President’s Column: Ineffable Twaddlings

Follow up on Your Word is My Delight: A Catholic Writers Retreat

I’m still coming down from a spiritual high from our retreat in Michigan. It was so amazing, I am having difficulty finding the words to describe it (tough, for a writer). Ten people attended from many parts of the country, some from as far as Massachusetts, Arizona, and Florida. The majority, of course, were from Michigan. I have to admit I was concerned, at first, at the small group we had. But, as it turned out, that simply made it more intimate and focused.

Here’s the whole retreat gang from left to right: Margaret Realy, Dr. Jean Lee, Patrice Davignon, Gerard Webster, Ann Lewis, Pat Gohn, Michael Diebold, Kathy Schiffer, Helen Hart, Erin McCole-Cupp, Kathleen McGuire, Lillah Olson, Father Charles Irivin, Julie Herridge and Father Tucker Cordani.

CWG Member Pat Gohn was our key presenter who gave us some thoughtful reflections on Psalm 119, the documents of the Church, and our vocations as writers.

Margaret’s good friend David Krajewski also did a great talk on the Joyful Mysteries and “vocation” (I will be posting this soon in our forums for people to read.) The other speakers were fabulous, too. Kathy Schiffer and I conducted critique sessions that were small, inspiring, and effective.

It was a time to pray, write, and reflect in an absolutely gorgeous natural environment. The gardens that Margaret planned and coordinated on the grounds were breathtaking. Here are some photos.

Margaret gave us a tour of her lovely gardens the first day. This is she walking us through one of the several memorial gardens on the property.

This is a shot of the Calvary Garden through the autumn-colored trees:

And this is the bell tower of the monastary that the monks would ring throughout the day, now enhanced by Margaret’s green thumb:

One night, Margaret pointed out a cute little green tree frog to me, and later I could hear one singing outside my window. Tree frogs! I didn’t know they had tree frogs in Michigan, and I grew up there!

By the end of the five days, all of us were great friends, praying, inspiring, supporting, crying, hugging, and singing songs by the campfire.

Because this retreat was so successful, we plan to have another in late April of 2013 – information, costs and exact dates to come. We will only offer retreats every other year so folks can save up to be able to attend both the retreat and our August conference in the same year.

Pray and work, folks. Ora et labora!