High Tidings

E-news from the Marianist Family Ministry
CFL Family Retreat Center

March 2005 Vol. 2 Issue 3

Pamper Mom for Mothers’ Day at CFL
Make this Mothers’ Day extra special by taking Mom on a weekend retreat at CFL. Celebrate and affirm Mom’s love for your family and her unique role in your lives. Eucharist, free time on the beach, presentations and family activities, a chocolate social, and a few surprises will mark this singular weekend. The retreat begins with dinner on Friday, May 6, and ends with Mass on Mothers’ Day, May 8. Fr. Rich Kuhn and Bro. Ray McQuade will lead the weekend. More information and an application for the weekend are available on the CFL center website, www.christianfamilyliving.org, or by telephoning the center at (910) 328-1584.

Sign up for a summer family retreat week
Take your family and join “God the Builder” and his construction crew in assembling wonderful family lives through affirmation, improved communication skills, mutual forgiveness, and increased commitment. Spend a week at the shore relaxing, having fun and nourishing your faith and family. The retreats begin June 12 and go through early October. Special weeks are planned for Spanish speaking, African Ancestry, and home schooling families. More information and applications are available on the CFL center website, www.christianfamilyliving.org, or by telephoning the center at (910) 328-1584.

Start spreading the news
Want to help other families to experience the unique spirit and grace of a CFL Summer Family Retreat, but not quite sure about how to approach them? Contact Ed DeBerri at the center for ideas and more information (e-mail: cflcenter@charterinternet.com; phone: (910) 328-1584). We have extra brochures and posters, sample announcements for your parish bulletin, and talking points to help you describe CFL to your friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. We may also be able to provide volunteers to conduct information sessions for your parish or faith sharing group. Letting other people know about CFL may be your most significant gift to our ministry.

A few of my favorite things: painting, cleaning and fixing
Have a few days to spare at the end of March or the beginning of April. Join us any time from March 27 through April 3 for our Easter Vacation Work Week. Projects will include painting walls and staining decks and banisters; roof repair; landscaping; some carpentry, electrical and plumbing work; cleaning and organizing; computer and office work; meal preparation; and child supervision. To reserve a room for you and/or your family for a few days during this time, please contact the center by e-mail at cflcenter@charterinternet.com or by telephone at (910) 328-1584. There is no charge for room or board, but donations to cover food costs are always appreciated.

Pray for the Holy Weekend Retreat at CFL
To mix scriptural and liturgical metaphors, unfortunately there is “no room at the CFL inn” for our Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday Family Retreat, March 24 to 27. We are taking names, though, for the waiting list in case of a cancellation. Contact the center if you would like to be added to this list. Please pray for the families and individuals who will be participating in this retreat.

Congratulations to new MFM Board members
Tina Bauman, Angel Bonet and Tom Jones were recently elected and have generously agreed to serve three-year terms on the Marianist Family Ministry Board of Directors. They will take their seats at the next MFM Board meeting, scheduled to take place May 21 in Baltimore. Many thanks to Jim Girardi, Brian Phillips and Carol Weiss who are completing their Board terms this spring.

February at CFL
In February, the center hosted members of Quilters by the Sea for a sewing retreat; the leadership team of Via Christo for a planning retreat; a Men’s Spanish-speaking Cursillo for the Diocese of Raleigh; and two Lenten days of recollection for the women of St. Jude parish in Hampstead and St. Mary Gate of Heaven parish in Surf City. The center also sponsored an informational table at the Ignited by Truth conference in Raleigh on Feb. 11. Additionally, we had a very productive work weekend over the Presidents’ Day weekend in which the outside walls for the new enclosed space outside the office were painted; a fence surrounding the dumpster was built; the carpet in the chapel was steam cleaned; our office computers were linked on a server system; air filters in the bedrooms were cleaned; light bulbs were changed; and kitchen and chapel windows were washed. Many thanks to the following individuals and families who volunteered in February: Jim and Sue Rider; Jim Keck; Brian and Mary Beth Phillips; Mary Edwards; Paulo, Lea, Daniel, Andre and Rebecca Chiquito; Ron Boben; Diane Bosnjak; Paulina Rodriguez Ortega and Carols Fonjeca Rodriguez; Joyce and Tom O’Toole; Jim Girardi; Linda Wallace; Iva de Oliveira; the Men’s Leadership Team of the Diocese of Raleigh Spanish Speaking Cursillo; Fr. Paul Brandt; Fr. Rich Kuhn; Bro. Ray McQuade; Greta and Jim Morris; and Francisco Bohorquez and Leonor Tolosa.

(Please telephone the center at (910) 328-1584 or e-mail prayer requests and other items for High Tidings to cflcenter@charterinternet.com.)

High Tidings is edited by Ed DeBerri, CFL Center director.
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