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Retreat Weekend!

Okay this was me last week, to anybody that would listen, family, friend or co-worker, guess what I'm going to do this weekend? Going to church and pray for three days! How did I get roped in to this. I mean they want me to give up Fri. night, you know the night when you get home after a long week when you only got done half that you had planned and just veg, all day Sat. when I need to catch up on all the house work that never seems to end and my husband and I usually have a Home Depot date, Sun. when I go to church with my family and then out for breakfast that usually lasts through lunch and getting to see and kiss my granddaughter, they want me to give all that up to kneel and pray for three days! I wanted everybody's sympathy.

I really didn't get roped in or dragged in for that matter. There was this feeling in me that kept saying "Don't miss this or you will regret it"

How right that feeling turned out to be!

I do not have blisters on my knees, though my backside is a little sore [they did say to bring a pillow, I probably should have]. But what I do have is a feeling that something truly awesome happened in our parish this weekend.

Do you know that lady who sits a few pews away from you for say the last 10 or 15 years, you nod and smile and on occasion have reached across the pews to exchange the sign of peace? Well she is a wonderful person who has a name and shares some of your fears, sorrows and happiness's, She is a blessing in yours and my life. I am so glad I didn't miss the chance to get to know her.

 I can only say that if you are given the chance to experience what I did that you don't miss it, I feel bad for all who couldn't be there.

And two things I do know- Jesus is Lord! and the name of that something that kept telling me to get there this weekend, it is the Holy Spirit living in me!!!

This weekend was such an incredible gift to the parish of St Patrick.  To experience the stirred spirit in each of our fellow parishioners was something I have desired for a long time. I can't wait to spend time getting to know everyone on a deeper level.  I will see everyone in the parish through a new fresh love of Christ.  It is hard to ignore what has been opened up to us this weekend.  I for one want to have more of this.

I just want to thank everyone who came out this weekend to the Good News Retreat it was great.  I  had a good time, I can't wait till the one in October comes because I'll go to that one.  I just want to thank the Boise Idaho people who drove 43 hours to come and help with our retreat we thank you all who came and for everyone in St Patrick's parish who came and enjoyed themselves.

Thanks so much again for having this retreat here at St. Pat's and I know we'll have many more to come.

“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20 The gathering of the saint was a joy to see. The Holy Spirit had His way with His people this past weekend here at Saint Patrick’s. The complete feeling of peace and love was pouring out of the rooms. The prayer, the praise and worship were extraordinary. The homilies were ministering and profound. The Church is alive and well here! God Bless all who worked so hard to make this blessing for us. Thank you to all the Roamin’ Catholics from Boise, the Lord has place a special blessing on your ministry.  Can’t wait for the next one!

Everyone in the parish should attend! The greatest time of my faith life. Don't wait until fall for the next one.

WOW! I was so blessed I cannot begin to tell you. I have not had this felling for a long time. The rebirth I have experienced is fantastic. As you know we were ready to leave after Friday’s session. “How can the  Spirit work in such a contrived and timed atmosphere?” Was our comments to each other after Friday night. Linda and I even had a code phrase we would use to inform each other of our  intentions. “Remember when we lived on 770 Mill Road?” Well, we said that to each other about a million time in the short Saturday morning session before we went over to church for the healing, adoration and reconciliation session. Even during that time in church when the woman was talking I was struggling with the process. I had accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior over 25 years ago, I laid my burdens down at the foot of His cross (not that I don’t pick them back up from time to time but) “By His stripes I’ve been healed” But something happened toward the end of the service I not sure what but I began to have a change or heart. As I prayed I moved to the back of the church (some of the women were talking in the pew ahead of our about mundane things and I needed to be alone with the Lord on that altar.) My back has been bothering me for a few weeks and I didn’t want to have to stand and wait to go to confession so I was the last one to go in. After I confessed my sin of PRIDE, which I realized it was, I began to have a change of heart. The pride came in since I thought how much I did not need this approach to my spirituality. I had been saved and that was that!  Disobedience! Jonah did not want to go to the great city of Nineveh, and we know what happened to him. Isaiah 65:17 "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” Jesus makes all thing new not new things. Who was I to put limits on God? Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.” Both Linda and I were so blessed by the retreat. If I wore sox they would have been blown off. The way the Holy Spirit moved Saturday night! I’m still crying. (Side note to Frank: I see now why you have to do the entire retreat and not just parts of it, each step builds on the last. If we only went to Friday’s session I’m sure this would be an entirely different letter.) Can’t wait for the next one. We both would be willing to cook or do whatever you need to help. Stuart thank you for praying the entire weekend, I’m sure the Lord heard your prayers and blessed us all. We know that this was not an easy thing to put together there were several small and large trials. I believe you all listened to God and the verse from Samuel is appropriate. "To obey is better than sacrifice" 1 Samuel 15:22. The only thing I would change is allowing people to bring their bibles to the retreat and especially  on the Saturday morning session at the church. Can’t wait for the small communities to start up. Thanks again and again!

Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience.  It is very hard to describe in words everything that was experienced this weekend but I will try to convey as much as I can for all who did not attend.  DON'T MISS THE NEXT ONE!!!  There were many laughs and many tears shared by all.  I think the Healing Memories was personally one of my closest moments to God during the weekend.  I was able to reconcile with my past.  God's glorious love certainly was felt by all.  The group from Sacred Heart and our own St. Patrick core team did an outstanding job of presenting life testimonies of the power of God in their own lives and reinforced the great and unique plans that God has for all of us.  The Holy Spirit was presented to each one of us in a very real and human way.  No mystery....just plain, ordinary experienced lives acknowledging God in their daily lives.  These people are no different than you and I.  We were able to be true children of God.  There was fun and games and lively discussions after each of the talks.  Time really flew by.  We were able to have adoration of the Eucharist and experience the power of the laying of hands upon each of us.  On the last day we all wore our T-shirts and attend 10 am Mass on Sunday.  All I kept wondering was wouldn't this be great if the entire parish could be a see of green and express the unity and love that I know exists at St. Pats. The team I was part of was called Hope and I walked away from this experience singing in my heart and aware that God will always lead us.  God's plan for the Church is good!

 PS.  Great job and thank you to all who made this weekend possible.  God's love and peace to all.

I just wanted to say again that I really enjoyed the retreat it was my first one and I didn't feel like leaving at all.  I just wanted to say thanks to all the Boise people for coming all the way down here to help us out with the retreat.  I can't wait till October comes and I'll make sure to take time off all three weekend days to come and experience it all... I just wanted to say thanks for posting the video up on the website it really is wonderful and the music is great on it to. 

Dear Fr Stuart: I would like to thank you with all my heart for the weekend.  Without you saying yes, it would have not been all possible.  It was truly a joyful, empowering, enlightenment, and a very spiritual experience.  I could never put in words the feeling I had.  Again, Father, I would like to thank you.

Fr. Stuart: I just wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for bringing the retreat to St. Patrick’s.  It was such a wonderful experience, and I think everyone would agree that it was very beneficial to our parish. Frank and “the team” worked so hard and it really paid off.  We are so grateful to have you as our priest, and I looked forward to the continued growth in our parish. Thank you again!

Oh the Joy that has entered my heart by having attended this weekend!  To wake up in the middle of the night praying and singing the songs that the Holy Spirit has stirred in me.  To use that gift and pray for all those who need prayers.  It is truly a renewal.  I was led to this weekend for a reason and I thank God for sending his Spirit to me and  allowing me to experience this beautiful gathering/healing.  I can't wait for the next one.  Praise God in His Holy Spirit!  Alleluia.  Alleluia.  I love you Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament!  Thank You for coming into my heart.

The good news retreat was one of the high lights of my life. Things had gotten pretty dry spiritually in my life, but since the retreat I have this joy and love inside of me that enables me to speak to people like I have never before. I was always awkward about sharing the good news cause of fear, but now I bubble over and look for opportunities to share the good news and his love in me and to recognize his love in others. Thank you the video is such a nice reminder of the retreat, someone did an awesome job putting it together.

I attended my first Evangelization retreat in 1995 - thirteen years ago.  And I have to say that it only gets better.  As a member of the Sacred Heart Evangelization Team from Boise, I have participated in over 35 such retreats and I have never been disappointed.  God never fails to transform lives, especially mine.  Each retreat brings a greater vision of the good God we serve.  As wonderful as my first retreat was as a retreatant, being able to serve on the team, to share my faith story, and to be whatever instrument God needs at the time has been a miracle in my life.  Thank you, Fr. Stuart for taking a leap of faith and trusting us.  Thank you, Frank, for inviting us to come, for your courage and perseverance in seeing it through, and for your friendship.  We all love you!  Thank you, Adolph, Ron and Howard for sharing your stories.  Thank you Joan for your unwavering confidence and hard work.  And the rest of the team and parish staff who made this possible for us.  And where would be have been without our host families.  WOW!  The gift of hospitality is most alive and active in your parish.  Thank you.  We will never forget you.  You will always be a part of our community and always in our prayers.

In His Joy,

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