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

January/February, 2006 Vol. 3 Issues 1&2

2006 Family Retreat Schedule Is Hot Off The Press!
Sign up and let your friends know about 2006 CFL Family retreats. The theme for this year’s retreats is “Family Life, What a Circus.” Join other families as we discover that in the circus of life there are opportunities to grow in family unity and spirituality. Summer family weeks begin the week of Sunday June 18 and end the week of September 10-15. Weekend family retreats include the retreats over Holy Thursday/Easter, Mothers Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Advent. Spiritual retreats are also being planned for women and men. See the complete schedule at www.christianfamilyliving.org. For more information, please contact the Center at (910) 328-1584 or by e-mail at cflcenter@charterinternet.com.

Looking for a Few Good STAFF MEMBERS!!
The Summer staff schedule is ready to be filled & we want YOU!! If you would like to be on staff or be Host Family for any of the summer weeks, please contact Liz Bonet at: p3dbonet@att.net or 770-623-4333 & she will be happy to add you to the list! To be a staff member, you must be 18 years of age & have had CFL “experience” in at least 2 programs. Host Families must have attended a minimum of 2 years of the summer programs in the past. The list gets filled up quickly – so... if you want or need a particular week – contact Liz ASAP. We look forward to working with all of you to make the summer Family retreats the best ever in 2006!

Middle Building Restored and Occupied – Finally!
“All’s well that ends well” is one way of describing the lengthy process it has taken to rebuild our burned middle building. Today, we have a magnificent new structure that has additional room for retreats and lodging, an improved hurricane profile and the security of a sprinkler/fire alarm system. But there is more finishing work to be done on the interior of the building. Please consider volunteering your building craft expertise to our Maintenance Committee Chairman, Tom Jones (540-399-1215). There are rooms for volunteers to stay in the new building, so please put CFL on your schedule and come help whenever you can, weekends or weekdays. There is something for everyone to do, from painting to building the stairs to the beach. Or, come and tour on your next retreat, or join us at the Rededication Ceremony being planned for Sunday May 28 (Memorial Day Weekend). We think you will like what your donations have funded.

Searching for a New CFL Center Director
Our prayers and blessings go with Ed DeBerri as he leaves his stewardship of CFL. With Ed’s departure, the MFM Personnel Committee has swung into action to search for a replacement that can bring us into the next phase of CFL development. Please see the CFL Website (www.christianfamilyliving.org) for the vacancy notice and the job description. You can also contact Tina Bauman for more information (410-668-0963).

We Love our Volunteers
We can’t say thanks enough to those of you who spent your Thanksgiving weekend at CFL doing moving and finishing work on the restored middle building. The trailer van was emptied, paint was applied, the office was moved, and much, much more. Everyone had a great time.

Calling All Donors
Over the past three years, our CFL Family Retreat Center has weathered storms of both fire and hurricane. We have come out of them in fine shape in every respect except financially. The truth is that our reserves are at a low point since the rebuilding costs were higher than expected and fund raising did not meet the budgeted amount. We need the support of those of you who treasure the jewel that is CFL and the Marianist Family retreat ministry. Please send your tax deductible contribution made out to Marianist Family Ministry, Inc. and send it to 2006 Wicker Street, North Topsail Beach, NC 28460. You can also charge your contribution by going to the CFL website (www.christianfamilyliving.org) and clicking on “donate”.

Seeking Directors for the Board
The new nominating process for selection of Board directors was put in place as of December, 2005. The bylaws call for a Nominating Committee that is responsible for seeking and referring candidates for open positions on the MFM Board. There will be several open positions this year. Contact our chairman, Rick Young at eric_young@ncsu.edu if you are interested in being considered for a Board position or if you know someone who has expressed an interest in being considered to serve on the Board. It is a privilege, an honor and a responsibility to serve as a Board Director.

Please let us know if you can donate these items…

• A changing table for the Super Star Room
• A rug for the Super Star Room – Children’s design, 9 x 12
• Replacement air conditioners for 2 rooms in the Chapel Building - $2000 each
• A stove for the small kitchen nest to the Guardian Angel Room
• A sink for the small kitchen

And We Pray For…

• The repose of the soul of Bro. Walter Oberster SM, who died January 11, 2006. Bro. Walter helped us all with the family program for many years while serving at Cape May.
• Bro. Frank Smith SM who is battling cancer again.
• James McNaney, Stepfather of Tina Bauman, who died December 23, 2005
• Mrs. June Noseda-Cascio, Mother of June Bonney, who died January 10, 2006.
• Bernie Ragan, Deacon, who has Chronic Leukemia and has begun chemotherapy in January. Bernie is a long time participant and staff at the family programs in NC.

(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 published by the Marianist Family Ministry’s CFL Family Retreat Center
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