Our Lady of Peace RetreatFranciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows

Spring 2015 Newsletter

New Icon of St. Francis of Assisi to Adorn Retreat House WallsAs part of our 75th anniversary celebration last year, we commissioned an icon of St. Francis of Assisi to be written by Dr. Lynne Bissonnette-Pitre. The icon has been finished and was blessed on May 3rd and will be displayed in our Beaverton retreat house.

The writing of an icon is a spiritual meditation or prayer by the author involving the subject matter of the icon and sometimes the party for which it is being written. In this instance, we asked that the icon be written as a prayer of Thanksgiving to God for our Community and the many blessings we have received during the past 75 years. We also requested that the subject matter for the icon be Franciscan and encompass our Founder’s motto, “Compelle Intrare.”

“Compelle Intrare” is from the Gospel of St. Luke, 14:23. “The Master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.’” This motto of Bishop Rafael Angelo Palazzi served as the unifying cry for our Community as we faced the dangers in Red China and the oppression that followed. It is also befitting of our missionary work in our schools, parish missions, hostels and retreat houses to bring people closer to God.

The icon will be displayed as part of an exciting, larger project to create a Hall of History commemorating our Community in the Beaverton retreat house and will serve as a means of evangelization for all those who visit. The Hall will include pictures of our founder, our early community members, our expanded community, our missions here in the West and in the East, and special dedications to Our Lady of Sorrows, which are sure to inspire and heal.

Celebrating our 75th year as a Community last July was a joyful experience and the joy just keeps on coming. As we close this year of Thanksgiving to God for His blessings upon our Founder and our Congregation, we also want to thank all of you for your love and support of our ministries here at Our Lady of Peace Retreat House and throughout the world. Your presence in our lives has had a great and blessed effect on the lives of all those to whom we minister. We are filled with growing zeal, love and joy as a Community and look forward to another 75 years of serving our Lord and you. God bless you all.

Pax et Bonum,

Sister Anne Marie, OSFSuperior GeneralFranciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows

Retreat House News

O ur second Annual Tea was a resounding success with 140 guests in attendance. This year our tea was dedicated to “Our Lady of Fatima” who

was also present for the event (see photo at left). The day began with a silent auction– we had 45 items this year-followed by the luncheon tea and concluding with a “paddle raise” conducted by Sister Anne Marie, the Superior General of the Community. The total proceeds from the event were $35,759.50 and are dedicated to the updating and renovation of the Retreat House Chapel. We wish to express our gratitude to the Tea Committee, and the countless behind-the-scenes volunteers who made the event so special and to all our generous donors. Many thanks also go to Pacific Seafood for delicious seafood and poultry donations. Lastly we express our gratitude to Julie Angulo and her friend, Duane Cruz, of Divinity Design for the beautiful floral arrangements at each table.

Our Lady’s Luncheon Tea and Silent Auction

(left column from top to bottom) Kieu Mai Van Dinh assembles sandwich trays;

Our Lady; Heather Renshaw, Lisa Ferry and Sterling Jaquith;

Carol Amsberry prepares to bid; The kitchen crew goes over last-minute details

(below)Sr. Agnes Clare and Sr. Vincent with Franciscan Girls;

Larry and Ester Wong; Bella Yau with Sr. Agnes Clare

The Guest of Honor, Our Lady of Fatima

Gifted recently to the Sisters for the Retreat House Chapel by

Dan and Rose Gascon of Aloha.

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Agnes Onkka with her mother, Maria Kanya Smith & Julie Angulo Photos of Luncheon Tea courtesy of Reynaldo Turiano

S ince our Fall newsletter when we made a plea for individuals or parishes to adopt a station of the cross, we have been amazed at the response of our friends and benefactors. All 14 stations and the garden area in front of St. Joseph’s Shrine have been adopted. Already, we are seeing the results as donations of deer

resistant plants and bark dust are transforming the area. At the end of March, Dennis Penaflor, Angel and Don, our maintenance crew, with the help of volunteers, cleared areas of dead trees, fallen limbs and undergrowth. The Knights of Columbus have also donated many hours of TLC.

