Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center: 2010 Christmas Appeal

2010 Christmas Appeal

Last year's Christmas Appeal was an overwhelming success, and before the end of the year we should have fulfilled all of the items on last year's wish list.

This year we would like to 1) complete the custom-built desks for all the wings of the retreat center ($4,180) and 2) air-condition the four spiritual direction rooms ($10,000).

We have already installed 20 of the desks for the retreat bedrooms, and they have been enthusiastically welcomed by the retreatants. The housekeeping staff like them as well. Currently, a standard desk will not fit the bedrooms with a full or queen-sized bed. We receive many suggestions about "how nice it would be to have a desk in the bedroom." The new desks will answer this request.

Often , the four spiritual direction rooms become quite warm in the Spring, Summer and Fall. These rooms are used by staff members even when we do not have an overnight retreat, and it would be a great help to cool them down. The units that we would purchase would have a heat pump in them, which would mean that they could also be used to heat the room without having to heat the entire wing.

Our goal is $14,000.
Extra monies raised would be put toward other improvements in the retreat facility.

Your generosity in the past has helped us to accomplish so much around the Retreat Center. It's especially heartwarming to hear comments from retreatants along the line of "Wow, you've really spruced the place up." Anyone who has made a retreat here since June of 2007 has noticed the numerous improvements made both indoors and outdoors. If you have not made an overnight retreat in a few years, this might be a great time to come and check us out.