COME TO THE WATER
Sisters of St Francis
HOLY SPIRIT RETREAT CENTER
Vol. 17 No. 1
Fall/Winter 2016
Celebrating Our Franciscan Heritage
CALENDAR
2016
Mini Directed
Retreat
Oct 10 5:30 pm Oct 13 1:00 pm
Volunteer
Work Day
October 29
9:00 am –
Early Afternoon
The months of August,
September and October are
particularly significant to the
Franciscan Family.
We
celebrate the Feasts of St
Clare on August 11 and St
Francis on October 4.
September 14 is the date on
which we celebrate Francis’
reception of the Stigmata, the
crucifixion wounds of Christ.
With this issue of our
newsletter, we offer prayers
and reflections in keeping
with these feasts.
A Four-Fold Franciscan Blessing
SUMMER
RETREATS
2017
Quiet Retreat
June 2 - 11
Franciscan Retreat:
“Wisdom of Francis
of Assisi for the 21st
Century”
June 24 - 30
May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers,
half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth
boldly and love deep within your heart.
May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and
exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice,
freedom, and peace among all people.
May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer
from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so
that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their
pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really
CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God’s
Grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.
allsaintsbrookline.org/prayers/html
Two Differing But Linked Pilgimages:
to California’s Franciscan Missions and to A New Life in Rochester
I participated in a pilgrimage to the nine missions founded by Junipero Serra July 2016. Many of you are
aware, during Pope Francis’ visit to the United States a few months ago that Junipero was raised to sainthood.
Pilgrimages are not about one place being more holy than another, God is everywhere. Making pilgrimages
involves a response to something inside us that longs to move forward, that seeks the holy beyond. In many
ways we are always on a pilgrimage in our daily life. Sometimes we need to step back and in the silence within
come to a greater clarity about what our life pilgrimage, journey, is about.
Junipero Serra has not been without controversy, as are many of the early explorers and missionaries of his
time. I hoped through this experience to come a deeper awareness about the truth of this man and what
inspired him to move forward on this challenging journey.
Junipero Serra was born in 1713 on the island of Majorca off the
coast of Spain. He entered the Franciscan Order in 1730 and
became a priest, doctor of theology and taught at the University
of Palma. In the spring of 1749 he made the voyage to New
Spain (Mexico) and for ten years he worked in various parishes.
In 1768 became superior and president of the missions in Baja
California. At this time Spain was concerned about establishing
foundations in Alta (upper) California for fear Russia would take
over this area from the north. Serra was the person to begin
the establishment of these missions. He rode 750 miles by mule
from Baja to San Diego, the first mission established in 1769. He
continued to establish the following missions: San Carlos de
Borromeo 1770, San Antonia de Padua 1771, San Gabriel 1771, San Luis Obispo 1772, San Francisco 1776, San
Juan Capistrano 1776, Santa Clara 1777, San Buenaventura 1782. Junipero died August 28, 1784 at age 70.
What did I learn from this experience? What is there about the life of Junipero that inspires or is a teacher for
me and us? There were probably several experiences and leanings that brought Serra to choose the emergent
work with Indians. He was schooled in the theology of John Duns Scotus, a Franciscan theologian; his family
were farmers; he grew up familiar with growing crops and farm animals; and he grew deeper in his
understanding of his own spirituality. Junipero kept a detailed diary which has been translated and gives us an
insight into this man. Shortly after his arrival in Mexico he was bitten by an insect in his leg which left him
with an infection that he carried for the remainder of this life. In spite of this, he walked or was carried by
burro from mission to mission. Junipero had a great love for the Indians and wanted to bring the Gospel to
them. Some of the controversy about his supposed treatment of the Indians is bound into the presidios
(military) that was always a part of the establishment and continuation of the missions. These were persons of
their time and some ways of dealing with infractions were more acceptable then. I admire Junipero’s deep
faith and commitment to
(Continued on next page)
(continued from page 2)
a mission that was a call from God.
I will also be moving to another mission in early October, and not being transported by foot or burro.
After almost ten years at Holy Spirit Retreat Center I will begin living at Assisi Heights in Rochester.
These last years of ministry at the Center have been a gift for me and there are so many aspects of
this life that I will miss, but like Serra, it is a nudge from God to bring my presence to another
ministry.
Sister Monique Schwirtz
To Contact Us:
Plan Now to Join Us for one of our Summer Retreats:
Quiet Retreat June 2 – 11, 2017
Or
Holy Spirit Retreat Center
th
3864 420 Ave
Janesville, MN 56048
507-234-5712
[email protected]
“Wisdom of Francis of Assisi for the 21st Century”
Presented by S. Kathy Warren, osf
June 24 - 30, 2017
“There is nothing so much like God in all the Universe as silence.”
Meister Eckhart
Mini-Directed Retreat
Oct 10, 5:30 pm – Oct 13, Noon
(Monday – Thursday)
“Living in the Light of Wisdom by
Embracing the Darkness”
Come and enjoy the beauty of Lake
Elysian and autumn colors as you
experience the embrace of Divine Love.
Directors: Jackie Cesario, S. JoAnn Haney,
S. Linda Weiser
Retreat begins with an evening meal, but you may
come as early as 1:00 pm Monday
Limited to 18 persons
Cost: $250 (Partial Scholarships Available)
Please register by October 1
Saturday October 29
9:00 am – Early Afternoon
Join us for a day of work and community: raking
leaves, putting the gardens to bed, trimming
trees and who knows what else we’ll find to
do?!! Bring your work gloves and rakes. We’ll
provide prayer and lunch. Call us (507-2345712) by Oct 25 if you can join us.
Sisters of St Francis
HOLY SPIRIT RETREAT CENTER
3864 420th Avenue
Janesville, MN 56048
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Janesville, MN 56048
Permit #8
Return Service Requested
HOLY SPIRIT RETREAT CENTER ADVISORY BOARD
S Rita Brom, OSF
Mira Frank
Leo Bromenschenkel
S. Barbara Haag, OSF
Mike Donohoe
Mike Niemczyk
PROGRAM PLANNING and MARKETING
COMMITTEES
Marlene Breckner
Donna Hagerty
S Lois Knipp, OSF
Bonnie Johnson
Jackie Cesario
Pastor Cindy Kennedy
Linda Grant
HOLY SPIRIT RETREAT CENTER TEAM
S Jennifer Corbett, OSF
S JoAnn Haney, OSF
S Charlotte Hesby, OSF
S Monique Schwirtz, OSF
S Carmen Sonnek, OSF
SERVICES FOR
INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS:
Retreat Center
18 bedrooms, Kitchen, Dining Room,
Chapel, Conference Room, Lounge,
Large Screen TV, A-V Equipment
Hermitages
Spiritual Direction
Walking Paths, Labyrinth
Mission of the Center
Holy Spirit Retreat Center, grounded in the
Gospel as expressed in the Franciscan Spirit,
offers opportunities for personal and
spiritual growth for individuals and groups
within an environment of natural beauty and
solitude.