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