Christmas Newsletter 2014 - Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre

Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre
ADVENT – CHRISTMAS 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A St. Francis Christmas . . . . . . .1
News from the Mount . . . . . . . . .2
New Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Youth Retreats . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
A Greccio Christmas Pageant . .3
Did You Know? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Wish List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre
41160 Retreat Road
P.O. Box 430
Cochrane, Alberta
T4C 1A6
403-932-2012
www.mountstfrancis.ca
[email protected]
A ST. FRANCIS
CHRISTMAS
The eminent evolutionary biologist, O.E. Wilson, has written a masterful
book entitled “The Meaning of Human Existence,” In it he explores
existential questions from a scientific point of view, such as: “Does
humanity have a special place in the Universe? What does human existence
have to do with our personal life? Where are we going and most difficult
question of all ‘Why’?” (p.11)
St. Francis would have enjoyed a friendly conversation with Professor
Wilson, for Francis asked himself the same questions. As an intuitive,
Francis came to the answer in Christ. He understood that our Lord was
the centre from which everything else has its reason to be. His vison about
the meaning of life was encapsulated in his motto: “My God and my all!”
His response to the vison was the first Christmas. For Francis, the Son of
God coming in the flesh was his absolute. It introduced a new and unique
relationship between the divine and all of creation. With Christ human
history takes on a new meaning. Christ reveals the Way to God, the truth
about God and the Life from God. The Christ event is now the heart of
creation, the primacy of God’s love. God so loved the world that he sent His
only begotten Son to reveal the fullness of life! And so Francis embraced
Christ, God-with-in us, as the One through whom all things find their
ultimate meaning.
This season is a time to rediscover the beauty of the profound mystery of
God’s love becoming human, an event, unique to the Christian
dispensation. The Russian writer and dissident, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn,
said it well: “People exhaust themselves in the senseless pursuit of material
things and die without realizing their spiritual greatness.”
Discovering God’s presence with us and God’s love for us is the greatest
meaning of human existence. Christmas makes us realize that God is still
close to us in Christ and will be until the end of time. In our own personal
and humble way, may this Christmas help us discover our “spiritual
greatness.”
Dear friends of Mount St. Francis we wish you and all your loved ones
Christ’s fullness of grace during this Holy Season and throughout the
New Year.
The Friars and Staff at The Mount
Outdoor mass with High School Students
NEWS FROM THE MOUNT
Youth Programs
Youth programs are growing. Indeed the Mount is
deeply committed in doing all it can to promote young
people to use its facilities, so that their faith in Christ
and the Church grows. A number of Catholic Schools
student retreats, and other youth orientated events are
being held at the Centre. “Fire on the Mount,” a
Sunday evening of prayer, a talk, and a bonfire,
supported by the local Knights of Columbus, has
become a regular feature. Please keep this ministry in
your prayers.
School Staffs
welcome for Professional
Development Days
Staff
Staff
Pictured above are most of our Staff. Front row: Paul,
in our kitchen, and Todd, our maintenance manager,
are welcome additions this past year. Back row: Tin,
Saveria, Johanne, Jason, Deb (l to r) Missing: Ruth,
Bryanna. All members’ dedication, flexibility, and
“getting it done” are much appreciated.
Gift Certificate
MOUNT ST. FRANCIS RETREAT CENTRE
COCHRANE, ALBERTA
To inquire about gift certificates please call 403-932-2012
2
Greccio Bonfire
A Greccio Christmas Pageant
On Christmas Eve (1223), in a small Italian village
called Greccio, in order to highlight the coming of Godwith-us into the world, St. Francis re-enacted the birth
of Jesus as inspired by the Gospel narratives. What was
so unique about it all was that he used living creatures,
people, and animals, in the setting of a stable on a
Mount by Greccio. Even though Francis is credited
with the first Christmas Crib he did not oversentimentalize the Christ event. Rather he was awestruck that God took flesh in the womb of the Jewish
maiden, Mary.
For the last several years Mount St. Francis has
continued this popular Franciscan tradition. This
year on Sunday December 7, our Greccio Christmas
begins at 2:00 pm with sleigh rides (weather
permitting) for the children, young and old. There will
be a bonfire, chili, hot dogs, hot chocolate, and
Christmas goodies available to add cheer to the
occasion. The nativity pageant itself will take place in
the new pavilion beginning at 4:00pm.
Non-perishable food or a cash donation for the
Cochrane Food Bank is appreciated.
Hot Food at Greccio
Did you know?
It is widely accepted that St. Francis started the
first Christmas Crib. But, did you know he also
started inspired hymns to be sung at Christmas
time. Beautiful liturgical music composed by the
Franciscan Jacopone di Todi gradually developed
into traditional Christmas carols. However,
please don’t blame us when you hear Christmas
music beginning to be sung in late October or
early November!
3
Save the date
Greccio Christmas
UPCOMING EVENTS
Greccio Christmas –
A Franciscan Bethlehem
Sunday, December 7, 2014, 2:00 - 6:00 pm
(see page 3 for details)
Lecture Series, Continued:
April 24-26, 2015
Franciscan Friar Richard Rohr was the first speaker
at the lecture series sponsored by the Mount and the
FCJ Centre. Along with St. Mary’s University, we three
are now sponsoring another Franciscan speaker. She is
Sister Ilia Delio, Director of Catholic Studies at
Georgetown University. Her first public lecture on
“Christ and Evolution” will take place at 7:00pm at St.
Michael’s Catholic Community (800-85 St. SW) on
Friday, 24 April, 2015. Tickets available ($25.00) at the
Mount (phone 403-932-2012)
Watch for more details in your parish bulletin and
other venues for her Saturday and Sunday
sessions at the FCJ Centre. Sister Ilia is in Fr.
Richard Rohr’s league.
Six-day retreats
Next summer we will again have our two six-day
retreats. Fr. Bob Mitchell will be preaching one
retreat from 22-28 June and the directed retreat will
be from 27 July to 2 August, 2015. Please register at
the office (phone 403-932-2012 or email
[email protected]) as soon as possible. These six day
retreats are an inspiration for a fuller life of faith in
today’s world.
4
Mount St. Francis and the Order of St. Lazarus are cohosting a “pilgrimage” to the Mount’s statue of St.
Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio on the afternoon of
Sunday, 13 September, 2015. Walkers, runners, and
cyclists are welcome to join in this “Call to the
Mount.” Details to follow in our summer brochure.
Regular Retreats
Our regular schedule for weekend retreats is available
on the web page www.mountstfrancis.ca. Register
with the ever loyal captains or co-captains whose
names are listed in the brochure or the website.
The Mount is also available to any groups wishing to
book for their church or other gatherings
Wish List
Last year your Christmas donations, for which we
are most grateful, helped us with the costs for:
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updated telephone system and Wi-Fi
new flag pole
chapel hymnals
extensive yard clean-up
chairs for the new pavilion
For the coming year we hope to:
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clean up the outdoor Stations of the Cross
do interior painting (in stages)
re-upholster 23 lounge chairs in the
main corridor and library
wind curtains for the pavilion
Any support you may give for these projects is greatly
appreciated. Thank you.
If you wish to donate electronically please visit our web
page www.mountstfrancis.ca and click on “donate.”
Business Tax Number: 893003376RR0001

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