Dedication And  Beyond

 “This is Holy Ground, a place where the love of God surrounds us in the beauty of these grounds. The retreat center makes it possible to leave our old masters and demons and take on the journey of a lifetime. May this be a Holy Place”

 With these words, Bishop Steib began the blessing of the long awaited  Our Lady Queen of Peace Retreat Center on Sunday ,September18,2005.  The Dedication Ceremony was attended by over two hundred guests including many members of the Passionist Community. 

 For the Diocese of  Memphis this day marked the fulfillment of a dream that began nearly twenty years ago – the dream of a diocesan retreat center where individuals and groups would find peace and spiritual nourishment.

 Since our arrival in 1999 Sister Anna Marie and I have tried to lay the groundwork for a retreat ministry that now has a beautiful home and the potential for incredible growth. This is already evident in the six weeks that the retreat center has been in operation. Requests for retreats are received on a daily basis. We now have retreats scheduled through August 2006.

 Our Lady Queen of Peace is a precious gift for our diocese and beyond the rivers!

Mission Statement
Our Lady Queen of Peace Retreat Center is a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis in the Passionist tradition. We welcome all persons who seek to deepen their relationship and journey with God in an atmosphere of prayer, respect and hospitality.

As our retreat team prayed and planned for this year’s theme, it became very clear rather quickly what that theme would be. 

Here in Dancyville we are surrounded with a sense of peace and rest. It is evident in the trees and fields, the song of birds, the soothing sounds of water from the pond. Banks of high windows on all sides of the retreat center afford the opportunity of enjoying the many faces of nature. A walk out onto one of the terraces facing the water is enough to soothe one’s heart and mind with a sense of God’s loving presence.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30 resounded in our hearts:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart;

And you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

 

“Come, I Will Give You Rest” is this year’s retreat theme.

 There is so much in our lives that can cause us to become burdened and restless. It can feel as if we are very much alone, struggling to keep it all together and becoming very weary in the process.  Jesus’ invitation is welcome news because Jesus is wanting to share the burdens with us.

 If Jesus invitation,” Come, I will give you rest” speaks to your heart, come and spend a weekend allowing Jesus to lift your burdens and give you rest.

 PARISH WEEKEND RETREATS

 A primary goal of the ministry of the Passionist Sisters since coming to Memphis has been the development of Parish Weekend Retreats.  Parish weekend retreats are opportunities for individual parishes or a group of parishes to bring parishioners together for a retreat experience.

 This season we have set aside seven weekends as parish weekend retreats. We are hoping that this will be the beginning of a tradition of annual weekend retreats for parishes.

 The weekend retreats will be based on the theme: “Come,I Will Give You Rest.” They will provide opportunity for community prayer, conferences by the retreat team, time for silence and time for sharing.

 If your parish is not listed on the schedule and you wish to come on a weekend retreat you are welcome to join one of the scheduled weekends based on availability.

 For information on how to schedule your parish for a weekend retreat, please call the retreat center as soon as possible.

PARISH WEEKEND SCHEDULE  Nov.4-6        Men’s Retreat Nov.11-13    Holy Spirit Parish Jan.13-15     Available Jan.20-22    Cathedral/City Parishes Feb.3-5        Deanery Parishes Mar.3-5       St. Ann Women Mar.10-12   St. Louis Parish Mar.17-19   Nativity, Ascension,                       St. William

 

Offering      Single Room – 150.00    Double Room – 120.00 per person

 MEET OUR RETREAT DIRECTORS

 Who will direct your parish retreat? Along with Sister Anna Marie and Sister Eileen, the retreat weekends will be enriched with the presence and talents of  a variety of lay persons and Passionist sisters and priests:

 Sister Joanne Fahey, CP is the director of the Passionist Sisters House of Prayer and Hospitality in Wickford, Rhode Island.  Sister Joanne is also a member of the Passionist Retreat Team at Calvary Retreat Center in Shrewsbury, Mass.

 Judy Gray is Secretary of the Department of Worship and Spiritual Life. Judy has been involved in liturgy and spirituality for many years in the Diocese of Memphis.

 Fr. Victor Hoagland, CP is Director of Passionist Communications in Union City, New Jersey. Fr. Victor is also a preacher of missions and retreats.

 Fr. Terence Kristofak, CP is present Provincial of  St. Paul of  the Cross Province. Fr. Terry was former director of Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT.

 Sister Mary O’Brien, CP is a member of the retreat team of Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center in Farmington, CT.

 Fr. Columkille Regan, CP has been part of several of our weekend retreats during the past six years. Fr. Columkille is a preacher and former retreat director of the  Passionist Retreat Center in Riverdale, NY.

 Sister Ann Rogers, CP is program director  and spiritual director at  Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center in Farmington, CT.

 Fr. Melvin Shorter, CP is a member of the Passionist Provincial Leadership Team.  Fr. Melvin is a mission preacher and former pastor of St. Paul of the Cross Parish in Atlanta, GA.

 Michael Ziegler is a Pastoral Musician in the Diocesan Office of Liturgical Music. He is a teacher in the Institute for Liturgy and Spirituality and former Director of Religious Education.