Dear
Friends of the
God continues to grace us all. We have been blessed with a wonderful spring
and summer of ministry, touching the lives of many and being touched by all who
have come to Mary’s house. I again am especially thankful for our staff and all
the gifted volunteers who witness and radiate God’s grace and Mary’s love to
all who visit the Center. Whether it be in making activities, developing music,
welcoming visitors, planning a menu, remodeling a entrance hallway, assigning
rooms, tilling the gardens; God does use our staff and volunteers to bring
faith, hope and love to all.
Loughlan
Sofield, ST in his book Collaborative Ministry states collaborative ministry cannot be implemented without explicit,
intentional efforts to promote and foster development.
The ultimate goal of collaboration is always to involve in ministry 100% of the baptized, gifted people of god. I am very thankful for the collaborative spirit confirmed in our Marianist history that the center’s staff has demonstrated at involving the baptized and welcoming them to the planning table to help accomplish the Family Retreat program and all of the Center’s programs. Over the many years the spirit of Fr. Chaminade and the Marianist Charism has always permeated the welcoming of ideas, gifts, talents and time to continually evaluate and contribute new dreams. It is and has been a wonderful model of Church for me to witness and experience this in action and see the magnitude of the reward manifested in the staff, volunteers, and most of all the retreatants.
In
our Mission statement we have two imperatives that we attempt to accomplish.
They are: Ensure that we
present an Ideal of what Church could be that includes the Marianist Charism;
Community, Mary and Discipleship of Equals, Prayer and Mission and Ensure that the Center has a process to share time, talent, treasure,
trust and the telling of our story. These are very
powerful commitments that the board of directors and the staff endeavor to
carry out. Presenting a model of what Church can be by sharing the Marianist
Charism of community, a strong sense of welcoming and belonging, being Family
of Mary, who is model of strength and gentle direction and discipleship of equals,
(a genuine welcoming of all God’s people to the table to contribute their time,
talent, treasure, trust, and telling of our story) – all are ways in which our
staff, volunteers and participants live their faith.
I ask that as you read this letter
you think back to your experience at the Center and what you have carried back
of the model to your Church, to your community, and invite you to continue to
share your experience with the world with the freedom and excitement that all
Marianists have shared it with us. I encourage you to live the Marianist
experience intentionally, with open hearts, a gentle spirit and a passion for
loving the Christ we see and experience in all with whom we
come in contact.
On another theme we continue to progress on
our dining room expansion plans. Obtaining the necessary zoning permits slowed
down our efforts. Although we all would like to see it move a little faster it
is imperative that the Center always be good neighbors and respect the Cape May
Point community. Securing the necessary zoning approvals was a critical time
consuming step that needed to be completed. We do appreciate your generous support and continual
caring. We look forward to this project being completed before the end of the
year.
Have a blessed summer and fall, enjoy the wonders of
God’s life and continue to grow in your relationship with Mary allowing her to
lead you to a love for Jesus. Please always keep us in your prayers.
Peace,
Tony Fitzgerald