We invite you to come and walk the Stations of the Cross to see for yourselves the natural beauty and peacefulness of the area. Visitors are welcome Monday through Saturday, 9 am—4 pm. (When you arrive, please check in at the front office, and then let us know when you leave.) We want to acknowledge in a special way our dear friends, Cody and Connie DuPuis who for 15 years lovingly tended the stations area. We extend a heartfelt thank you to our donors, without whom we would find it difficult to maintain the grounds here at the retreat house.

Adopt a Station of the Cross Project

Retreat House News

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Day 6: You are sleepless; you want to judge everything, direct everything and see to everything or worse – to men themselves, trusting in their intervention, - this is what hinders my words and my views. Oh, how much I wish from you this surrender, to help you and how I suffer when I see you so agitated! Satan tries to do exactly this: to agitate you and to remove you from my protection and to throw you into the jaws of human initiative. So, trust only in me, rest in me. Repeat 10 times: “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!”

Day 7: I perform miracles in proportion to your full surrender to me and to your not thinking of yourselves. I sow treasure troves of graces when you are in the deepest poverty. No person of reason, no thinker, has ever performed miracles, not even among the saints. He does divine works whosoever surrenders to God. So don’t think about it anymore, because your mind is acute and for you it is very hard to see evil and to trust in me and to not think of yourself. Do this for all your needs, do this all of you and you will see great continual, silent miracles. I will take care of things, I promise this to you. Repeat 10 times: “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything”

Day 8: Close your eyes and let yourself be carried away on the flowing current of my grace; close your eyes and do not think of the present, turning your thoughts away from the future just as your would from temptation. Repose in me, believing in my goodness, and I promise you by my love that if you say “You take care of it,” I will take care of it all: I will console you, liberate you and guide you. Repeat 10 times: “O, Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!”

Day 9: Pray always in readiness to surrender, and you will receive from it great peace and great rewards, even when I confer on you the grace of immolation, of repentance and of love. Then what does suffering matter? It seems impossible to you? Close your eyes and say with all your soul, “Jesus, you take care of it.” Do not be afraid, I will take care of things and you will bless my name by humbling yourself. A thousand prayers cannot equal one single act of surrender, remember this well. There is no novena more effective than this: “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!” (10 times)

Mother, I am yours now and forever. Through you and with you always. I want to belong completely to Jesus.

This novena was composed by “Servant of God”, Father Dolindo Ruotolo, a Secular Franciscan from Naples, Italy (1882 – 1970) Father Dolindo was a scholar and mystic, whose heroic life was completely devoted to Jesus and Mary. Father referred to himself as “the Madonna’s little old man” and the Rosary was his constant companion. From Father Dolindo’s fruitful prayer life, then, we have the gift of this novena, in which Jesus spoke to Fr. Dolindo, teaching him about total abandonment to God. To read more about this extraordinary priest, visit the internet at www.dolindo.org.

Franciscan Fioretti – Novena of Surrender

Day 1: Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying? Leave the care of your affairs to me and everything will be peaceful. I say to you in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to me produces the effect that you desire and resolves all difficult situations. Repeat 10 times “O, Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!”

Day 2: Surrender to me does not mean to fret, to be upset, or to lose hope, nor does it mean offering to me a worried prayer, asking me to follow you and change your worry into prayer. It is against this surrender, deeply against it, to worry, to be nervous and to desire to think about the consequences of anything. It is like the confusion that children feel when they ask their mother to see to their needs, and then try to take care of those needs for themselves so that their childlike efforts get in their mother’s way. Surrender means to placidly close the eyes of the soul, to turn away from thoughts of tribulation and to put yourself in my care, Repeat 10 times: “O, Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!”

