NEW OLC FUNDRAISER! Sr. T’s Dinner Club…

The Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center Board of Trustees is pleased to announce a new event for the friends of OLC. Sister T’s Dinner Club (named for our Administrator and chef, Sr. Theresina) will be kicking off in the fall of 2011. Interested parties join the dinner club by paying just under $2 a week ($100 for the year). Throughout the year drawings will be held for prize monies to be awarded, and at the end of the year a dinner will be held with entertainment, dancing, food, a raffle, and more cash prizes. In order for this to be successful, we are in need of “table captains” to help coordinate this effort. Gather a list of names of your neighbors, parishioners, retreatants, and friends to join you for this exciting new club! For more information, call the Retreat Center at 860.677.8519.

NEW PRAYER GROUP – Lectio Divina

“Lectio Divina,” a Latin term meaning “divine reading,” describes a way of reading the Scriptures in which we gradually let go and open ourselves to what God wants to say to us. The practice of Lectio Divina as a way of praying the Scriptures has been in practice for many centuries and is being rediscovered today by many individuals and groups as a way of deepening our relationship with Christ.

Please join us at Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center for an hour of Lectio Divina every third Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.  No experience or knowledge of meditation, Lectio Divina, or scripture is necessary.  We welcome all men and women with a desire to communicate more deeply with the One Who Loves Us.  For information, contact Celeste Calabotta at 860.523.4411 or welchfox@sbcglobal.net or call OLC at 860.677.8519.

Father John Powers presents “Witnesses to the Passion of Jesus.”

Witnesses to Passion

Fr. John Powers

Fr. John and retreatant

Over 90 women and men gathered at Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center to hear Father John Powers present his dynamic program, “Witnesses to the Passion of Jesus” on March 18.  Through the imaginative insights of several Bible characters, he reflected on our journey through Lent as we draw wisdom from the Passion of Jesus.  Father Powers held a specially carved “story stick” as he took on the personalites of various characters, speaking through the hearts and minds of the Cross Maker, the Prodigal Mother, and Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Participants were encouraged to examine our own hearts and how dwelling on our flaws and fears can become a heavy cross to bear.  Father John’s repeated message: “Give it to God; give it to God; give it to God,” provided inspiration and comfort to all who attended.

Fr. John Powers, C.P. is a Passionist Pilgrim Preacher and spiritual storyteller.  Ordained in 1977, he is the author of six books for adults and two for children.  He has served as a Co-Director, Producer and Host of the Passionist Radio and TV Ministry in Springfield Massachusetts, Director of Calvary Spiritual Center and Rector of Passionist Communities in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts and Bronx, New York.  He has preached from Connecticut to Texas, Florida to Australia, New York to Tennessee, Germany to Louisiana.

Come Follow Me: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

Women from St. Therese parish, in Granby, CT attended Shawnee’s program as a group. Afterwards, they gathered in the OLC chapel for a special blessing.

On March 11, Shawnee Baldwin, a member of the Archdiocesan Religious Education Office staff, presented a Lenten program called “Come Follow Me: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus” to an enthusiastic group of women at Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center.  Shawnee shared reflections on the Luminous and Sorrowful mysteries, expanding on each mystery with visuals from books, movies, pictures and other mind-opening concepts.  In her own extraordinary style she enabled participants to see their lives reflected in the experiences of Jesus and Mary.  A special thanks to St. Therese Church in Granby for “sponsoring” this program with their dedicated attendance.

Meditation on the stone wall behind the altar at Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center

Hundreds of stones—perhaps thousands—all individual—representing the hundreds/thousands of people—all individual who have come here over the years—seeking their “perfect place” in the world—just as these stones have all found their perfect place in this wall.

If any stone had been positioned one iota to the right or left—the wall would not be the same. And positioned one iota to the right or left of where we have been placed—the World—our world—would not be the same.

No two stones/people alike—not one stone could fit in any other spot on that wall—nor we in any other spot in life. Each one positioned by the artist/God who saw their shape and strength and placed them just where they belonged.

The wall is perfect—not smooth—but perfect because of its imperfections.

The convex shape represents a portion of the shape of the World. It symbolizes continuance and connection with the rest of the world.

Every single stone is VITAL to the wall—and every single one of us is VITAL to our world.

It is proof of God’s plan for us and of His active presence in our lives.

— written by Linda Pellino, OLC retreatant

Drawn into the Mystery

OLC’s new retreat season has begun, and women have been “drawn into the mystery” of a theme weekend here at the Retreat Center.  As we came together to contemplate the holy ground upon which we stand, these walls were filled with prayer, laughter, tears, sacred silence, the sharing of stories, and a profound sense of wonder and awe at the marvels of God’s creation.  Here are some images from our first few retreat weekends.

Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Season Opener!

Over 50 women gathered at OLC on Monday, September 14 to celebrate the opening of the 2009/10 retreat season.  Sister Mary Fahy, RSM presented a program called Seasons of our Lives, based on her book, The Tree that Survived the Winter.  In every season of the tree’s life a particular quality was in focus: awareness, sensitivity, compassion, uncertainty.  Our lives are characterized by similar changes and challenges.  We need to listen attentively to the voice of God within and around us to be attuned to our specialness and unique quality shared with the tree of life … faithfulness.  Sister Mary is a Sister of Mercy of the Americas. In addition to authoring two books, she is an educator, retreat and spiritual director, and Director of Pastoral Care at the McAuley, an interfaith, continuing care retirement community in West Hartford.  OLC’s retreat theme for this season is Drawn into Mystery.

A large crowd gathered for Sister Mary Fahy’s program, Seasons of our Lives.

Sister Mary autographs copies of her book – The Tree that Survived the Winter – for retreatants.

OLC News Flashes

June 26th with a successful Golf tournament winding down, Farmington and surrounding areas was hit by a microburst… one step lower than a tornado.   Hail the size of golf balls, torrential rain, thunder and lightning also swept across the Retreat Center.  Three lightning strikes left trees and limbs down.  We are still working on a complete clean-up. Please say a prayer for our Insurance Adjusters!  God is good – all the time … no one was hurt and our building suffered no major damage!

July 10th brought more than 130 OLC fans to the Rock Cats Baseball game in New Britain!  The sun was piercing through the wispy clouds and the smell of hot dogs, peanuts and cotton candy filled the air.  One of the features of the night was Sr. Theresina throwing out the first pitch… some thought it was impossible for her to reach the catcher’s mitt … but they were proven wrong!  Her form left a bit to be desired but what a thrill!

Cheers and rolls of applause also filled the reserved seats of the OLC fans before the seventh inning when an enthusiastic youth group from St. Patrick Parish, Collinsville sang God Bless America. Their director, Ellen Bowdon a member of OLC’s Board of Trustees and an OLC Retreatant was beaming with pride.  If you were not able to attend this year, we’ll be taken out to the ballgame again next season…. Watch for details

Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center Hosts Working Women’s Forum

Professional women from across the state of Connecticut are invited to attend an evening of networking at our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center, located at 31 Colton Street in Farmington.  The Working Women’s Forum will be held on Monday, March 16 from 5:30 to 8:45 pm.  The evening features a keynote presentation by Bola Adelani entitled “How to Network and Build Profitable Relationships.”
Ms. Adelani is the founder of the Hartford-based Watered Garden Ministries, a non-profit organization she founded to reach and empower women through a variety of community-based outreach, benevolence and educational programs.  She is also founder of Royal Proclamations – a life coaching, corporate training and key-note speaking practice.

The Working Women’s Forum was inspired by Ms. Adelani’s observation that working women do not spend enough time networking as a way to promote their businesses.  “Tragically, most working professionals spend more time behind their desks and little time out there building relationships,” states Adelani.  The evening includes refreshments and the opportunity for mingling and facilitated networking.  Cost is $20 for registration in advance and $25 for admission at the door.  For more information, please call the Retreat Center at (860) 677-8519.

For more information, or to schedule an interview, please contact Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center, 31 Colton Street, Farmington, CT 06032

Sister Ann Rodgers, Program Director, 860-677-8519

Reflections on “One with the Vine”

The following article appeared in the February edition of the Calvarian On-line, the Retreat Center’s new e-newsletter.  If you’d like to receive this monthly newsletter, call 860-677-8519 or visit our website at http://www.ourladyofcalvary.com to sign up.

Reflections on “One with the Vine”

As January draws to a close and I ponder this year’s retreat theme and the recent inauguration ceremony, I have a sense that we long for connections in the midst of disconnected lives-connections to ourselves, to others, to the world we live in. Most of all, we yearn to connect with the sacred. February is the month of “the feast of hearts,” Valentine’s day. It seems LOVE is in the air and yet we are journeying this winter with harsh cold winds and layers of frozen earth. I marvel at how brave the trees and living things must be to stand so well through wintertime. I marvel, too, at the people who have come to Our Lady of Calvary facing the winters of their lives with courage and hope.

As our theme so beautifully reminds us, courage and love are drawn from an inner source. Being “One with the Vine” enables us to know that we are not alone. It reminds us that we can-despite fear-risk and face the challenges of our lives. We are called to be fruitful branches, nurtured by our intimate relationship with God to be open to pruning and to bearing fruit in abundance. May you experience this winter the unfolding of spiritual growth and movement, and know that the presence of God is within and around us all.

Sr. Ann Rodgers, Program Director