Franciscan Retreats: February Women I

February Women I

Lent is just around the corner of this coming week. It was good to welcome a group of women to share with us these wintry days anticipating the Rites of Spring. We heard Jesus’ eminently practical, teachable ideal, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” How grateful we are that our God has become one of our children. He understands our hopes and our limitations, and asks no more of us than of what we’re capable.

Following are some of the women’s comments about the weekend:

I was a very broken woman when I walked in your doors on Friday night. Although I know I was carried in by God, I was able to let my wall down and really feel his presence from the moment I entered your doors. I came to give my weekend to God and to have him do with it as He pleased. As he always does, he far exceeded what I thought I needed and filled me to overflow, healed me to shiny and new. This was my first retreat and will not be my last. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Retreat is a time to step back and be still, as the world moves faster and faster all the time. The talks and handouts were very good to help us to remember to give our hands to our Dearest Lord who leads us to surrendering to him. I so enjoyed looking out the window into the woods. I’ll have to come again in the summer.

My prayer was enhanced by being in this atmosphere.

God bless the wonderful cook! Thank you for keeping us nourished.

I have been on retreats in the past, but it’s been years, before all of our children. One sure doesn’t realize, as time goes by and children grow, how the life gets scheduled and full of earthly doings, how starved we get for those soul-filling moments of the heavenly realm. This past year I’ve spent a great deal of time “de-junking” my physical home. We’ve accumulated too much. It is now pleasantly under control. But I’ve come to realize that my spiritual home needs a de-junking too. So this year I will spend time rummaging through all my accumulated baggage, and doing some interior cleansing. And so my journey begins….

God has blessed me by being here with me, by my side all this weekend long. It s my once a year trip for just me to refresh my body, mind, and spirit. To leave the daily grind of children, chores, responsibilities, and my worries. As Brother Bob said, “to grow a spiritual bubble around me.” Precious Lord take my hand.

Having built this weekend into my life for years, I begin anticipating it as soon as the new year begins. I can’t wait for the refreshment and renewal of the spirit, the time to gather with friends, the time to assess where my relationship with God is at.

I have been able to tend to my much neglected spirit. I was able to feel my feelings instead of repressing them. I recalled God again to be my close companion. I felt very deepened through the weekend.

The cook couldn’t’ be better. I look forward to each and every meal.

God blessed me this weekend with nourishment physically and spiritually. I feel well rested and enjoyed the wonderful food. Spiritually I feel at peace. I feel reenergized and loved spending the time in prayer and celebration with the Lord and friends.

I held the hands of Mary during the rosary. My hands were blessed to accomplish graces and sufferings at home. I am readily equipped.

The retreat filled me with a sense of peace and community. It gave me time for quiet reflection away from the noise of daily life.

Thank you for the clean, safe, and beautiful area.

This place is wonderful -- the people, the speakers, the whole facility. I truly feel God here. I come here for prayer and peace and solitude. It gives me all that and more. I am thankful for my wonderful friends that come with me too. I really appreciate the early arrival on Friday afternoon, due to the long distance driving in the light of day. Everything is fantastic.

God has blessed me from the moment I walked in the door here. It is peaceful, prayerful, and I always learn something new when I come. God bless you all here at Franciscan Retreats.

I had time and space and quiet to think about God and my relationship with Him. The talks and theme were wonderful and have helped me reach out to the Lord. The journey of this weekend has helped me rest and be inspired.

My room was wonderful, cozy, with all the things I needed.

Wonderful food, everything was delicious and nutritious and I didn’t have to cook or cleanup.

This year I came on retreat at peace with myself. Unlike past years there were no major losses or life upheavals to process, no personal issues to process. I came for the silence and the freedom and the friendship with other women and with God. While I wish I had a few more hours to savor these things I have gotten all of them.

We are all sinners. Father Ken said it in his talk and we said it to each other. While we don’t take pride in the fact, we do take comfort in knowing that we are all in the same boat. I am trying to do the right things but, lest I get too full of myself, I am reminded of where I am still going wrong and of what I could do. However, I am not depressed or exceedingly daunted by these discoveries because I know that I am on a good path.