Day 3: How many things I do when the soul, in so much spiritual and material need turns to me, looks at me and says to me: “You take care of it,” then closes its eyes and rests. In pain you pray for me to act, but that I act in the way you want. You do not turn to me, instead, you want me to adapt to your ideas. You are not sick people who ask the doctor to cure you, but rather sick people who tell the doctor how to. So do not act this way, but pray as I taught you in the Our Father: “Hallowed be thy Name”, that is, let all that is in us and in the world be in accord with your kingdom. “Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”, that is, in our need, decide as you see fit for our temporal and eternal life. If you say to me truly: “Thy will be done” which is the same as saying: “You take care it”, I will intervene with all my omnipotence, and I will resolve the most difficult situations. Repeat 10 times: “O, Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!”

Day 4: You see evil growing instead of weakening? Do not worry, close your eyes and say to me with faith: “Thy will be done, You take care of it.” I say to you that I will take care of it, and that I will intervene as does a doctor and I will accomplish miracles when they are needed. Do you see that the sick person is getting worse? Do not be upset, but close your eyes and say “You take care of it.” I say to you that I will take care of it, and that there is no medicine more powerful than my loving intervention. By my love, I promise this to you. Repeat 10 times: “O, Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything.”

Day 5: And when I must lead you on a path different from the one you see, I will prepare you: I will carry you in my arms; I will let you find yourself, like children who have fallen asleep in their mother’s arms, on the other bank of the river. What troubles you and hurts you immensely are your reason, your thoughts and worry, and your desire at all costs to deal with what afflicts you. Repeat 10 times: “O, Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!”

Let us change our worry into prayer

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W inter passed, though really unnoticed, as it seems we went from Autumn into Spring. Now we officially welcome Spring enjoying the warmth of the sun, the flowers and the blooming trees. It is a new beginning in the world of nature, and also a new beginning for Sr. Christine Marie, who is ending her

canonical year and beginning her apostolic year. We have been busy taking classes - studying and more studying. WOW, what a blessing it is to take an online course through Avila Institute, “Living the Virtuous Life”. We are really enjoying it.

Sr. Maria Benedicta left on January 22 for Richmond, Canada, returning on February 23. Sister was participating in the Sisters’ mission at St. Paul’s Parish, which involves taking care of the needs of the parish, visiting the sick, the nursing homes and shut-ins and additionally, teaching CCD, Confirmation and RCIA classes…and more. There are about 3,000 families belonging to the parish. The Lord is working mightily up there.

Sr. Mary John Paul and Sr. Maria Benedicta had a joyful reunion and reminisced about the time spent together in the Novitiate. Sr. Mary John Paul sends her greetings to all here and is hoping to see everyone soon. Meanwhile she continues to serve the Lord in Richmond, Canada with a joyful and loving heart.

May God send us more vocations so that we may bring his love and light to all people.

News

News from the Novitiate —Sr. Maria Benedicta, OSF, our Traveling Correspondent

Sr. Mary John Paul & Sr. Maria Benedicta

T he Franciscan Girls Club is a Catholic club for girls ages 10—17. Our mission is to learn about our faith while forming lasting friendships with other young Catholic girls and to help the Sisters at Our Lady of Peace Retreat through volunteering in the dining room during retreats. The Club currently has 41 girls, the

largest it has been in several years. We have been learning about saints from various countries and the “Seven Joys of Mary”. One of our favorite activities so far this year was the service day at the retreat house where we raked leaves and planted flowers. Anyone interested in joining the Club, please email franciscangirlsclub@gmail.com

- submitted by Sarah Ludwikoski

On Sunday, May 17, 2017, Fr. Mark Bentz from St Cecilia Parish celebrated Holy Mass in the afternoon for the girls and their families at the annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony. The celebration ended with a potluck and an evening of bowling. We thank our outgoing officers for 2014-2015: Sarah Ludwikoski, President; Sophia Michael, Vice-President; Gianna Milton, Secretary; Tayz Campero, Treasurer; Catherine Ludwikoski and Hannah Hincapie, Historians.

Our new officers for 2015-2016 are:Sophia Michael, President Gianna Milton, Vice-PresidentCatherine Ludwikoski, SecretaryHannah Hincapie, TreasurerGenevieve wolf and Theresa D’Silva, Historians

Franciscan Girls Club Corner

Remembering how sweet fall was...

