It was Sunday night after a Youth Encounter Weekend back in March. Fr. Jamie and Fr. Brian Gerber were having dinner – at 9:00 o'clock! The Youth Encounterites and other visitors had left only an hour earlier.

For those who don't know what Youth Encounter is… it's hard to describe. It's a weekend for young people of many Christian faith traditions, ages 16-20, guided by a team of youths and adults who present conferences on the main teachings of Christian Faith. But the team shares the teachings while witnessing to Christ's friendship in their own lives.

On a typical Youth Encounter, a 16-year-old basketball player talks about the importance of holiness, and a 19- year-old college freshman describes how she experiences living Christian leadership at college. A priest talks about the Sacraments making the full Christian life possible, and a married couple shares the joys and struggles of married life as Christ and the Church calls them to live it.

There's singing, jokes, prayer, the Catholic Mass… and there's the Penance Service. The Penance Service is really something. Four priests come to offer Sacramental Confession. For those who are not Catholic, if they choose, they are invited to speak with the priest during the Penance Service for a time of spiritual direction and prayer. Sometimes it takes 90 minutes for everyone to go; sometimes two hours. The young people examine their lives, do some soul searching, and pray for one another.

At the end of the Youth Encounter Weekend back in March, participant after participant witnessed that they loved the weekend. But when they experienced the Penance Service on Saturday night, and went to Confession or visited with the priest – it changed them. Many said that they had never experienced God's love in such a real way.

So Fr. Jamie and Fr. Brian were having their late dinner that night. And Fr. Brian says to Fr. Jamie: "Where else could you find 45 young people say that the highlight of their Saturday night… was going to Confession?" Where else indeed! It is a blessing that one of the best things offered at Marygrove is such a Christ-centered, life-directing experience for young people.

…Nowhere else but at a Marygrove Youth Encounter.

(The next Youth Encounter is scheduled for November 5-7, 2010)

Bet you know someone who makes your day brighter, just by walking into the room. The person is caring, funny, understanding, hopeful. What is it that makes them so uplifting? Especially when you know that most of his or her life has been filled with terrible hardship and loss.

You probably know a couple people who are really forgiving? They've gone through so much betrayal and hurt, they would be justified if they got stuck in bitterness; but they didn't. Nothing seems to bother them. You sense their freedom every time you're together. What's their secret?

No matter how you slice it, life is going to be difficult at times. In fact, it seems these days that life is difficult most of the time. In the midst of all these difficulties, we have… these people. Somehow they are peaceful and free, confident and faith-filled, humorous and kind, generous and compassionate.

Somewhere along the line, they took seriously what Jesus promised: that if we follow the Gospel and live as he showed us, we would have joy in this world, and with God eternally in the next. They discovered the Keys of the Kingdom.

Join your fellow parishioners and Fr. Jamie Ziminski for this year's Parish Retreat: The Keys of the Kingdom. Fr. Jamie uses classic stories, Sacred Scripture, and Church Teaching to identify the Christian keys to living with more compassion, peace and joy. Come away with a new appreciation for our Catholic spirituality and literary wisdom. The Keys of the Kingdom Retreat is sure to make you think, touch your heart, and make you smile. ($110 per person, $185 for a married couple)

FAMILY RETREATS: June 25-27, July 9-11, July 16-18, July 23-25
These retreats have already been filled for this summer.

It is true that one of the best retreats offered at Marygrove is a retreat for the whole family. We have our conferences together, pray together, have games, do family projects, share great meals, and even enjoy a picnic at a beautiful beach on Lake Michigan.

Some families bring a whole van-load. Other families are one parent and one child. Some families come with lots of little children. Others come with high school and college age sons and daughters. Some families come with three generations. All the groups seem to fit in… and the cost is a free will offering and a dish to pass for Saturday evening dinner. Because these weekends fill so quickly, it is recommended you contact Marygrove after Christmas to reserve your family's place for Summer 2011.

This year, the folks on our Family Weekends have a job to do. We're heading for Hollywood! Fr. Jamie wants to make a movie about Marygrove, but he can't do it alone. He'll need the help of everyone on retreat. We'll need directors and make-up, lighting people and grips, extras and stars. By the end of the weekend, we should have a film worthy of an Oscar – and we'll learn a lot about our Christian faith along the way. I'm ready for my close-up!

All four Family Retreats have been filled for this summer. Waiting lists for these retreats have been established.

Eight Day Silent Directed Retreat: August 1-8
Three Day Silent Directed Retreat: November 19-21

A Silent Directed Retreat of eight or three days is a concentrated guided experience of God in prayer. It is based on Sacred Scripture and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The retreat is designed for those who seek to listen and respond to the Lord in an environment of solitude and silence.

Silent retreats are opportunities to quiet oneself. With very few exceptions, there is no talking during the retreat. Participants are invited to join together for prayer and the celebration of Mass each day. Each participant also meets daily with a spiritual director for guidance and discernment. A strict silence will be observed at all other times during the retreat. Meals are silent. No phone calls, emails or television. Even verbal greetings between participants are discouraged. For a few precious days, participants live by a different set of rules designed to bring rest and peace, and to heighten one's awareness of God's presence.

The fee for the Eight-Day retreat is $260 per person. The fee for the Three-Day retreat is $110 (The Three-Day retreat is designed for those who wish to get their feet wet before making a longer directed retreat). Marygrove also schedules additional Six-Day retreats in the winter and early summer, and a Three-Day retreat in the early spring.

