The Beacon.Com - Marianist Family Retreat Center E-Newsletter
January 2010
(Be sure to visit our web site at www.capemaymarianists.org for a complete schedule, retreat photos and application)
To find out more of what is happening in the greater Marianist Family – click here www.marianist.com/fol for Marianist Family Online - the Province E-Newsletter.
Inside this issue:
· Director’s Message
· Summer Family Retreat & May Teen Retreat Applications
· Extra 2010 Brochures are available
· A Special Memorial by Ed Jankiewicz
· Heart of Winter Youth Retreat – February 5-7
· College-Age Retreat Recap & Photos
· Save the Date!
· Upcoming Retreats
· Marriage Moment & Parenting Pointer
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year to you and your families!
2010 is a very special year for the Marianist Family Retreat Center. This marks our 40th Anniversary as a Retreat Center. As some of you may know, the Marianists purchased this property and these buildings in 1962 (for $12,000!) and at first intended to use it as a vacation/retreat spot for the Marianist Brothers and Priests.
Well that idea never really caught on and over time the thought by many was that the property should be sold. That is until the idea of a family retreat center was floated by a teacher in a Marianist school who happened to be visiting the Center with his large family. The idea was then presented to the Marianist leadership at the time and it was approved. So in the summer of 1970 the first Summer Family Retreat was held and the rest is history!
To commemorate this special year we are planning a celebration (see notice below) so please keep the date open!
God’s Peace to you all,
Anthony
2010 Summer Family Retreat and Spring Teen Retreat Applications can be postmarked beginning February 1
Please consider joining us or encouraging a family you know to join us this summer for what promises to be a special experience. We are currently in the planning process for the Summer Family Retreats and all I can say now is that the retreats will be incredible!
Attention High School Teenagers!
Our youth retreat planning is well underway for 2010 and we are looking forward to seeing all of you on the May teen retreat (May 7-9)…sign up early because this retreat tends to fill quickly!
EXTRA BROCHURES ARE AVAILABLE
We have plenty of extra 2010 brochures so if you would like a few more to hand out at your parish or to give to a friend or family you know, please email us at mfrc@capemaymarianists.org or call the office at 609-884-3829 and we will be happy to send you some.
A Special Memorial to Regina Jankiewicz
Ed Jankiewicz, his wife Jangie and their daughters Susan and Sharon have been frequent retreat participants at Mary’s House. In July this year Ed’s mom Regina passed away after a long struggle with arthritis, emphysema and other health issues. The Jankiewicz family has made a special memorial contribution in her memory, and would like to share a bit of her story with the Cape May Marianist family community.
While she was a daughter, a sister, a wife, her main role in life was as a mother, and her lasting legacy is embodied in the families of her three children and seven granddaughters. Each in their own way her granddaughters show the wit and attitude that their grandmother had. These three strong families reflect the dedication Regina had to keeping her children safe and well-provided for, especially after the sudden loss of her husband Eddie at a young age. She managed to scrape by on a part-time income while having young children at home, then maintained a full-time schedule at Pathmark in a physically demanding job, even after joint replacement (both knees) and the early stages of COPD.
While life insurance and Social Security benefits certainly helped in the early days, it is clear that her total commitment to providing for her family was the key to maintaining the family home, ensuring her children completed their education and helping us establish our own households and families. She never counted on help from anyone else and never sought it out.
As Regina was a widow and a single parent, the Jankiewicz family has requested that a portion of this gift be dedicated to financial aid for the Widow and Widowers Retreat and for single parent families to attend family weekends and weeks.
Heart of Winter Youth Retreat
A few weeks ago invitations went out for our special Heart of Winter Retreat. Due to a database ‘snafu’ certain people we intended to invite were left off the list. So if you are a junior or senior in high school or a freshman or sophomore in College this retreat is intended for you. Come and learn more about the Marianists and the work they do worldwide, participate in a service project and be with your peers in the context of this retreat.
The retreat is Feb 5-7 and costs $85 (the rate is lower than our typical retreat because we get additional outside funding). To sign up please call our office at 609-884-3829.
College-Age Retreat Recap & Photos
Well, our first retreat for 2010 is under our belts and what a great way to start the year! This year’s College-Aged Retreat focused on Living the Truth. Presentations, special prayer services and Eucharist were all part of this retreat. We even made paper airplanes and discussed where we are in our prayer life - some are cruising at a comfortable altitude, while others are filling out their flight plan and others are still at the gate. All weekend long the retreatants supported one another, shared ideas and prayed together. A fun highlight of this retreat is our annual walk through town, drinking hot chocolate, to see all the beautiful Victorian homes with their Christmas lights. To see more photos from this retreat – click here.
Save the Date!
Come and join us for a special celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Marianist Family Retreat Center. We will gather on November 13, 2010 at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center in Piscataway, NJ for a special mass and reception. More details will follow as the year progresses.
Upcoming Retreats & Critical Dates
To print an application please click here.
Young Adult Retreat (ages 22-35) – February 19-21
Latino Family Retreat – March 12-14
Women’s Spirituality Retreat #1 – March 19-21
A Retreat for Young Married Couples – March 26-28
***Financial Aid is available – please do not let the cost of a retreat be the obstacle that prevents you from joining us...***
Marriage Moments and Parenting Pointers
Contributed by Susan Vogt, www.SusanVogt.net
On Marriage…
Showing love is often about the little things - set up his coffee in the evening so it's ready for him in the morning, send her a one line e-mail during the day, leave a sticky note on the mirror if you're going out of town, ask about her day, kiss him unexpectedly just because...
On Parenting…
How do you connect as a family? 42% of parents with children ages 7 to 17 call their sons and daughters once a day or more via cell phone. (Pew Internet & American Life Project) Perhaps your children are too young for cell phones, but if they do have one what rules do you have for use? The ways family connect may change but the need to connect virtually and physically remain constant.
Blessings to All!
The Marianists
Cape May Point
Marianist Family Retreat Center
Center Director
609-884-3829
609-884-0545 (Fax)
www.capemaymarianists.org