 – 9 and July 12 - 6. Know a family looking for a unique spiritual and fun-filled experience? A brochure (by Bro. Don Smith) and registration form are availabe from Bro. Paul at retreatsm@yahoo.com. This successful program is not our idea. Read on. Family Retreat Origins began in 1970 at Cape May Point, NJ, when the Marianists acquired a 19th century summer beach house built by a Philadelphia department store magnet. Since the brothers could not use it full time, it was opened as a vacation spot to families they knew. Soon everyone realized the potential of lay-religious talents coming together to strengthen family life, and the property with its ocean side calling card developed into the Marianist Family Retreat Center with a year-round ministry that hosts retreats and other programs. The family retreats during the summer remain the cornerstone of their mission. View their web pages at www.capemaymarianists.org or call Jessica
Sherwen at In 1995, Bros. Don Smith and Paul Bredestege went to Cape May as volunteers to leave deeply impressed with the program. In the car on the way home, they decided that Governor’s Island was an ideal place to host similar family retreats. The following summer, a small team, with Marianist Sister Marcia Bruchard and four families, including that of Joe and Barbara Belle, pioneered what is now one of G.I.’s hallmark programs. Over the years, Barb has been deeply involved in planning and teaming most of the Family Vacation Retreats, while Marianists brothers and priests have been volunteers: Frs. Jim Bartlett, Tom Schroer, Jim Russell, Ken Templin, Chris Wittmann and Bros. Ed Longbottom, Bill Deanhofer, Sean Downing, Andy Kosmoswki, Cape May’s staff and success continues to inspire and support our efforts. The Annual Spring Clean Weekend at Governor’s Island was a successful, blister-free event thanks to three generations of volunteers who provided amazing an amount of raking, hauling, window-washing, scrubbing, fixing, and planting that exceeded everyone’s expectations. The residue of the infamous January ice storm gradually disappeared into the burn pile. Who says lawn work and window washing can’t be fun? Ask any of these folks:
Super thanks to Bro. Leo Willett of Dayton for a unique contribution. For each room in the guest house he framed a photo of a unique sculpture of special significance to Marianists. To all of you, our warmest thanks The guest house (formerly the ‘bunkhouse’) continues to undergo minor but important improvements . Most additions, like the new shelves and original art work in each private room, were mentioned previous newsletters. Can you help? Here’s our wish list for the guest house: Items we need – used but in good condition – to make the eclectic interior of the more accommodating:
Let Bro. Paul know at 937.842-4902 or retreatsm@yahoo.com if the item(s)
you wish to offer would be on loan or a donation. |