OPEN THE DOOR RETREAT: August 20-22
For Men and Women

"Open the door" to spiritual growth by making the inner journey into your heart. Based on the book by popular spiritual guide and author, Joyce Rupp, this new retreat will use the image of "the opening door" to help participants better understand their authentic self, and to grow into fuller union with God. This retreat will help each participant gently, wisely and compassionately open the door to a deeper prayer life and a closer life with God. (Directed by the Retreat Team)

THE WISE WOMEN WEEKEND: November 12-14
A retreat for Christian women

The history of faith is filled with women of vision and spirit: women of the Old Testament, disciples of Jesus, women believers of the early Church, saints, leaders and servants of today. The Wise Women Weekend celebrates their wisdom and experience. If you are a Christian women who has heard the call to a deeper relationship with Christ, join the Wise Women of Marygrove for a weekend of prayer, growth and friendship. (Director: Sr. Ellen Enright)

THE WISE MEN WEEKEND: December 10-12
A retreat for Christian men

What is a real man? It is the man who puts God first, and allows faith to permeate everything else. The Wise Men Weekend, three days of prayer, Christian fellowship, and shared wisdom, is a retreat designed to help men put God first. Young and old, married and single, Catholic and Protestant – men of many walks of life bringing their faith and wisdom to encourage each other. Join Christian men from all over the Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin for an energizing weekend understanding spirituality from a man's perspective. (Director: Fr. Jamie Ziminski)

SOMETHING WONDERFUL IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN - GETTING THE SOUL READY FOR CHRISTMAS:
December 18-19 (Saturday afternoon to Sunday lunch) For Men and Women

Have you ever felt like your celebration of Christmas was a big, spiritual flop? Often, the problem is not with Christmas; the problem is that Advent preparation has been shoddy. This year, get ready to celebrate Christ's birth by spending an overnight at Marygrove. Study the Scriptural stories of Jesus' birth, sing the songs of the season, and enjoy holiday tales that warm the heart. Before the Christmas celebration gets underway, take two days to rest and pray at Marygrove. (Director: Fr. Jamie Ziminski)

ROMAN CURSILLO WEEKENDS

Roman Catholic Men's Cursillo: September 23-26
Roman Catholic Women's Cursillo: October 7-10

Simply put, the Cursillo weekend is an encounter with Christ. The two Cursillo weekends offered on this schedule are for Catholic participants. Through a series of conferences by priests and witness talks by fellow Christians, the Cursillo weekend is designed to empower people to be more of a Christian leaven in their families, neighborhoods, and workplaces. On a Cursillo weekend, participants deepen their faith and learn how to better live it in society. The Cursillo weekend is part of the greater Cursillo movement, the goal of which is to make Christ the prime influence in society. Join Cursillo and watch your faith get set on fire!

YOUTH ENCOUNTER: November 5-7

Like the Cursillo experience for adults, Youth Encounter is an intense weekend of understanding and experiencing the Christian Faith for young people, ages 16-20. It is open to youth of all Christian faith traditions. There is a follow-up program which will help young people carry out at home what was learned on the weekend. For more information or for registration forms contact Craig and Lori Frendewey, 1991 Cosgrove Road, Florence, WI 54121 or phone 1-715-696-3737. Check out the special website for Youth Encounter by tapping the link at marygrove.org. Thanks to a generous donation, the fee for the Youth Encounter this year is $25 per person.

NON-ROMAN CURSILLO WEEKENDS FOR 2011

Men and women from Christian congregations other than Catholic can begin now to plan to make a Cursillo Weekend in the Winter of 2011. The next Men's Non-Roman Cursillo weekend will be February 24-27, 2011. The next Women's Non-Roman Cursillo will be March 10-13, 2011.

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY RETREAT: August 27-29

Every year, it is truly an honor to welcome the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society to Marygrove Retreat Center for their annual retreat. This year, we are very privileged to welcome Ms. Sheila Gilbert as our guest director. Sheila is from the national office for the St. Vincent de Paul Society in St. Louis, MO. If you are a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, if you work at a St. Vincent de Paul Store, or if you volunteer hours at "St. Vinny's," this retreat could be what you need to keep Christ the center of your work.

CANADIAN AND USA WOMEN'S RETREAT: September 17-19

QUIETING THE RESTLESS HEART: A RETREAT IN THE SPIRIT OF FR. HENRI NOUWEN

In 1972, Fr. Henri Nouwen published With Open Hands – Pray to Live. This thought-provoking spiritual guide introduced this humble and gentle writer to the world. What followed was a string of 40 books, many of which are now considered spiritual classics. Nouwen wrote with comforting, ordinary language, communicating his experience of God's presence in the world simply and beautifully. This retreat, offered at Marygrove to very positive reviews last winter, springs from Nouwen's spirituality and his perceptive writings including: The Wounded Healer, Heart Speaks to Heart, Reaching Out, The Return of the Prodigal Son, and many more. Women from both Canada and the United States are encouraged to join us. (Director: Fr. Jamie Ziminski)

MICHIGAN KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS RETREAT: January 7-9, 2011

Every year, Knights of Columbus from all over the Upper Peninsula gather for this retreat, designed especially for the Knights. This retreat focuses on practical spirituality for men, lived out in the fraternity and service of the Knights of Columbus. Enjoy a remarkable weekend of fellowship, prayer and reflection on the Catholic Faith. It is open to all members of the Knights of Columbus.

Register on-line