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Spiritual Center Closing

Dear Friends in the Passion,

Let me first say on behalf of Michael Greene, C.P. and myself, Happy New Year!

Friday evening December 31^st we brought the 45+ year ministry of the Cardinal Spellman/Passionist Spiritual Center to a close.  While many looked upon the evening with sadness, Michael and I continued our six month theme of celebration.  Joining us to celebrate the gifts of the Passion of Jesus Christ, the Passionist Community and this beautiful place, where 80 people who spanned the years of the ministry of this place from their first time with us to people who were here at the beginning.  We were joined by four brothers in the Passion; Robin Ryan, C.P., Paul Zilonka, C.P., Rob Carbonneau, C.P. and Andrè Mathieu, C.P. and we are grateful to them for their support and presence.  It was a wonderful evening of prayer and celebration that truly remembered all that this place has been to us and for people over the years.

Our New Year’s Eve celebration was a perfect end to our final six months since the Chapter’s vote to close this place and ministry.  Many felt six months was too long a wake and funeral; however Michael and I would have to disagree! First we never saw these last months as a wake or funeral, to paraphrase the Preface for the Mass of the Dead, “For God’s faithful, life has changed not ended!” Secondly, in the hours since our final celebration we have reflected on the fact that we would not do anything differently if we had to do it over again.  While during the six months many of the same questions had to be answered over and over again and there were many conversations started with the phrase, “Isn’t it sad…, or We are praying for a miracle” we achieved what we started out intending to do and that was to celebrate the gift of the this place and make sure that gift gets carried into the future by the Passionists and the people who have walked through the doors of this place over the years.

Over twelve hundred people joined us during the last four months that we offered programs either on one of our ten retreats, or at our Dec. 8^th Day of Recollection, or at our Nov. 6^th Mass and Dinner or for our New Year’s Eve Evening of Recollection.  Many came saddened by the news of our closing but left grateful for the time to celebrate all that the Passionists and this place and ministry has been in their lives.  We believe we honored the Passionists, this retreat ministry and this place with grace, style and in a true Passionist Spirit.  All who joined us over these last months where graced by the Spirit of the Passion that was first enlivened by, Columkille Regan, C.P. and fostered by every Passionist who gifted the ministry of this place over the years.  We truly celebrated, prayed and reflected on the love of God as we experience it each day knowing we all live to carry the Passion of Jesus Christ in our hearts!

We would like to thanks all who supported us over these last months with kind words and presence.  Many wrote, called or stopped in letting us know that we were in your prayers.  You talked of your gratitude for our work and presence here.  We are truly grateful for all your support.  We would particularly like to thank our Provincial Robert Joerger, C.P. and his council Robin Ryan, C.P., Richard Burke, C.P., James O’Shea, C.P. and Paul Zilonka, C.P. for their support, encouragement and presence.  In fact I would like to thank all the administrations over the time I have been director, Terry Kristofak, C.P. and his council and Joseph Jones, C.P. and his council, all were supportive and committed to this place, ministry and me!  We thank our generous retreatants and all who walked through our doors over the years giving life, purpose, meaning and spirit to this Passionist dream, community, ministry and place.  I have said at the end of every retreat over the passed eleven years that I have been director that, “You can build a wonderful place like this and have a beautiful view but if nobody comes it is not worth anything!”  People; Passionists, employees, volunteers and retreatants have made this place priceless!  Thanks to all!

A special thanks to all of our employees. I am most grateful for their service and faithfulness.  Most of them stayed with us until the end and that was very helpful in pulling off these last months.  Yes, it is true they are paid for their work and service but probably more than any one else they are profoundly affected by the closing of this house and ministry.  Passionists are resigned, volunteers find new places to volunteer, auxiliary members find new organizations to belong to but employees must find new job in order to take care of themselves and their families. So I thank all of our employees over the years especially those who worked with us until the end. 

I thank;  Bill Gilberg our administrator for his twenty plus years of commitment, service and faithfulness to the overall running of this house. Karen Grenawalt, who often was the first voice of the Spiritual Center as people called looking for information. Gladys Zambrano who faithful took care of the housekeeping, dining room and any other thing we asked her to do. Angelo Ramirez and Gil Gonzalez our faithful maintenance staff who fought many a winter storm, flood, backed up toilet and all the other problems that go along with maintaining a house and property this size. Elliot Alvarado and his kitchen and dining room staff, God knows you cannot be successful without good food. Elliot came up as a kitchen boy and learned cooking from long time cook Ed Finley.  I could always depend on Elliot and his staff. Thanks to all and they are in my prayers as they search for a new beginning!

On a personal note I would like to thank Michael Greene, C.P. for his hard work, commitment, presence and friendship.  He has truly helped to make this place and ministry Passionist and I am grateful for all that he is and has done for this place and ministry.  I also thank James Johnson, C.P. for his years as Hosted and Special Events Coordinator.  He did a first rate job helping the ministry and community life of this place.  I am grateful to all the Passionist who lived here during my time as director, especially, Gus Parlavechio, C.P., Andrè Mathieu, C.P. and John Powers, C.P. who all helped to make this a very prayerful and hardworking Passionist Community.

Yes, there is sadness and yes for me there is a personal struggle with feelings that I failed but there are also feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment.  I know in my heart of hearts there is no perfect local leader or retreat director.  We all have strengths, gifts, talents and abilities.  We all have weaknesses and shortcomings.  I think I did my best and in many ways helped this ministry to grow and be life giving.  If I had only been able to raise money and promote in a more aggressive way I might not be writing this reflection.  However, money and promotion are not my gifts but ministry and community hopefully are and it is ministry and community that I am most proud of along with the relationships forged through both of them over my years here as director and local leader. 

Michael and I believe that we sent people on their way over these last months and over our whole time of ministry here with the Passion of Jesus Christ in their hearts and that this gift will help them and be enlivened by them in new ways as time goes on.  Like the Great River that passes us by every moment of every day providing us always with beauty, newness of life and the Presence of God, this place and its ministry has not ended, it has just changed!

Again, thanks, many blessings in the New Year and may the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts!

Peace in Christ’s Passion,

Fr. Paul

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