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Shepherd Your People, O Lord
We Californians are particularly blessed with a fine community
of bishops, and El Retiro is particularly blessed that
the bishops of the San Francisco Province make their annual
silent retreat with us, through the week leading up to
Ash Wednesday. Thirteen bishops were with us this year,
and it was a grace to share their concern for guiding each
local diocese wisely and gently. Do keep them and their
challenging ministry in your prayers.
While the bishops were with us, we were also honored to
host the first year novices of the Oregon and California
Jesuit Provinces. The two Oregonians and nine Californians
were on an introductory tour through the Jesuit ministries
of Northern California, so they were out on the road most
days, enjoying a warm welcome at our universities, high
schools, parishes, and more. It is good to know that young
men are choosing to commit themselves to the future of
the Church and the Society of Jesus. They will be welcome
and wonderful colleagues.
You may have noticed on our website an addition to our
Pastoral Staff. Fr.
Ken Hezel, S.J., of the New York
Province has dedicated many years to ministry in the South
Pacific. He is spending this year on sabbatical. He was
at Boston College in the fall, and we are glad to have
him with us for winter and spring. Fr. Ken will be involved
in all aspects of our retreat and spiritual direction ministry—and
he looks forward to getting to know many of our local golf
courses. He will return to his missionary work at the start
of June.
Rossi Chapel as Lent begins and Spring prepares its entrance.
In the Neighborhood
We enjoyed hosting the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce this past Thursday,
for their monthly business networking evening. About sixty were in attendance,
enjoying the view from the Gellert Rotunda and the cuisine of El Retiro’s
fine culinary staff. For a number of these guests, this was their first
visit to the Retreat Center. We are grateful for the support and encouragement
of our fellow members of the Chamber.
Close connections with our local parish, St. Nicholas, are also a blessing.
The pastor, Fr.
Larry Percell, has made the complete Spiritual Exercises
here in our summer 36-Day
Program and is both studying in our Pierre Favre
Program and on the team for our retreats for married couples. The Jesuit
community enjoys his company as a dinner guest often. Fr.
Joe Fice, S.J.,
and Ms.
Leelamma Sebastian, both on the El Retiro staff, are regulars at
St. Nicholas, Leelamma attending Mass there daily and Fr. Joe saying Mass
there each Tuesday.
We continue to be in touch with the Los Altos Rotary, a connection begun
years back by Fr. Bob St. Clair, S.J., when he was heading El Retiro.
We’ve hosted the Rotary Christmas party for a number of years
now, a delightful tradition begun by Fr. Bill Rewak, S.J., during his
tenure as El Retiro’s Executive Director.
The statue of the Virgin Mary, where each of our
retreat Rosaries
concludes.
A Work in Progress
The task of keeping the buildings and property of El Retiro
in top condition is never-ending. Our Plant team is grateful
for the feedback we get from the evaluations each participant
provides at the end of a retreat, as these help us to keep
on top of new maintenance issues. Please do continue to let
us know what you see here, especially with regard to safety
issues, as your input allows us to serve you better.
You may notice, looking at the photo above, that the statue
of Mary at the end of the Rosary path has moved. Till now,
Mary’s back has been to the sun and her face in constant
shadow. Our Plant team moved her a few feet north (where she
replaces a dead tree) and turned her to face the afternoon
sun. Those sitting on the benches around the circle can now
enjoy a moment of Marian colloquy face-to-face. Don’t
forget your beads when next you visit!
The balcony of El Retiro’s Gellert Rotunda, at evening.
Retreats Coming Up
We Preach Christ Crucified
On the weekend of March 5-7, Fr.
Tom Weston, S.J., will
offer a silent retreat for men, our annual opportunity
to welcome the Knights of Columbus and their friends.
These Lenten days invite us to go deeper in prayer, where
Christ’s complete gift of Himself continues to free
our enslaved hearts for authentic love. We will enter together,
on this retreat, into the profound mystery of Christ’s
reconciling and healing action among us.
For more information or to register for this men’s retreat,
give us a call at 650-917-4000 or register on-line at The
Deep Days of Lent.
You Are a New Creation
On the weekend of March 12-14, Fr.
Bernie Bush, S.J., and
Sr.
Anne Hennessy, C.S.J., will offer our annual silent
retreat for members of the legal profession.
We will enter, during this retreat, into moments in the
life of Christ, in whom each of us is made a new creation.
Our hearts are made for what only Christ can offer—and
Christ invites each of us into His reconciling love and
into sharing His ministry of reconciliation.
For more information or to register for the retreat, which
is open to women and men, give us a call at 650-917-4000 or
register on-line at Jesus
Christ: Source & Goal of
Our Desiring.
Water in the Desert and Rivers in the Wasteland
On the weekend of March 19-21, Fr.
Jerry Hudson, S.J., and Ruby
Buffin, Ph.D., will offer a silent
retreat for women.
We find the Jewish and Christian Scriptures filled
with expressions of God’s care for our well-being
and happiness. In this time of retreat, we will recall
God’s fidelity to us, reflecting on God’s
fulfillment of His promises over the centuries and
in our own lives.
For more information or to register for the retreat,
which is open to women, give us a call at 650-917-4000
or register on-line at Promises, Promises.
Our Attitude Must Be Christ's
On the weekend of March 26-28, Fr.
Tom Weston, S.J.,
will offer our annual Palm Sunday weekend men’s
silent retreat.
We will again accompany Christ on his entry into
Jerusalem, toward the conclusion of His life’s
journey on the Cross. Our reflections and prayer
will look ahead to the celebration of the Paschal
Mystery in which God, in Christ, shows us the full
power of Divine Love.
For more information or to register for the retreat,
which is open to men, give us a call at 650-917-4000
or register on-line at Entering Holy Week.
Sometimes It Causes Me to Tremble
We will be celebrating the Paschal Triduum of Holy
Week this year on April 1-4. The Jesuits of our Pastoral
Staff will join Mrs.
Cathy Collins and Ms.
Barbara Nelson in contemplating the mysteries of Christ’s
life that we recall in these sacred days.
Our retreat reflections will spring from the six
verses of the beloved traditional hymn, “Were
You There When They Crucified My Lord?” We
will enter prayerfully into these verses and their
Scriptural settings, asking God that we might have
a share in his saving work. We will also share in
the powerful liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday,
the Easter Vigil, and Easter morning.
For more information or to register for the retreat,
which is open to women and men, give us a call at
650-917-4000 or register on-line at Were You
There?
Our 2009-2010 Season
The calendar for
our 2009-2010 retreat season is posted on our website,
along with information on each of our retreats and on each
person working on our retreat teams. You’re invited
to stop by the website and
browse around—and to book in another retreat soon!
(You may also download our PDF version of the 2009
~ 2010 calendar.)
Donate
ONLINE to
The Jesuit Reteat Center of Los Altos, and please remember
the Jesuit Retreat Center in your will or estate planning.
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