Christian Family Living Center
High Tidings
May 2008
Summer Weeks on Topsail Island
A Unique Time Together to Grow Closer as a Family
Creating New Family Memories …In Laughter … In Quiet
… In Worship… In Play…In Rest
Join us for Christian Living Experience Week Call today for your application: 910.328.1584
Fr. Al McMenamy, S.M.
Rev. Al was born and raised in Florissant, MO. He professed First Vows in the Society of Mary in 1953, graduated from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, TX in 1956, and was ordained a priest in Fribourg, Switzerland in 1967. Father Al taught for over 30 years throughout the mid-west, before he began work fulltime as a Spiritual Assistant for LAY Marianist communities across the Midwest/Southwest.
Fr. John Manahan, S.M.
Fr. John made his first vows as a Marianist in 1954. He was ordained a priest in 1968 and has worked in numerous Marianist institutions as teacher, chaplain, counselor, campus minister, formation director and spiritual companion. Fr. John recently completed eleven years as pastor of Holy Rosary parish in San Antonio, Texas. Currently he is in residence at Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth, Texas where he serves as sacramental minister and a member of the campus ministry team.
Fr. Bruce Bavinger, S.J.
Rev. R. Bruce Bavinger, SJ is now a Parochial Vicar for Hispanics in two diocesan parishes in eastern North Carolina, St. Therese Church of Wilson, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rocky Mount. In doing Hispanic ministry, he has made a transition from being in strongly African American Jesuit parishes since his ordination in 1978. Fr. Bavinger originally hails from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and went to Georgetown University. He did his Theology in Chicago after studying for a Master's Degree in urban education in New York.
Summer Calendar:
| Dates | Family Weeks |
| June 29 - July 4 | Families of Hispanic heritage |
| July 6 – 11 | CFL Classic: open to all families |
| July 13 - 18 | Single Parent Families (This week is reserved for single parent families but single parent families are welcome to select any week.) |
| July 20 - 25 | CFL Classic: open to all families |
| July 27 - Aug 1 | CFL Classic: open to all families |
| August 10 - 15 | CFL Classic: open to all families |
| August 17 - 22 | Families with young children |
| August 24 - 29 | Families that homeschool |
Ages 2-7: $100; Ages 8 and older: $240; Under age 2: Free. Family Maximum: $1,050 **
** The Family Maximum rate applies to immediate family members only including enrolled college students. Grandparents, extended family members and working adult children pay the full rate.
Schedule: The Week at a Glance:
Thursday, May 8:
The Way of Mary – Praying and Living Her Words
Mary was part of the central act of history. In giving birth to Jesus she participated in our salvation, and we long to hear her voice. She was a quiet woman, a woman who kept her own counsel and pondered things in her heart. Surely she spoke more than we find in the four Bible incidents. Rev. Al McMenamy, S.M. will begin this retreat at 9:00 am and conclude with mass at 2:00 pm. $25.00 includes lunch.
May 9-11:
Mother’s Day Retreat
This is an opportunity to express the family's appreciation for their mother. A chance to communicate how much you really love her, reconcile the little hurts that arise in any family, and commit to love, honor and cherish her through out the coming year. Experience God's love as a family, while enjoying each other, the sun and the waves. Fr. Al McMenamy, SM (see photo and biography of Fr. Al above) will be available all weekend for those desiring spiritual direction and sacrament of reconciliation. Mass will be celebrated on Sunday. $70 ages 2-7; $100 ages 8+.Family max is $490.
June 13-15:
Treat Dad to A Candlelight Dinner and Relaxing Beachfront Get-away
Take time to pay tribute to the most important man in your life. Celebrate his love with this spiritually renewing retreat with fun, faith-based activities for all ages. This get-away is for the entire family with many activities planned for all ages. Pack up the kids, Grandpa and even Uncle Bob and come together as a family to Topsail Island for a family get-away in honor of Father’s Day. You’ll have all the benefits of island living while strengthen family bonds with Christ centered activities for all ages. Plenty of free time is scheduled into the program for relaxing and strolling the beach. The water temperature will be perfect for swimming so bring your bathing suits and sunscreen! $70 ages 2-7; $100 ages 8+.Family max is $490.
