Spiritual Center News
Dear Friends in the Passion,
I send greetings once again from the beautiful summer banks of the Great Hudson River! I hope you are well and enjoy a relaxing summer.
About two weeks ago I was sitting at my desk with a very hard task ahead of me. I had hoped to never have to write a letter like the one I was about to write. I struggled to find the right words.
Ten years ago I took over as director of the Passionist Spiritual Center. I had many hopes and dreams for the Center and looked forward to a long stay as director. I would even joke with retreatants that I was going to be there for the next 25 years. While it was a joke there was some truth to it. I wanted to stay for 25 years! Over the past ten years many wonderful things have happened in my life because of the gift of this place and the people I have met here. I have watched people grow in their relationship with God and I have seen the gift and grace of God touch many people including myself. I have encountered and been helped by many dedicated people some of whom go back to the beginning of the Spiritual Center. I have ministered along side many faith filled lay people, women and men religious and brother Passionists. And I have had the great gift of living and praying beside the Great Hudson River.
However, the letter I wrote was to sadly informing our retreatants that the ministry here at the Spiritual Center is coming to a close! During the week of May 10-14, 2010 Passionists from around the eastern United States gathered at our Holy Family Monastery and Retreat House in West Hartford, CT for a chapter. A chapter takes place every four years. It is a time when Passionists get together to review our life, make decisions about the future and elect leadership. During the chapter in May we made a number of decisions about our future and one of these decisions now directly affects our ministry and presence here at the Spiritual Center.
The chapter voted to bring an end to our ministry here at the Passionist Spiritual Center. Along with the closure of the ministry the property will be placed up for sale or lease. There are three main reasons for this decision. First, the Passionist Province of St. Paul of the Cross through which this Center was founded 45 years is having major financial difficulties and is unable to subsidize any of our institutions and ministries. Secondly, the Passionist Spiritual Center is struggling financially as well. We have very little money in the bank and we are operating in the “red” with no relief in sight. We cannot make it to next June without asking for financial help from the province, help which the province cannot give us. Finally, the Passionist Community can no long maintain all of our institutions and ministries due to dwindling resources.
This was a very painful decision for all Passionists, as I am sure it is for you. It was a decision that was made during the week May 10-14, 2010 but one that has been coming for the last six or seven years. It was a decision made not in haste but after a long exhaustive process with heavy hearts and many tears!
What does this mean? Well, the Passionist Spiritual Center will not close until January 1, 2011. During September, October, November and December 2010 we will celebrate one last retreat season by offering nine retreats for women and men; (4 retreats for women, 4 retreats for men and 1 silent retreat for women and men), one Day of Recollection on December 8, 2010 and a New Year’s Eve Evening of Prayer with a Closing Mass. You can register for any of the retreats or programs by using the enclosed registration form. Reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis. By celebrating these nine final retreats and programs we are offering every retreatant the opportunity to join us to celebrate one last time here at the Spiritual Center. It might not be your regular weekend or with the group you always come with but it will be an opportunity to celebrate retreat or gather one last time in this beautiful place with people of faith!
The theme for our nine final retreats will be “May the Passion of Jesus Christ Be Always in Our Hearts!” We will celebrate the gift of the last 45 years and look ahead to the new chapter that will begin in each of our lives hopefully in the spirit of St. Paul of the Cross that asks us to always keep Jesus’ Passion in our hearts! It should be a wonderful experience and I am hoping a profoundly graced time in the history of this Spiritual Center. So why not make plans to join us during one of these closing retreats.
In addition to the retreats and programs, on Saturday November 6, 2010 we will take some time to celebrate the gift of this place in a festive way. We will have a mass and buffet to remember the many wonderful years and people of the Passionist Spiritual Center. I will let you know more about this celebration in the coming months.
Yes, it is a sad time and we will all have to work through our grief, loss and sadness. We need to grieve, to remember, but we also need to celebrate! There is an old saying, “When one door closes, God always opens a new door!” What new door will all of us walk through in our faith journey as we bring closer to this place and ministry?
St. Paulof the Cross founded the Passionist Community to keep alive the memory of Jesus Christ’s Passion. He did not found us to build monasteries, retreat houses, parishes or any other kind of building or ministry. He found us the keep alive a spirit, a charism. Over the last 45 years that is what we have tried to offer everyone who has walked through the doors of the Cardinal Spellman Retreat House/The Passionist Spiritual Center. It is this spirit, this charism of the Passion of Jesus Christ that we hope you will continue to keep alive in your heart as you journey through life in faith.
I hope that you will consider joining us this fall for one of our retreats or programs so that we might celebrate the gift of this place.
Please keep our employees and volunteers in your prayers as they make this journey into the future! As always you are in my daily prayers. May the Passion of Jesus Christ Be Always in Our Hearts!
