"Making All Things New"February 2015
In This Issue
Survey
Fr. Dan's Column
What Is Mine To Do?
Picture From Our Past
Closing Prayer

Nature's Corner
  

Nature can teach us about difficult times in life. 

What do you see
when you gaze upon these photos? 

A picture is worth a thousand words.

- Br. Joe Kotula, ofm 

Fr. Dan on Instagram

Fr. Dan is now on Instagram! If you are, too, check out his photos and reflections.

30th Anniversary Gatherings - California

Please join Fr. Dan Riley, ofm, and members of the Mt. Irenaeus community as we celebrate together at two upcoming 30th Anniversary gatherings:
 
Northern California
At the Alamo, Calif. home of Don and Jean Schroeder
 Saturday, March 7
at 4 p.m.
 
Southern California
San Diego area
Wednesday, March 25
(details TBA)

For more information, please contact the Mountain office at 716-375-2096 or mount.irenaeus@gmail.com

Winter Newsletter

The Mountain's Winter 2014 print newsletter, along with past issues, is available to download on the Mountain's website.

Fr. Dan's Podcasts
 
 
 

Mass Schedule

Mass at the Mountain is regularly celebrated Sundays at 11 a.m. with brunch to follow. 


Visit our website for directions to the Mountain. 


Connect with us!
Annual E-newsletter Survey

We are asking e-newsletter subscribers to take a very brief, seven-question survey so we can gauge your thoughts on the content of our monthly e-newsletter. 

 

Based on your responses to last year's survey, we have made an effort to include more ministerial content and more personal reflections this year. We'll continue to implement your suggestions and improve our content based on our readers' preferences. 

 

Please click here to access the survey. 

 

Answers are anonymous. We thank you in advance for helping us learn how we can improve our e-communication efforts!

 

Living for Others this Lent
Fr. Dan Riley, ofm, echoes the call of Pope Francis, and of St. Francis of Assisi before him, to help those who are lost to find their way. as we prepare for Easter.
The statue of St. Francis of Assisi at Mt. Irenaeus.

As we enter our Lenten journey,

once again Pope Francis takes

the lead! As a servant of the Word, the world and the Church he recently addressed new cardinals with a message worthy of our hearing. At least in part - and as a few have told me - his words reflect the very words of St. Francis of Assisi.


Apparently he counseled these Church leaders - so we can take counsel as well - that we might be less concerned about losing our faith and more concerned about those "who are lost." St. Francis of Assisi entreats us to welcome back those who have wandered and to seek out and bring back those who have become lost.

 

With Ash Wednesday's Gospel and our Lenten path before us, Jesus entreats us to be less concerned about how we appear when we fast, or who knows what service or what alms we might offer. Rather, he says to wash your faces, turn your concern to others and as St. Paul says, "be cheerful givers, reach out for others" ... Read more. 

Voices from the Valley

Mike Camoin shares how he first connected with the Mountain and how he brings the Mountain to his work and family.

  

Mike Camoin with his wife Linda, daughter Isabelle, 10, and son Jacob, 9.

How I connected with the Mountain:

My connection to the Mountain goes back just before the Mountain came into being. I remember first attending an off-campus retreat as a freshman at Bonas. The setting was a rustic facility on Plum Bottom Road. The rural vista was tremendous and the discussion even better. Plans to purchase a permanent property to host off-campus retreats soon became a reality and as students we visited the farmhouse which is now called "The Other House." Here, Mass and discussions were celebrated on the porch that today overlooks the small pond near the gardens.

In my senior year, my father came to visit the Mountain and we spent an overnight at a retreat. In my early years as a Student for the Mountain I had attended many overnights and day trips with the Mountain community. Perhaps one of the stronger impressions for me was sitting around the wood-burning stove at the farmhouse being introduced to upperclassmen and women who were seriously considering a deeper calling to Franciscan life. Many of us answered that call in a variety of ways. Some, like myself, entered into married life, though it was not without much contemplation.

Where I am now:
I live with my wife, Linda, and our two children, Isabelle, 10, and Jacob, 9 in Albany, N.Y. I am an independent filmmaker with a desire to create stories that might offer a cultural impact on our society. I have founded other community organizations and resources for other filmmakers to cultivate and advance their works closer to completion ... Read more. 
30th Anniversary Celebration in Naples, Fla.
Friends of Mt. Irenaeus gathered Feb. 3 at the home of Ray and Maureen Dee for the Naples Regional 30th Anniversary Gathering.




Picture From Our Past
 
 

Lending a helping hand in the winter of 1994 to free a truck from the snow at the Mountain.   

A Lenten Prayer 

Almighty and Everlasting God, 

 

You have given the human race

Jesus Christ our Savior as a model of humility.

  

He fulfilled Your Will by becoming Man 

And giving His life on the Cross.
 

Help us to bear witness to You

By following His example of suffering 

And make us worthy to share in His Resurrection.

 

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son.

 

Amen.

Contact Us

 

Mt. Irenaeus
P.O. Box 100
West Clarksville, NY 14786
585-973-2470