Volunteer Work Weekend:
Seven volunteers came the weekend of April 18-20 to help us spruce up for Summer 2008!
Some of their accomplishments include:
· Removing broken lattice in the front garden area and Tom Malechuk and Marc Oglesby installed then new lattice as Janet Malechuk, Joan Cahill, Katie Brooks and Anne Marie Schwankl trimmed plants, cut back weeds, moved the debris. Suzanne Jackson decided to wash windows, so she went around with a mop and squeegee and cleaned all the outside windows she could reach from the walkways.
· Marc shoveled the sand off the steps going down to the beach while the ladies reinstalled the clotheslines and then tackled the refrigerators in the main kitchen - wiping down all the interior walls and removing and scrubbing the shelves.
· Marc worked on painting the basement chapel floor and Tom and Anne Marie went to Lowes to get a couple plants to fill in the empty spaces. Anne Marie bought and donated the plants. The new azalea bushes will have to be watered for awhile since they have just been planted. They are the type that will bloom 3 times in a year. Should be lovely!
· Tom, Marc and Janet tackled the wood pile storage area near the volleyball court and name plates have been installed outside of every room so each room has an exterior name fo
our guests.
· Tom hung another adult swing so that there are two adult swings now and one baby swing. Tom and Marc replaced a piece of fascia board on Bldg. #1 on the beach side and then painted and caulked it. And our very own Jim Rider stopped by to give encouragement as well as lend a hand to our wonderful volunteer team.
CFL Board members have pledged and paid nearly $25,000 and The Marianist Community has magnanimously matched the Board Gifts, as promised.
If you have not already pledged, please consider doing so as the Capital Campaign is aimed at paying the expenses of renovating and updating the facility which will amount to nearly $250,000.
Your support is vital to the success of the campaign. Checks can be made out to Marianist Family Ministry, Inc. and mailed to:
Christian Family Living Center
2006 Wicker St.
North Topsail Beach, NC 28460
God Bless you all!
CFL Development Committee
Days of Grace:
This is the resting place, let the weary rest Isaiah 28:11-13
CFL invites adults of all faiths to take time out for personal renewal
at CFL weekdays from September to June.
Please call 910-328-1584 for availability.
Rates per person, per night are $35.
Meals are not included but you are welcome to use our kitchen
25 April 2008
Dear Members and Friends of MFM:
Greetings and peace to you. I hope this letter finds you and your families resting in the peace of the Risen Lord. It is hard to believe it is time again for appointments to the board of directors of Marianist Family Ministries. As you know, the bylaws have been changed to allow for appointments to the board, rather than elections. You now have the opportunity to nominate your choice for membership on the board.
The board is in great need of talented and gifted people who can contribute to our ministry. The board must include at least three people, but no more than 15 people. The board is in need of 4 new people with expertise in accounting, young adult Ministry and Hispanic Ministry. The term of office begins in September 2008 and ends in September 2011. The nomination deadline is May 15, 2008.
The nomination process is simple. After serious prayer and discernment, we ask you to nominate persons for service to the board using the form attached to this e-mail. In your discernment, please remember we need directors who are able to attend four meetings each year, traveling to either Raleigh or Topsail Beach, N.C. There is no need to ask individuals about their availability at the time you send in your nomination. Once the nominating committee collects all the data, it will recommend to the board of directors a slate of persons, based on gifts, talents and balance, which are needed at this time in the history of MFM/CFL. Conversations with prospective board members occur after this step. Nominees from the member base are given preference. “A member is defined as any individual person 18 years of age or older who have contributed time, talent and or treasure to the support of MFM and or the CFL Family retreat center within the past 10 years.” (MFM By-Laws, Art III.1) Self-nominations will be accepted.
If you should have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Bro. Jack at jventura@sm-usa.org, or any one of the members of the nominating committee. As we continue in our Easter journey, let us be mindful on how good our God is. Let us remember Marianist Family Ministries and CFL in our prayers.
Sincerely,
Bro. Jack Ventura, S.M.
Chair – Nominating Committee
Br. Ray McQuade, S.M.
St. Mary Residence
520 Fordham Ave
San Antonio, Texas 78228-4800
The Christian Family Living Center
2006 Wicker Street
North Topsail Beach, NC 28460
910-328-1584