Multi-tasking in Washington

Transcription

1 Fall, 2006 A Newsletter For Friends and Benefactors of Saint Benedict Center Across The Country Multi-tasking in Washington Driving down 3,224 feet of dirt road, it suddenly opens to a clearing that reveals several new foundations and with a beautiful view of Lake Ashuelot filtering through the trees. The road, professionally planned and constructed, with four culverts, starts at the top of the 58 acres of Montfort Retreat. Its construction took four taxing months and is a beautiful testimony to the hard and relentless labor of the Brothers and volunteers who gave precious vacation time to help during the hot summer months. Once the road was completed, clearing the woods for the building sites began. In one day Brother Anthony Marie, Brother Peter Mary and 30 men from the Center chain sawed the marked trees, hauled logs and made the sites ready. Meanwhile Sister Christopher Margaret worked Rosary Way was finished by the end of August; permitting the large equipment access to the building areas. Building of the main lodge of Montfort Retreat Center has begun. These huge timbers have now been raised, beginning the plan for the beautiful lodge seen at left. on obtaining four major permits needed before we applied for the actual building permit. On August 31 the building permit was finally approved. Construction began immediately, and as you can see by the accompanying photos no time was wasted. First a foundation was poured for the lodge and the footings for the dining hall. These are two of the four main buildings of Montfort Retreat which will also include the chapel. By Saturday, September 23, the Brothers, again with the help of volunteers, had everything prepared for the larger group of men and boys that came to install floor joists and plywood for the sub-floor of the lodge. It was an exciting event and with so much help, a lot of work was The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of SAINT BENEDICT CENTER P.O. Box 1000 Still River, MA Main House (978) School (978)

2 2 accomplished in one day. On September 25, the first flatbed of logs for the lodge arrived. It took three hours for Brother Anthony Marie to unload all the pallets of logs with the excavator, and even at that, the delivery was only one third of the total logs required. Our general contractor for the lodge is Mike Lodge, who hand-hewed the oak beams for our convent chapel. He is a master at post and beam construction. Mike began immediately erecting the main post and notching the timber trusses, which were lifted into place by crane on October 13. Next the logs will be measured, notched and placed up all the way to the second floor timbers. Mike plans Above: After months of hard work by the brothers and volunteers, the Rosary Way now stretches from King Street down to the shoreline area of Lake Ashuelot, the future site of Montfort Retreat Center. Left: Sister Christopher Margaret hangs up the building permit on September 8, the Birthday of the Blessed Mother. Above: A group of volunteers spent a beautiful Saturday cutting trees and clearing brush etc., in preparation for the foundations. Right: The lodge foundation was poured on September 20. The foundation for the dining hall which will consist of a large hall and kitchen and an open pavilion, was poured shortly after.

3 to have the plywood on the roof before the bad weather arrives. He will then wrap it up tight for the winter and return to finish in the Spring. Meanwhile another contractor, who hopes to finish before Winter, is constructing the septic system. A local carpenter and his crew will be working at the same time on the dining hall. This structure, which will house the kitchen and eating area, has a cement floor. There will be a roofed in extension off the side for additional activity space. Without the help of volunteers, the Brothers Above: Preparations are made on the lodge foundation before the subfloor can be laid and the building begun. Above: Mike McFarland and some young helpers carry a beam for the lodge sub-floor. Right: With the help of Jim Crory and Michael Duffy, Brother Thomas Augustine lifts a beam into place. who operate the machinery, supervise and do all the extras, including surveying, would not have been able to accomplish a fraction of the plans. One of the contractors, skeptical at first, remarked; My hat goes off to the Brothers, they said they would finish the road by first of September and they finished Above right: Brother Anthony Marie waves from the building site. Left: The enormous hand-hewn rafters for the lodge were raised on October 13. As the walls rise and the windows and doors framed, the reality of a long-time dream is becoming a reality.

4 4 before that! I didn t think it would happen. And most of all we thank our benefactors for helping us with either the loan of heavy equipment or donations enabling us to purchase the material we need to do all the construction. We appreciate every donation, no matter how small, knowing it is a sacrifice for the greater glory of God. We ask His blessings on all those who have helped us in anyway. Please know that you are all in our prayers. Future progress this year will depend Above: Approximately 250 feet from the shoreline of beautiful Lake Ashuelot, the lodge of Montfort Retreat Center rises as the NH foliage falls. Above left: Brother Peter Mary drives ten inch lag screws into the logs. Left: Mike Lodge, master of post and beam construction, directs the crane as the beams are lifted into place. on how long the snow will hold off up in the beautiful woods of New Hampshire! Once the snows have thawed and the mud hardened, the buzzing of saws will resume again at Montfort Retreat. Our prediction for the future is; Some of the buildings will be usable in the Summer 2007, but the Camp will be up and running, God willing, in the Summer of So hang on to your hat and keep us in your prayers. Updates can be seen as they occur and many more pictures at Left: The foundation has already been poured for the dining hall which will one day be the rustic building seen below.