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As Franciscans travel lightly, Sr. Mary Vincent packed her belongings in two suitcases and departed Beaverton’s Convent for our sister retreat house, St. Clare’s Retreat, nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. In her new assignment, Sister Vincent will be helping the sisters stationed there with the retreat ministry. We know that with the spectacular scenery available, she will enjoy great “photo shoots” with her camera. Sr. Vincent’s photographic skills will be missed here at Our Lady of Peace Retreat, as her photos were frequently included in the newsletter. We will also miss her beautiful smile and holy “enthusiasms”. Sister Vincent, as we wish you adieu, our hope is that you will be able to find your favorite, “Bubble Tea” somewhere in Santa Cruz!

We welcome Sr. Angela Lee recently arrived from the Convent in Hong Kong. Sister joined the community in Hengyang, Hunan China at the age of 16, shortly after its founding. She was in the second class of sisters. During her 72 years as a religious, Sister taught the primary grades and was later the principal at Immaculate Heart Primary School in Hong Kong. Sister Angela now resides in the Convent infirmary. Please keep our infirm sisters in your prayers. They dedicated themselves to God, some amid very difficult circumstances when they were the “pioneers” of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters in China. (This picture of Sr. Angela with her brother Father Anthony was taken circa 1942)

Women’s Silent RetreatSeptember 25 - 27, 2015

With Fr. John Boyle, Pastor of St. Stephen Parish, Portland

Theme: “My Soul is Thirsting O, God, My God” - Yearning for God

The Weekend Includes: Conferences, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Opportunity for Confession, Quiet time for private prayer. The retreat begins with dinner on Friday and ends after a late-morning brunch on Sunday.

$150 per person

Advent Day RetreatDecember 2, 2015

Retreat Master: Fr. Vincent Kelber, OP Pastor of Holy Rosary Church, Portland

Theme: The Shoot of Jesse: The Incarnation of Christ

The Day Inlcudes: Holy Mass, Rosary, Conferences, Op-portunity for Confession and prayer

9 am - 2:30 pmDoors open at 8:30 am

$40 per person, includes lunch

Upcoming Retreats sponsored by the Retreat House

Please pre-register by phoning the retreat house at 503-649-7127 or online at www.olpretreat.org

Transitions

Requiescant in PacePlease remember in your

prayers our recently deceased friends and benefactors:

Julie Amato

Bernard Bujnak

Patrick Coluccio

Veronica Dhanens

Helen Mary Dick

Minda Evalle

Gregory Improgo

Lorenzo Jabonete

Rosemary Miller

Jocelyn Ann Skinner

JUNE June 12 - 14, 2015 TROUBADOURS OF PEACE ANNUAL MEETING Contact: Dennis Daniel, OFS, at 509-991-7937 June 19 - 27, 2015 (Eight-Day Retreat) SISTERS & LAY WOMEN’S SILENT RETREAT Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR Theme: “St. Faustina and the Treasures of Divine Mer-cy” Call the Retreat House for more information and to register.

JULY July 2 - 8, 2015 HOLY NAMES SISTERS PEACE AND JUSTICE WORKSHOP Contact: Sr. Lucinda Peightal at 503-777-7989

July 13 - 17, 2015 (Monday - Friday) INSTITUTE IN CATHOLIC TEACHING A Catholic Education Retreat with day and evening lectures. (Visit our website for more information.) Tuesday, July 21, 2015 Knights of Columbus Installation Dinner July 23 - 26, 2015 CONSECRATED VIRGINS RETREAT Contact: Regina Dibb at 503-327-5164

AUGUST Sunday, August 2, 2015 ANNUAL FAMILY BARBECUE Noon to 6 pm Food, Games, Door Prizes & Sweepstakes Prizes Gift Shop & Bookstore open

