Reflections & House Chronicles
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House Chronicles
Progress and Process
by St Anthony | September 28, 2023 | Display On Chronicles | 1 Comment
Just over a month ago in the Chronicle, we reported that Holly (the JustBobCat) and several other pieces of equipment were stolen from our garage. That same week, we also posted a plea on Facebook to ask folks to help the police find the thief and our missing equipment. Well, the case is still...
Here Today and Gone Tomorrow
by St Anthony | September 21, 2023 | Display On Chronicles | 1 Comment
“Here Today and Gone Tomorrow” is the title of an entry in the 1953 House Chronicle for the third week of September. Here’s what Brother Chronicler wrote in 1953: Keeping track of visitors was becoming a bewildering task. Marathon was becoming a Mecca for many people this fall. Fr. Raymond was the...
So It Begins
by St Anthony | September 14, 2023 | Display On Chronicles | 0 Comments
Every year, just as the reds, yellows, oranges and browns begin to stream down our trees, retreatants begin to stream through our doors. September marks the beginning of fall and our busiest three months. Retreat and program participants as well as hosted groups seem to prefer to visit St....
Living Stones
by St Anthony | September 7, 2023 | Display On Chronicles | 1 Comment
We all see the stone fence along the road every time we come to St. Anthony’s. It stands as a sentinel, guarding this holy place. But I wonder how many have every really looked at it, studied it, meditated on it. I have often stopped to look closely at the stones that make...
Labor Of Love
by St Anthony | August 31, 2023 | Display On Chronicles | 0 Comments
This is Labor Day weekend. The calendar says this is our last free weekend until Thanksgiving, so the staff is taking one last break before the busy fall retreat season begins next week. Even though Labor Day was established to recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions...
Missing
by St Anthony | August 24, 2023 | Display On Chronicles | 0 Comments
Holly is missing! JustBob was shocked to discover she was not in her garage stall on Monday when he returned to work. Holly must have disappeared over the weekend. She is big, yellow, has four black wheels and a really big snout. If you see her, please call us. JustBob really misses his friend....
The Necessity of Change
by St Anthony | August 17, 2023 | Display On Chronicles | 0 Comments
It is a quiet week at the Center. There are no groups or private retreatants in the house, so some of the team members are taking advantage of the opportunity for some time away. Jackie K. and Adele are using the time to brainstorm with staffs from other Midwest retreat centers on ways to keep St....
God Bless This House
by St Anthony | August 10, 2023 | Display On Chronicles | 1 Comment
This house will be 104 years old next Tuesday. It has seen many joyous times, and a few sad times. It has seen a number of transformations and endured a few challenges. Yet, by the grace of God, it has survived these transformations and challenges, and remains open to serve the people of God. The...
Volunteer Week 2023
by St Anthony | August 1, 2023 | Display On Chronicles | 1 Comment
Volunteer Week began Thursday in typical fashion - hot and humid. This year we had the added “bonus” of wildfire smoke contributing to poor air quality as well; the summer trifecta of ick. The forecast prompted several volunteers to delay their arrival until Friday, but we still had 14 hearty...
The Gift of Time
by St Anthony | July 27, 2023 | Display On Chronicles | 0 Comments
Time is a precious gift. We are only given so many days in this world, and no one likes to “waste” time. We can get impatient when we get caught in traffic jams or long lines at the store. We can be frustrated when we have an appointment and the other party is not on time. Thursday (this Chronicle...
Reflections
Worth Doing
by St Anthony | September 28, 2023 | Display On Reflections | 4 Comments
A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a lady who reminded me of something I had said to her a few years ago, something which has been helpful to her in her life. We had been discussing perfectionism and the reluctance to do things, lest they not be perfect or even very good. And I recalled...
Viriditas – The Greening Power of God and All Creation
by St Anthony | September 21, 2023 | Display On Reflections | 3 Comments
St. Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)Canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church October 7, 2012 September 17 was the feast day of St. Hildegard of Bingen. I think, despite her recent canonization, she is a relatively unknown secret that deserves much more attention! “Between the summer of 1098...
Perspective
by St Anthony | September 14, 2023 | Display On Reflections | 1 Comment
The traveler, with an eye toward reaching the distant village, is prepared for a considerable walk, paddle, or swim. The painted turtle, living among the reeds, is already home. It’s all about perspective or “point of view.” The inhabitants of this small village, neighbors, friends, relatives,...
All Are Welcome
by St Anthony | September 7, 2023 | Display On Reflections | 5 Comments
St. Anthony’s, as a special place of spirituality, peace, and hospitality, is a community welcoming all seeking healing, hope and transformation through deeper connection with God, Self, Others, and Creation. We strive to embrace and grow through our Franciscan Roots and Values of simplicity,...
After the Fall
by St Anthony | August 31, 2023 | Display On Reflections | 1 Comment
After the Fall is the title of a play by Arthur Miller. It is the story of the main character’s reflections on his past angst-filled life. I chose the title for this reflection not because it will be a similar dramatic expose’, but rather because it will be about my recent fall at home. Several...
Precious Treasures
by St Anthony | August 24, 2023 | Display On Reflections | 7 Comments
Several months ago I completed writing my Living Will and revising my Advanced Health Care Directive. Both documents have drawn me into deep reflection and prayer. Though one may think my reflections are on the “end of life” and dying, these documents have drawn me into celebrating with joy and...
The Process of Becoming-ness
by St Anthony | August 17, 2023 | Display On Reflections | 5 Comments
In the course I taught this summer, I asked students to write an essay describing the lesson(s) they have learned from past experiences of success or failure in college and to propose a plan for applying those lessons to their future studies in ways that foster ongoing success. Most of my students...
St. Clare of Assisi
by St Anthony | August 10, 2023 | Display On Reflections | 3 Comments
August 11th is the feast day of St. Clare of Assisi. Here are just a few things that happened in Clare’s life. St. Clare had a life of trials but because of her trust in Christ she was able to greet each day knowing that Christ was with her. When she was 15 she refused to marry. Christ’s call to...
Gift of Tears
by St Anthony | August 3, 2023 | Display On Reflections | 12 Comments
Most people who have had a conversation with me have noticed that I cry very easily, as easily as I breathe and almost as frequently. I cry tears of joy, tears of grief, tears of gratitude, tears of empathy, tears of sadness – basically any emotion can surface tears. I used to apologize until a...
Lifeguard
by St Anthony | July 27, 2023 | Display On Reflections | 5 Comments
“There she is again,” I thought to myself. That’s funny, what a coincidence! …” or maybe it’s not a coincidence at all,” I finally began to wonder after too many laps. A few weeks earlier I had started swimming for exercise. Periodically I would notice this ‘coincidence’, but not as regularly as...