submitted by Joanne Mawhinney
My late husband, Lock Mawhinney and I have been going to retreats since the Center opened. We have attended all Faith and sharing retreats, in fact, 3 generations , my daughters and their children have attended these retreats. What a Grace to attend a week long retreat with your children and grandchildren! The kids will not miss it, even if we are too tired and say we might not go, they protest!
Two of my children have intellectual disabilities, they have always been with us, it is the high lite of their year. Great healing and community forming are fruits of this retreat. L’ Arche Comox Valley joins us on this retreat, all are welcome!
I personally have done many silent retreats at Bethlehem, Ignatian, Benedictine, Franciscan you name it , it has happened here. One of my favorite workshop retreat was iconographic, I learned to “pray” with icons while painting one…I have great joy in remembering my spiritual journey at Bethlehem…I will support the effort to save it and tell as many of my friends as possible to help.