August 28 - 30, 2015 WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER Contacts: Jack & Jo Rich at 541-929-4407 or John & LaVonne Doherty at 503-285-9762 SEPTEMBER September 11 -13, 2015 LEGION OF MARY RETREAT Contact: Penny Mock at 503-490-8777 September 16 - 24, 2015 GRIEF TO GRACE RETREAT Contact: Fr. Peter O’Brien at 541-409-4855 September 25 - 27, 2015 WOMEN’S SILENT RETREAT Retreat Master: Fr. John Boyle Theme: “ ‘For you my Soul is Thirsting, O, God, my God’; Yearning to see God” $150 per person

OCTOBER October 2 - 4, 2015 SECULAR CARMELITES RETREAT Portland Community Contacts: Jeff and Sylvia Bryant at 971-216-1374 October 9 - 11, 2015 CATHOLIC ENGAGED ENCOUNTER Contacts: John & Mary Saxman at 503-697-3545 Wednesday, October 14, 2015 ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN Day Retreat Retreat Master: Fr. Jon Buffington Theme: Mercy Contact: Sue Anker at 503-252-2574 October 16 - 18, 2015 TIGARD KNITTING GUILD Contact: Patti Irvin at 503-246-5891 October 22 - 25, 2015 OPUS SANCTORUM ANGELORUM RETREAT Contact: Sr. Maria Helena at 313-527-1739

NOVEMBER November 6 - 8, 2015 GALILEE RETREAT FOR WOMEN St. Patrick Parish, Portland Contact: Fr. Lucas Laborde, SSJ at 503-222-4086 November 13 -15, 2015 CATHOLIC ENGAGED ENCOUNTER Contacts: John & Mary Saxman at 503-697-3545 November 20 - 22 ,2015 AMBASSADOR’S RETREAT FOR MEN St. Patrick Parish, Portland Contact: Fr. Lucas Laborde, SSJ at 503-222-4086

DECEMBER Wednesday, December 2, 2015 ADVENT DAY RETREAT Fr. Vincent Kelber, OP Theme: TBA 9:00 am - 2:30 pm; doors open at 8:30 am $40 per person, includes lunch Saturday, December 5, 2015 St. Pius X Knights of Columbus Dinner Saturday, December 12, 2015 VOLUNTEERS & BENEFACTORS MASS OF THANKSGIVING & LUNCHEON Monday, December 21, 2015 St. Cecilia’s Knights of Columbus Dinner

OLP Retreat Schedule June 2015 —December 2015

To Register for OLP-Sponsored Retreats (in blue): visit us online at www.olpreatreat.org; phone the retreat house at 503-649-7127 or email sis-ters@olpretreat.org

News

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Retreat ScheduleJune 2015 – December 2015

To register for OLP-Sponsored retreats (highlighted in blue), visit us online at www.olpretreat.org; phone the retreat house at 503-649-7127 or email sisters@olpretreat.org

JUNE June 12 - 14, 2015 TROUBADOURS OF PEACE ANNUAL MEETING Contact: Dennis Daniel, OFS, at 509-991-7937 June 19 - 27, 2015 (Eight-Day Retreat) SISTERS & LAY WOMEN’S SILENT RETREAT Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR Theme: “St. Faustina and the Treasures of Divine Mer-cy” Call the Retreat House for more information and to register.

JULY July 2 - 8, 2015 HOLY NAMES SISTERS PEACE AND JUSTICE WORKSHOP Contact: Sr. Lucinda Peightal at 503-777-7989

July 13 - 17, 2015 (Monday - Friday) INSTITUTE IN CATHOLIC TEACHING A Catholic Education Retreat with day and evening lectures. (Visit our website for more information.) Tuesday, July 21, 2015 Knights of Columbus Installation Dinner July 23 - 26, 2015 CONSECRATED VIRGINS RETREAT Contact: Regina Dibb at 503-327-5164

AUGUST Sunday, August 2, 2015 ANNUAL FAMILY BARBECUE Noon to 6 pm Food, Games, Door Prizes & Sweepstakes Prizes Gift Shop & Bookstore open

