"Making All Things New" October 2016
In This Issue
Fr. Dan's Column
Online Mountain Auction
Mountain Interest Survey
Mountain on the Phone
Executive Director's Corner
Mountain on Instagram


Nature's Corner 

Creation can speak. How can you not smile when gazing on this beauty? Photos are great, but take time to look at the real flowers.

Peace, 
Br. Joe Kotula, ofm

Please Join Us for Mountain in the Valley

Nov. 18, 2016 

While we have made the decision to let our annual live auction "rest a while," we do want to continue the excitement and joy of our gatherings as the Mt. Irenaeus family in the Olean area. 

Join us for "Mountain in the Valley" on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. in the Doyle Chapel at St. Bonaventure University. A buffet dinner in the Doyle Dining Room will follow.

If you're interested in attending, please contact Michelle Marcellin (mmarc@sbu.edu or 716-375-2096). Please RSVP no later than Nov. 10.

There is no charge for this evening. Free-will offerings will be gratefully accepted.

The exceptional live Auction Committee, who served us for years, friars and friends look forward to you joining us for "Mountain in the Valley!"

- Dan Riley, ofm

Summer 2016 Newsletter 
 
Access the latest print newsletter online. 


Fr. Dan's Podcasts




Support the Mountain Through eBay 
 
Did you know you can support the Mountain every time you make an eBay purchase? 

When you sign up for a personal account on GivingAssistant.org, you can designate "Franciscan Mountain Retreat" to receive 1.2% cash back when you make purchases through eBay. 

Please consider this option as we head into the holiday season and as you consider participating in the Online Mountain Auction, which will be hosted through eBay Nov. 3-13!

Celebrating Fr. Dan's 50 Years as a Friar

Kim and Reggie Harris (center and right), and Glenn McClure (left), perform during Fr. Dan's jubilee celebration, held Sept. 17 at Mt. Irenaeus. All three are veterans of many large musical celebrations at the Mountain. The Harris' song, "All Our Relations," which they sang during the liturgy, inspired the celebration's theme.
 
More photos from the event will soon be available to view on the Mt. Irenaeus Facebook page.

 Connect with us!
All of Our Relations
Fr. Dan Riley, ofm, reflects on his recent jubilee celebration at the Mountain.


At top, Fr. Dan embraces Karen Karaszewski (left), our Online Mountain Auction committee chair, and Jackie Lanzillo (right), chair of Mt. Irenaeus' development committee.
Below, Fr. Dan shares a laugh with Chuck Specht at the Sept. 17 celebration of Fr. Dan's jubilee.
More photos from the event will be available on the Mt. Irenaeus Facebook page soon.
Possibly you have heard me reflect on this in Holy Peace Chapel or I mentioned it to you as an aside as we began a "Mountain in Your Home" near you: Beginnings are so significant. Fresh starts and a new heart - as we used to say - eyes and ears open!  

As we enter various spaces throughout our daily lives, it is so interesting to feel and know the freshness, the newness of each experience. I think of the special gift of our little Mountain chapel, which as we enter, feels as if everyone in the world, everything and everywhere is present to us here. All of creation is assembled in our hearts, which have been called here by the heart of Christ. Or, you might have another way of understanding the heart-fullness that beckons all of us and reminds us that we are always present to one another because we are already, ongoing, truly one.  

When we come to Mt. Irenaeus we come not only for ourselves or the wonderful groups we may have traveled with, but also to join with all of creation and for all creatures everywhere. We have entered into Christ who lives in us and lives in all creation, the Spirit of Christ animating the whole world - the whole cosmos. Yes, this is the Cosmic Christ who is intimate to each of us because God so willed that his Son would come among us and show us his Father's love ... READ MORE.
Online Mountain Auction

Sabres tickets and other sports packages will be available for bidding.
Save the dates for our upcoming Online Mountain Auction! Bidding will
begin at noon on Nov. 3 and end at noon on Nov. 13.
 