Peace in Christ’s Passion...Fr. Paul
Comments for Spiritual Center News
Elissa E. Milan
Jul 18, 2010I was deeply saddened when I read Fr. Paul's letter. I always look forward for my yearly retreat. It was great to see Fr. Paul, Fr. Michael & Linda. The people I would meet at the retreat was also a treat as we share the same faith. I was looking forward for future retreats as well as sharing this gift with my daughter. The center may close but the blessings, prayers & laughter I have gain through the years will always be with me.
Ronnie Tepe
Jul 29, 2010I am a promoter for the Bishop Molloy Retreat House, Jamaica Estates, NY and tonight learned of the closing of Riverdale. I am so sorry for another closing of a Passionist Center. I knew Fr. Paul and Fr. Michael from BM and have enjoyed the TV broadcasts of Mass on Cablevision. I wish them the very best. I also hope the tornado Fr. Lee said hit your center recently did not do too much damage. We have been blessed to have so many Passionist centers here in NY. We must come together and not let "The Passion of Christ" ever leave our hearts. Next year, Elissa, know that we are here in Jamacia and we are also your home.
Mike Geiger
Aug 01, 2010My prayers are w/ you. Unfortunately, I have no funds to assist you. I felt your pain reading your blog. I felt I was reading my own expression of my financial situation. I do pray and have hope that God will open another door. MY prayers will continue for your community and the work you do.
Phyllis Isola
Aug 03, 2010I am deeply saddened by the news................I only found out yesterday by a blurb in my parish bulletin, I could not believe my eyes.............I read it and re-read several times............what else could possibly take the place of the Passionist Center - it's holy ground. I attended a Day of Recollection last year with Father Melvin and it was so spiritual and motivating, I wanted it to go on forever. Rest assured of my fervent prayers.....................
John Hayes
Aug 21, 2010To Fr. Paul and the community: I was surprised and profoundly saddened when I heard the news a few weeks ago of the Center's closing. This place holds such fond memories for me. I have had three wonderful years of bringing Freshman students from Mount St. Michael Academy here on, what was for many of them, their first retreat experience. They were always wonderful experriences and the staff was always helpful and supportive. I'd especially like to thank Mr. Bill Gilberg who always arranged for the students to have the best spiritual encounter possible. Thank you again and May God bless you, your community and the staff and guide you in your ministries to do and be what you need to be for the People of God. Thank you for your many years of respite and renewal at the Passionist Spiritual Center in Riverdale.
A friend of BMRH
Sep 09, 2010I am so sorry for the profound loss for all who have had enjoyed the peacefulness and spiritual solace of the Riverdale Retreat house. Having gone through something similar I am aware that many currently feel that they will never be at home anywhere else. Remember, it is the people more than just the beautiful nature surrounding the Hudson that makes a place holy. Maybe consider coordinating with your groups and going to Jamaica Estates to the Bishop Molloy Retreat House. Don't be fooled because it is "in the city", because once you enter the doors and weather permitting, able to stroll and pray in the Garden, you will still experience some special time with the Lord and one another. BMRH is my home away from home and I can assure you that the wonderful people I encountered there will make you feel so "at home", that by your second visit, you won't feel like a newbee anymore. God Bless you and heal your hearts as you treasure the many memories that are permanently etched there.
Anne
Sep 17, 2010I am so sorry to hear that the Riverdale retreat house will be closing. I hope that you will continue in with the Passionists by coming to the beautiful retreat house in Jamaica Estates. God bless you all.
Lenny/Patricia Caputo
Oct 11, 2010To Fr. Paul and Fr. Michael and the wonderful people that make the retreat house the outstanding place it will always be. I was personally saddened to hear of the closing of the Passionate Spiritual Center. It was a place were friendships were made or continued. God's presence was immediately felt once you walked through the front doors. Many wonderful memories will be etched into our hearts and be thought of during difficult times. Patricia and I hope, that as we have been touched, others receive the same wherever you are called next to serve. With warmest regards - God Bless all of you Lenny & Patricia Caputo
Pereta Rodriguez
Nov 02, 2010I have to believe that God opens another door when one we loved, cherished and found inner peace, closes. The Passionists have a long tradition of serving those who need God the most with the the love and passion that God demonstrated to us by sacrificing his son form us. I will feel a great loss when the Retreat House in Riverdale closes.
Paul Lowe
Apr 16, 2011I tried to fill out the form to get your news letters but it kept telling me I had the wrong e mail address. I have been useing this one for over 20 years now so don't know what is wrong with it. Paul Lowe
comments closing
Apr 24, 2011I would like to attend a 2 - day or 3- day retreat.for women. so sad to see the retrea center close.