August 28 - 30, 2015 WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER Contacts: Jack & Jo Rich at 541-929-4407 or John & LaVonne Doherty at 503-285-9762 SEPTEMBER September 11 -13, 2015 LEGION OF MARY RETREAT Contact: Penny Mock at 503-490-8777 September 16 - 24, 2015 GRIEF TO GRACE RETREAT Contact: Fr. Peter O’Brien at 541-409-4855 September 25 - 27, 2015 WOMEN’S SILENT RETREAT Retreat Master: Fr. John Boyle Theme: “ ‘For you my Soul is Thirsting, O, God, my God’; Yearning to see God” $150 per person

OCTOBER October 2 - 4, 2015 SECULAR CARMELITES RETREAT Portland Community Contacts: Jeff and Sylvia Bryant at 971-216-1374 October 9 - 11, 2015 CATHOLIC ENGAGED ENCOUNTER Contacts: John & Mary Saxman at 503-697-3545 Wednesday, October 14, 2015 ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN Day Retreat Retreat Master: Fr. Jon Buffington Theme: Mercy Contact: Sue Anker at 503-252-2574 October 16 - 18, 2015 TIGARD KNITTING GUILD Contact: Patti Irvin at 503-246-5891 October 22 - 25, 2015 OPUS SANCTORUM ANGELORUM RETREAT Contact: Sr. Maria Helena at 313-527-1739

NOVEMBER November 6 - 8, 2015 GALILEE RETREAT FOR WOMEN St. Patrick Parish, Portland Contact: Fr. Lucas Laborde, SSJ at 503-222-4086 November 13 -15, 2015 CATHOLIC ENGAGED ENCOUNTER Contacts: John & Mary Saxman at 503-697-3545 November 20 - 22 ,2015 AMBASSADOR’S RETREAT FOR MEN St. Patrick Parish, Portland Contact: Fr. Lucas Laborde, SSJ at 503-222-4086

DECEMBER Wednesday, December 2, 2015 ADVENT DAY RETREAT Fr. Vincent Kelber, OP Theme: TBA 9:00 am - 2:30 pm; doors open at 8:30 am $40 per person, includes lunch Saturday, December 5, 2015 St. Pius X Knights of Columbus Dinner Saturday, December 12, 2015 VOLUNTEERS & BENEFACTORS MASS OF THANKSGIVING & LUNCHEON Monday, December 21, 2015 St. Cecilia’s Knights of Columbus Dinner

OLP Retreat Schedule June 2015 —December 2015

To Register for OLP-Sponsored Retreats (in blue): visit us online at www.olpreatreat.org; phone the retreat house at 503-649-7127 or email sis-ters@olpretreat.org

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Our Lady of Peace RetreatA Peaceful Place to Rekindle Your Spirit

www.olpretreat.org | sisters@olpretreat.org | 503-649-7127 | Like ‘Our Lady of Peace Retreat House’ on Facebook

www.olpretreat.org3600 SW 170th Ave, Beaverton, OR 97003

NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDBEAVERTON, ORPERMIT NO. 52

If you do not wish to receive our newsletters, please contact us at 503-649-7127

or email: sisters@olpretreat.org

42nd INSTITUTE IN CATHOLIC TEACHING – July 13-17, 2015

Residents/Commuters • Day Classes • Evening Lectures

For more information, full course descriptions and to registerEmail: sisters@olpretreat.org or call: (503) 649-7127

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

Fr. John HorganPastor, St. Pius X, N. Vancouver, BC

Images of a Heavenly Wedding Between God and His Church:

Father Horgan’s presentations will be based on the book Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brent Pitre

Trent HornCatholic Apologist and Speaker

Defending the Family—Responding to Cultural

Challenges:

The case for life, Why Marriage Matters, Why Chastity Makes Sense, Responding to Secularism and End of Life Issues

Sr. Mary Rose Chinn, +JMJDirector of Faith Formation/Religious Ed.

Building the Family Through Catechesis:

We will explore how to build your family through “echoing the Catholic Faith.”