Proceeds from this important fundraiser will go toward the Mountain's operating budget and help fund all the various ministries we provide up on the Mountain, down on St. Bonaventure's campus and on the road.
Vacation packages, including one to Carolina Beach, will be up for bid.





How can you help? 
 
1. Donate a new, unused gift. We will be accepting gifts until Oct. 15. We also appreciate cash donations. Please visit our website for gift ideas and guidelines.

2. Help spread the word among your friends and family.

3. Bid high and bid often on the Mt. Irenaeus eBay page Nov. 3-13!

Thank you, as always, for your support.
Our 2016 Mountain Interest Survey
How might we serve you? How might you help us? 
Mike Fenn, Mt. Irenaeus' executive director, describes a new initiative meant to connect those interested to volunteer opportunities.

One of our 10 initiatives in our strategic road map is to create a more effective process for outreach to volunteers who want to help. While there are many people who help us regularly, there have been many others who have offered to help whom we have not effectively connected with our areas of need.

After wonderful work and planning from many, we have developed a short survey we would ask each of you to fill out. It will allow us to collect the skills, knowledge and interest areas of all who would like to help us. If you open the form, you will see the many different areas we are looking for help in, from outdoor physical labor, to cooking meals for our guests, making calls to our benefactors and an array of other needs.

Just as important for us, is also understanding what ways you may be interested in our ministry benefiting your own life. We want to make all aware of everything the Mountain has to offer, as there may be some ministries you're not aware of.
Once we receive the surveys back, we will note your interests in our database and contact you when opportunities arise to move forward.

The Mountain has progressed and matured, primarily with the help of others' time, talent and treasure. For us to sustain this way of life and ministry, we will continue to walk with others who want to see us thrive for generations to come.

Thank you!
Mountain on the Phone 
The Mountain's newest outreach ministry continues with a call Nov. 10.

Take a break from your busy schedule and join us on the phone for a Mountain experience! We realize that sometimes our lives are too busy to commit to a weekend at the Mountain or an evening at someone's home. Here is your chance to join us from the comfort of your own home for a time of community, prayer and reflection led by Bill Coffey and others. 
 
Calls take place every 2nd Thursday of the month.
Our next call will be held Thursday, Nov. 10, at 8 p.m.
 
If you would like to join us, just dial 888-387-8686. When prompted, enter the code 3752096.
Executive Director's Corner
Mike Fenn shares a recap of  Fr. Dan's 50th jubilee celebration Sept. 17 at the Mountain.

By now you are likely aware that Fr. Dan is celebrating his 50th year as a friar. We had a wonderful celebration of this milestone a few weeks ago. The theme of the weekend was "All our Relations," noting that building relationships and community, in the way St. Francis has inspired Fr. Dan, is what he really wanted to celebrate. I'd like to share some of the highlights of the weekend that strike me as I look back.
  • Much of Fr. Dan's family was able to join us for the weekend. Siblings, nieces, nephews, even a grand-niece made the trip. Getting to know Fr. Dan's family better, and seeing them interact with one another, was a great joy and a privilege to experience.
     
  • We had the gift of Dr. Pauline Albert with us to share her work on Franciscan leadership. She shared with our greater community as well as our Board of Trustees. The Mountain has a model that already develops leadership among our students, and it was very helpful to learn about how the founders provided leadership 800 years ago ... READ MORE.
 The Mountain on Instagram 
 Enjoy this recent post from Fr. Dan. For more, follow @mtirenaeus. 

 You can see the sun burn its  way through a keyhole in the  tree. It sets the tree on fire!

 Already beckons us to receive  the flame, to be set afire.

 The SUN is the FIRE of the  day. It opens our eyes to the  glory coming to us even then,  even now ....

 Glory, light a new day to help  us form a new world. Our  choices become clear-
 We delight in possibilities as  we imagine the day together!

 "The glory of God is a human person fully alive; A person fully alive 
 is God's glory here on earth!"  - St. Irenaeus

 Peace, 

 Dan Riley, ofm

Contact Us

 

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