NEXT MEETING IS TUESDAY November 8 AT 6:30 p.m. PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND. Dinner will be provided.

The primary topic covered was the desire for some program to spiritually enlighten the membership. Generally, we discussed a retreat or similar program. Among the options that had been researched are:

1. St. Paul of the Cross Passionate Retreat Center in Pittsburgh (http://www.stpaulsretreatcenter-pittsburgh.org/) is a well-known host for retreats. They book parishes and other groups throughout the year, and have been doing so for some time. They have two upcoming opportunities we could consider, Nov. 11-13 and Nov. 18-20, or we can look at next year. You’ll see on the schedule on the webpage that All Saints is among the guests at a retreat on around April 20, 2012, and we join them. There are a number of opportunities prior to then, including most of March. These retreats start at 5 PM on Friday and end at noon Sunday, after mass. The basic schedule consists of a mixture of meals, Mass, prayer, confessions, quiet time, reading, etc. Included are conferences or workshops several times a day, with some discussion groups after the workshop. Cost is around $185 per persons, includes meals and lodging. They have both double rooms and singles, and a few handicapped rooms. Communal rest rooms. They provide everything, including workshop presenters.

Another option is a build-our-own retreat, reserving rooms and meals and securing our own presenter, retreat director or priest. The diocese has 4 retreat centers. St. Paul’s in Wheeling traditionally has a men’s retreat the weekend after Labor Day, which is quite a way off but something to look at for next year. St. John’s in Charleston occasionally has a mens retreat, but none are scheduled right now. Their director, Gary Lane, is an ordained deacon, and could serve as retreat director. Costs is around $100 per person per day for the facility, meals, etc., plus the cost of securing a retreat director.

The group consensus is that the programs at St. Paul’s in Pittsburgh are probably the way to go, at least for our initial effort. It was also the consensus that we may not be able to generate sufficient interest for a November date, particularly around the holidays. So we discussed promoting the weekend retreat for early next year, but in the meantime, in an effort to get some spiritual development underway, we should host a half-day retreat locally, perhaps immediately before or during Advent. Francis will contact Father William Anderson to see if he would be interested in acting as our director on a half day program, probably at Jacob’s Well near Salem. More on that as soon as we get some details.

2. ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 30 WE’LL ATTEND THE 11:00 A.M. MASS AS A GROUP. One of us agreed to work with Father and Tony to get some pews reserved. Bring spouses and children.

3. We’re looking at a Father-Child event this winter, likely a WVU basketball game.

4. We discussed perhaps buying some bicycles for needy children as Christmas gifts this year, which led to a discussion as to whether BJ or her heirs (member Joe Kolodziej?) need assistance with the existing angel tree program. One of us will contact BJ to see what her needs might be, and if she is well covered, we’ll consider the bicycle option.

5. Another option discussed was some sort of meeting or event or leadership with our youth group, once they are underway for the new year. Put your thinking caps on.

6. We had a good discussion with Father Doug about his vocation. We need to always remember the power of prayer in all things, including the fostering of vocations. The Clarksburg Serra Club is focused on vocation awareness, including two monthly meetings and a vocation mass on the last Tuesday of every month, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, with celebrant Father Leo Lydon. Let me know if you are interested in joining Serra Club or attending the Mass for vocations.

7. We need to generate ideas as to what this group should be about. So put on your thinking caps and come to the next meeting ready with some suggestions.

8. Mark wants to focus on getting the carpet replaced on the altar-boxes at church. Many hands will make the task light, so stay tuned for an APB, perhaps spur of the moment. It would be very nice to have it all done by Christmas.

NEXT MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8 AT 6:30 PM. Remember that November 1 is All Saints Day, a Holy day of obligation. If anything develops regarding the day-retreat before then, we’ll let you know.