|
JRH Newsletter
Fall 2007
From the Director:
TRANSITIONS
Fall is knocking on the door of
summer. Today’s warm, bright sun is going to be interrupted by a
cold front marching across the high plains. Transitions arrive
regularly in our lives.
JRH begins the 2007-08 season of
weekend retreats with four new faces. Sr. Mary Jacqueline Pratt
stowed the final box in her van and left to join her community in
St. Louis on Saturday morning, August 11th.
In the afternoon Sr. Kerry drove into the same apartment complex
and began unpacking. During the summer Sue Denslow interned as the
new head of housekeeping. After 10 years Melanie Robinson left to
begin teaching family education and consumer science to middle
school students in Oshkosh. Diane Simonson has taken on the role of
bookkeeper. We are grateful to Judy Mugerauer for coming out of
retirement for 18 months. On September 4th
Fr. Gene Donahue, S.J., our final new member, arrived. He was in
transition while his bathroom received an “extreme makeover.” Thanks
to Chuck Linde, as of Sept. 21st
he now has the best bathroom JRH has to offer.
The new staff blesses us with
enthusiasm and energy while the long time staff members are a
steadying influence during this period of transition. We celebrated
the blessing of Sr. Mary Jacqueline’s presence these last five years
at a staff luncheon on August 3rd
and at the JRH picnic on August 4th.
Change creates uneasiness as we
adjust to different personalities and perspectives. A unity of
spirit, vision and energy is quickly emerging. As a result the
vitality of JRH deepens and the mission is fulfilled.
As we go through the transition, we
begin the new fiscal year having been blessed by a very fruitful
06-07. An additional 150 men and women made retreats this past
year. The coordinators and retreatants worked hard at inviting new
weekend retreatants. The two 5 day directed retreats were very
popular. For the fourth year in a row we ended in the black. The
Advisory Council is integrating our development efforts, financial
transparency, long range facility improvements and publicity
material. In the midst of all the transition our mission remains
clear: offering opportunities for men and women to grow closer to
God through the riches of the Spiritual Exercises.
As we end one fiscal year and begin
another I recall the Scripture reading at Mass at the picnic:
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give
thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not
quench the Spirit. (1 Thes. 5:16-19).
With much joy and gratitude in
Christ,
Fr. John Schwantes, S.J.
Director
TIDBITS OF NEWS
Camouflage
One of our retreatants works for a large corporation which does not
allow any religious symbols in offices. When a co-worker asked what
she would be doing on her vacation, she responded. “I’m going to a
lake and hang out with some friends.” What an apt description of a
retreat!
Picnic
At the annual picnic Mass Fr. John blessed a peace pole given to JRH
by his brother and sister-in-law. It is
located near the gazebo surrounded by stately maples and newly
planted trees. After the door prize drawing, Sr. Mary Jacqueline
accepted some gifts and expressed her appreciation for all that she
received from the staff and retreatants the last five years.
Eagle
On their way out to a restaurant for dinner on the feast of
St. Ignatius, Frs. Bob and John surprised a juvenile eagle that was
standing in the driveway near the 15th
station. He flew just above the ground for a long way before
gaining enough life to land on large low hanging branch near the
entrance. A greeting from St. Ignatius?
Travels
Fr. Bob attended the National
Convention of Pastoral Musicians in
Indianapolis.
He and Dan Shutte were giving a workshop on “The Spirituality of the
Choir” as well as joined the St. Louis Jesuits for a performance.
The Joy of Mowing
Mike Weber and Marty Ruedinger
welcomed the rain so that they could get back in action on the new
Gravely lawn mover. Its diesel engine gives it a go-cart feel.
Reunion
In late July Fr. John hosted the 50th anniversary of the Jesuits who
came to the Jesuit Retreat House as novices in August of 1957. Most
had not seen their novitiate in more than 40 years. Conversation
about the old days was interspersed with gratitude for the
hospitality of Chef Jeff and the staff.
WASP
We enjoyed the delightful energy of the WASP, (Women Air Force
Service Pilots), and their families, once again as the EAA arrived
in town the last week of July. They and many other guests were with
us for about a week.
Memorials
Fr. John was the celebrant at several funerals of retreatants
this summer: first for Bob Andres on June 21st and then for Joanne Novotny on August 11th.
On Sept 15th
he celebrated a memorial Mass for Dan Horkheimer whom he knew at
Marquette High. Dan died tragically in St. Louis at the age of 29.
Keep these families in your prayers.
Box of Chocolates Coffee Table Book
We have had several requests for the author of the coffee
table book “Box of Chocolates” left here by an unknown author.
There have also been some requests for a copy of this delightful
book. If you are the author and would like to be known, please
contact the office. Many thanks to you for a wonderful addition to
our library.
Phone: 800-962-7330 in
Wisconsin
920-231-9060 outside of
Wisconsin
Email: office@jesuitretreathouse.org
MEET THE NEW STAFF
MEMBERS
Sr. Kerry Larkin, OSM
Hello! I am Sr. Kerry Larkin OSM. I am a member of the
Servants of Mary Community. Our Motherhouse is located in
Omaha,
Nebraska
where I have lived and ministered on and off for the past forty
years. On August 15th, the feast of Our Lady, I started my new ministry here at the Jesuit Retreat House. For me it was and is an answer to my prayers
and a gift from God. Even though I have been here for a short time,
it has been a graced time. I have had the opportunity to be
involved with several retreats. One directed retreat and the others
preached. What has touched me most is to see God’s presence in the
staff that works here and in the desire of the retreatants who come
here to grow and deepen their relationship with God. There is really
no other place that I would want to be and I look forward to the
coming year to meet and walk with each person who comes to spend
time in this sacred and holy place.
Fr. Gene Donahue, SJ
According to St. Ignatius, "It's easy to obey when you love
what's commanded," and so I was very happy to be missioned here by
my Provincial Superior. I had actually wanted to come to the retreat
house permanently for some time, as I have been doing spiritual
direction and retreat work ever since I was ordained in 1970. I
also taught at
Creighton
University in Omaha for 25 years, including the graduate Christian
Spirituality program which we began in 1975. I have helped with
individually directed retreats in the summers, and I was also here
as a Jesuit novice from 1958-60, and so the locale is familiar.
I am looking forward to working with the others on the staff
here to continue their tradition of excellent retreats based on
Ignatian spirituality.
|
