Franciscan Retreats: Recent December Men's Retreat

December Men's Retreat

Each Year the friars welcome a large group of men to come and celebrate an Advent Sunday with us. This year we invited Father Jim Kent, our vicar provincial and vocation director, to preach our retreat and share his faith with us. He asked us to consider St John the Baptist's question, "Are you the One?" We look anew at Jesus (Is he the One for us?), his mission to us, and at our own ministry.

Following are some of the retreatants' reflections:

I felt an abundance of grace on this retreat. I’m very thankful and feel really blessed. The Sacrament of Reconciliation was especially meaningful for me. For the first time I read Psalm 32 and was quite moved. Our retreat director, Father Jim Kent, was also a welcome addition. His insights, stories, and preaching brought to life the importance of being a Christian and a Catholic in today’s world.

This is my annual weekend to have my spiritual batteries recharged. It takes me out of the abstractions of daily life to focus on the real purpose of my being. I leave knowing that God does love and care for me. The Anointing of the Sick was a welcome sacrament for me.

God’s blessing is the being together of men who know the need to get back in touch with “Him” and themselves. He has blessed me with the sharing of fellowship with them and Him.

I was really moved by Father Jim’s analogy of God as a sea captain who will turn the ship around to pick up one passenger who has fallen overboard. Even if he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I pray that I might change a bit to be somewhat more like that sea captain to my family and acquaintances.

My heart was warmed seeing lady bugs [Japanese beetles] and crickets coming in from the cold to enjoy the heat of the chapel.

It was good to see the love and respect the Friars show for one another in Father Ken’s genuine appreciation of Father Jim. True humility lives. Later today I have a community meeting regarding some difficulties. Father Jim’s message that compassion is giving up the right to be right and this can lead to conversion for others. I pray I remember it in dialogue.

Every time I come to this retreat I leave a better man and Christian because of it. I thank God for this retreat house. Without it I don’t know where I would be. This is like coming home.

This is the only time of year for me to reflect on my spiritual life. I hope I can continue to come in the future.

This is my third retreat. Every year I learn something different about my faith. I enjoy the fellowship with other men. The retreat is a friendly place to come. It is always good to be around people who want to learn and to share with other people your faith. The walks in the woods and the grounds are very relaxing and a place to reflect on the conferences. Thank you for offering these retreats. God will, I will see you next year.

GREAT FOOD! But I probably gained five pounds.

Living in the now eliminates anxiety and worry.

Father Jim is an inspiration. A retreat for me is an opportunity to take stock of my relationship with God and to honestly assess the qualities of my relationship in my personal life. I have some work to do!

Every time I go on these retreats I come closer to God. He seems more real to me than at any other time. I especially liked the time spent at adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The retreat has once again given me the opportunity to fully embrace my faith so I may understand it more deeply and live it proudly yet humbly in my life. Thank you so much. I haven’t left yet and I am already looking forward to next year.

The food was excellent. You have my vote.

Each year on retreat God seems to draw me closer to understanding that the things I do are because God loves me.

Franciscan Retreats is like being home with a comfortable pair of slippers, except I have a rosary in my pocket, instead of keys. The talks had much wisdom that I would like to share with others. The fellowship and the quiet make it a perfect retreat.

Maybe it takes time like this to fuel our faith. For me, I think I now have the motor running. Whoever thought I would find poetry interesting? Thanks to Fathers Ken, Jim, and Howard – you men are truly special. Like Arnold says, “I’ll be back.”

The retreats are always restful and rejuvenating. This one’s no exception.

The connection with terrific men of God is one of the richest blessings.

This is my 4th retreat, but this is the first time God has blessed me in a way that allowed me to leave all of my worries outside and focus on the retreat material. It was truly a retreat from my daily life. I enjoyed Father Jim, a great speaker!

I feel blessed that I was able to come and make this retreat. The Fathers were great and kept our attention. The poems and songs were great and I enjoyed the singing and the conferences.

What a blessing it is to spend uninterrupted time with the Lord. Retreat always strengthens and deepens my relationship with God, often in ways that appear long after I leave. God willing, I’ll be back.

The retreat has allowed me to pull back from my busy life and reflect on how I have been living. It has given me opportunity to renew my relationship with God, redirect and strengthen myself to carry out God’s will in my life. The sacrament of reconciliation was particularly helpful in this.

I was blessed by your providing an opportunity to be free of distractions, pray without interruptions, share camaraderie with my brothers and Dad.

I am blessed with forgiveness of my sins. Thank you! A closer relationship to Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. Great camaraderie and friendship. Fun to see familiar and friendly faces. Father Jim was an outstanding surprise this visit.

The food was fantastic, the best ever in 25 years of my coming here.

I felt a real invitation to be with God, in His presence.

It is hard to put in words but I feel a real deep connection with Jesus when on retreat. Its very fulfilling and rewarding.

Beautiful weather, great message. I feel re-energized.