Bishop's 2000 TV retreat focus of new 2001 retreat

In the same way, the director of The Priory retreat house in Chestertown believes it's a good idea to revisit last year's televised Lenten retreat by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard. On Feb. 6, she will lead a day-long retreat with the Bishop's program as its theme.

"The title of the Bishop's retreat caught me last year: `Disciples Together in Faith,'" Sister Fran explained. "The Bishop is calling us to come together in faith. Faith makes us strong together."

Rerun

"He had so many wonderful things to say," she recalled of the three-night retreat televised in April. The retreat spoke of Catholics' journey as fellow disciples of Christ, and highlighted families and individuals who exemplified different aspects of that journey.

Sister Fran was particularly struck by the Bishop's words on the danger of the American spirit of individualism. She spoke of a recent book titled "Bowling Alone" that explored the same theme.

"Membership in clubs has dropped dramatically over the last couple of decades," she noted. "The Bishop speaks of how our spirit of individualism can keep us from being part of a community."

Community spirit

The director recalled a woman from Canada who still contacts the retreat house, and two others who lived four houses away from each other in Delmar but were not friends until they happened to attend the same retreat.

Sister Fran expects to see a good number of people sign up for her upcoming retreat, as well. The day will include an introduction, a showing of part of the video of the Bishop's retreat, lunch and "quiet time" to reflect on the lessons learned. Participants will also explore focus questions from a facilitator's guide used last year with the Bishop's retreat.

"I'm going to emphasize carrying out our faith," Sister Fran stated. Faith, she said, "is not just a private affair. Our faith makes us reach out to someone else -- doing something about Matthew 25, feeding the hungry and so on."

("Revisiting Bishop Hubbard's Retreat" will be held Feb. 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Priory in Chestertown. Suggested donation is $25. Call 494-3733 to register.)

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