• Jeanine Cavanagh
• Mary Beth Jordan
• Debbie Scott

Each year a  team of Parish Moms meet once a month to pray together with the goal of creating, planning and bringing to fruition an annual Mothers’ Retreat. The retreat typically takes place in February each year.  It is geared towards providing Mothers’ with a chance to retreat from the chaos of their day to day lives and be “still” with the Lord.  It is a wonderful occasion to come together with other moms to share common experiences, wisdom and our spirituality.  We are afforded the opportunity to pray together, listen to mothers give talks on themes related to motherhood, reflect, journal, meet in small groups, and experience some quiet time.  A penitential service is always included in the retreat and priests are available to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation.  The retreat closes with a beautiful celebration of the Liturgy.  This retreat has been one of the greatest gifts moms have given themselves throughout the years as it lifts us in our journey to know the Lord in a deeper way through the most awesome calling our ministry of motherhood.  It is a profound experience for both Moms of young children as well as for Moms of older children.  Approximately 100 Moms participate in the retreat each year.

Mothers' Retreat 2021?????
Motherhood Treasured and Evolving
Giving Thanks to God and Letting Go

We prayed, we discerned, we took all of the information we had around our current situation, we prayed again, we listened, we discerned, we dialoged with the Retreat House, we prayed again, we discerned and listened, and we believe we have come to the conclusion the Holy Spirit stirred in us.  I know this, and yet it pains me to type these words… deep breath… the 2020 Mothers’ Retreat will be postponed until next year February 26-27, 2022…exhale.  I am shaking my head still as I say the words I thought I would not speak… and as we have all said time and time again, in many given situations… God has other plans.  And while this decision pained us in the making, and remains such, we know and trust the hand and heart of our Trinitarian God… Father, Son and Holy Spirit who has only “the best plans for our welfare and not for our woe.”

Before I explain the reasoning behind this, allow me to present you with some good news.  We are not canceling the retreat, let me stress that we are postponing the retreat.  As many of you know I was planning for this to be my last Mothers’ Retreat after 24 years, not that it would not go on without me… and splendidly it will.  I just want you to be assured that wherever life takes me in this year to come… I pledge to you, if it is Gods will… to be there to see this Retreat to fruition. 

In addition, and this is the good news… we will hold a Women’s Day of Prayer on May 8, 2021 at our Church.  It is going to be an amazing grace filled day of; prayer, reflection, camaraderie, sharing, Mass, speakers, food, fun and more prayer.  Essentially it will be a long day/evening of prayer in all ways that we can imagine… sacred joy!  We are planning this for May, on the off chance that our current Covid situation remains as is… we will be able to still gather in a large group inside the Church and can still have small group sharing outside.  Don’t you worry about the details… they are coming along and we have a myriad of plans that will see this to fruition in the most beautiful way… with the Holy Spirit as our guide…we have no concerns!  We promise to have much of what our Mothers’ Retreat has to offer on this glorious Day of Prayer!  You will certainly receive a sign up email or letter about this in February. 

To dispel some of your concerns please allow me to answer questions that may be coming to mind.  The Retreat House is only allowing 45 retreatants at a time in the building.  If we were to hold the retreat for only 45 Mothers’ we would be turning 55 people away.  In addition, we would not be able to break down into small groups, as the Retreat house is not permitting this.  We would also be limited as to how many people can eat in the dining hall… we would need to spread out in other rooms to eat our meals.  There were many other restrictions that we have no control over.  We would not have massages and let’s face it… the social would not be what it has been.  We would be limited in more ways than we can even imagine.  We did check on a back to back retreat… doing two weekends in a row, and there is no open weekends from now through the summer.  There are some small groups booked, however, even if we ran our retreat and shared the house that would limit our numbers even more.  We are planning this retreat as if it is happening in February on the off chance that a date becomes available in the Spring or Summer, and there will be dramatically less to no restrictions.  In that case we will be ready to roll.   Your Triple T’s… Tenderhearted, Thankful Treasures Team is doubly hard at work praying, meeting and preparing for the many ways our gracious God will lead us!  They are my joy… and your joy is that we will have our Day of Prayer in May. Have hope dear ones… and anticipate the delight God has planned for us! 

I hear you asking… what is the theme for our Retreat?  As the good Lord led us to our theme apropos last year… He once again prevails in all knowing… our Theme being: “Motherhood Treasured and Evolving ~  Giving thanks to God and Letting Go”.  A lot of that going on now!  It will be cathartic as it always is!

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions.  Call me at 908 672-8114 or reply to this email.  We are most grateful for your ongoing prayers, support and love of God your radiate with warmth and brilliance on the altar of your lives.

Before I conclude, I ask that we pray together… the reflections and prayer below.  I found it powerful today, of all days that I was sending this email.  Sometimes we need to put down the rake and call it quits.  I assure you that we are not, we are not putting down the rake!  We are clearly committed to you and the abundant fruits this retreat has produced over the years.  We have set out the project and complete it… and it will produce a harvest divine!

With love and great gratitude, Jeanine

• 2020 A Mother's Sorrow is Mary's Sorrow - Hope and Strength in Time of Suffering
• 2019 The Spiritual Friendship of Mothers-Encountering God in Our Shared Vocation
• 2018 Living Motherhood in the Spirit Here and Now
• 2017  Everday Sacraments
• 2016  A Mother’s Recipe for Joy
• 2015  A Mother’s Path with Purpose
• 2014  The Cup of Motherhood
• 2013  The Gifts of Motherhood
• 2012: The Quest for God Through Motherhood
• 2011: The Garden of the Mother’s Soul
• 2010: Mothers of the Beatitudes
• 2009: The Liturgy of Motherhood
• 2008: Sacred Dwelling
• 2007: Amazing Grace In A Mothers’ Life
• 2006: Seasons of a Family’s Life
• 2005: God’s Whisper in a Mother’s Chaos
• 2004: Traveling Light for Mothers
• 2003: Symphony of Motherhood