5 The D.R. Revisited This July, four Sisters returned to Santo Domingo for missionary work, under an even hotter, baking sun. This was a return trip for three of the Sisters, but the first for Sister Martina Marie, who acted as translator. The purpose of the trip was two-fold: to investigate the possibilities of a mission for our community and to help with the catechism program already in motion, but understaffed in La Romana. One of the highlights of the trip was meeting with Bishop Rodriguez and discussing the possibility of our working in the area. He was most welcoming to us. Seriously considering the possibilities, the Sisters spent time acquainting themselves with the area, social conditions and spiritual needs of the people. Two of the local Sisters, Dolores and Ciprian arranged several meetings in one of the churches for the catechists to be instructed by our Sisters. These enthusiastic men and women, young and old, have been traveling on a weekly basis to many bateys to spread the Faith. They were happy to learn more about the Church so they would be able to instruct others and continue to be a steady influence at the sugar cane villages. Other days the Sisters went to the villages themselves. When they arrived there, they re-enforced the program, using large colored posters depicting the Hail Mary. It was encouraging to see the many wide-eyed and thirsty souls eagerly learning the basics of the Rosary. At one of the sessions, Sister Dolores, who had been instructing the children on the virtue of gratitude, asked if any of them would like to say anything to the Sisters who came from far away to help them. One little girl, about six years old, very intent on speaking, elbowed her way to the front. With serious, sparkling dark eyes, she expressed such deep gratitude that it brought tears to everyone. Her haunting face and voice seemed to plead in the name of all her people for more help to spread the truths of the Faith. We will be returning again, God willing, in the new year. If you are interested in coming or would like to help financially with the cost of the trip or by sending rosaries and catechising materials, please contact Sister Mary Elizabeth, M.I.C.M. 25 Years at Saint Benedict Center June 26, Sisters Miriam Teresa and Mary Athanasius celebrated twenty-five years as professed members of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Sister Miriam Teresa was born in Japan and raised in Hawaii. She converted to the Catholic Church from Buddhism over 32 years ago. Sister presently serves as the principal to Immaculate Heart of Mary School, here in Still River and has taught in the school for over 30 years. Sister Mary Athanasius was born in California and she is also a convert. Sister is a secretary in the Housetops office and laundress at the convent. Two days before the actual anniversary date, a special ceremony was held in honor of the event, followed by a reception for family and guests. The altar was beautifully decorated with flowers from Oahu, adding an island touch. Everyone joined in prayer thanking God for the years gone by and asking His grace for the future.

6 6 May They Rest in Peace Montfort Boys Camp mourned the recent death of one of its senior campers, Dominic Davulis. Dominic was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor December, 2005, and died on August 9, He was 17 and had been a regular attendee at the camp for years. After being diagnosed, it soon became obvious to the family that there would be no miracle and that God was calling Dommie home. His mother recalled that when Dominic got sicker, he started asking people if they would come with him when he died. When his older brother William, who was visiting him, agreed to go with him, his mother chided him, asking why he would tell Dominic that he would go with him? William, 26, answered that if Dominic wants to think someone is going with him, he would tell him what he wanted to hear. On August 8, the family was called together to spend the last hours with Dominic as his condition worsened. Father Dominic Gentile, his uncle, arrived to administer the Last Rites and to say the Prayers for the Dying. William, having received a call to come immediately left for his family s home where his other nine siblings were already gathered. William was killed in a fatal accident just up the street from the house. Nine hours later Dominic met him in Eternity. Little did William realize that when he agreed to go with Dominic, he would be taken at his word. In fact he was actually waiting for Dominic when he entered Eternity. Please pray for the souls of these two brothers and the grieving family they leave behind. Gramps Johnson On July 5, sad news reached Morning Star Camp; one of the Center s faithful friends had passed away. Bill Johnson, the grandfather of 14, three of them campers, was born on August 14, He was the oldest son of a Hungarian father and an Irish mother. A loyal Catholic, he fell in love with his future wife in the First Grade. When they were 20 they married and lived to celebrate their 59th anniversary, before Mary Darling, his wife passed away in During these years and through many trials and sacrifices, Gramps became an electrical engineer and highlighted his career by building Channel 38 from the ground up. He was also responsible for putting Boston Catholic Television on the air. A familiar face at Mass, Gramps had a special love for the Sisters. And they had it for him in return. They would often meet him at his retirement job at Wal-Mart. If they needed toasters or appliances he would buy them. He was always looking after their needs, even giving money to buy new boots. He literally would do anything for them and he was much loved. His cheerful and kind face will be missed at the chapel, but his memory lives on in our hearts. May eternal light shine upon him and may he rest in peace. Tridentine Mass Rallies On September 17, Sr. Katherine Maria, Sr. Miriam Teresa and Sr. Magdalene Marie joined with other Traditional Latin Mass Catholics for a day of prayer at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA. Beautifully organized, the day began with a Rosary Procession around the shrine s church. The highlight of the day of course was the High Mass, which was majestically sung by an incredible choir from New York. The whole day was sublime and very much a testimonial to the dignity of the traditions of the Church. The Sisters met all the pilgrims in the shrine building, where they set up a table of religious items and books. Five Sisters left early Saturday morning, September 30, for a delightful four hour ride to the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, New York. Before arriving, however, Sister Marie-Bernard, Sr. Marie-Therese, Sr. Brigid Mary, Jane McGuire and Irina Michel were dropped off in Fonda at the National Shrine of Bl. Kateri Tekawitha to participate in the last seven miles of the annual Pilgrimage for Restoration. The theme this year was Restoring True Devotion to Mary. Meanwhile Sr. Christopher Margaret and Sr. Miriam Teresa set up a lovely table of religious goods and books for the 500 pilgrims that attended. It was a great day and we hope many blessings were received by attending. If you are having a conference or function and would like to have a table of religious items and books available, please contact us. We would be happy to come. We specialize in Marian devotions and classic religious art/statues and medals, etc. Please call or Sr. Katherine Maria, Visit our Online Gift Shop! Updating in progress! Framed Artwork, Books, Statues, Rosaries, Medals, Religious Jewelry etc