b'EXPECT THEUNEXPECTEDFor 50 years, the Marianist Family Retreat Center has been hosting family summer retreats, delighting children and parents with unscripted moments of family fun and spiritual renewal.By Jan D. DixonA New York City to Cape May Point, New dont want to go home, says Anthony, executive nthony Fucci remembers his family travelingby bus in 1976 from the Port Authority in director of the retreat center since 1999.One reason the retreat center is so appealing toJersey, for a week-long retreat at the Marianist Family families is that its not just a family retreat, saysRetreat Center. We didnt know what to expect, says Marianist Father Tim Dwyer, who served there forAnthony, who was 8 years old at the time. By the end more than six years as chaplain. Its a family vacationof the week, I didnt want to leave.retreat. The vacation part is a key factor in its popu-Its a story often repeated during the last 50 years larity because it offers real timeout for families. Its aas families discover the unanticipated blessings of a wholesome blend of spiritual things, family activitiesMarianist family retreat. I cant tell you the number and time to enjoy the beach.of times weve had reluctant teens or an angry dad Jessica Sherwen, retreat center program director,show up here thinking they were going to be miserable, agrees that the beach helps a lot, especially becauseand 99 percent of the time they do a complete 180 and its a place where families can unwind, she says.Jessica Sherwen, Father TimPHOTO: ALEKS MORYAKOVDwyer, SM, and Anthony Fucciin 2016 when Father Tim servedat the retreat center 10 Call 1.800.348.4732'