April  2015
Greetings! 

  

This Easter Season is a time for experiencing transformation and resurrection - both within 
and without. Buds are opening, baby foxes 
are scampering and we see the frozen surface
of the lake breaking open to reveal living waters beneath.

We rejoice in this season, as individuals continuing 
on our journeys, and as a ministry, offering opportunities for renewal...

Springtime blessings to you all.




"It is ingratitude if one thinks that everything is chance
 just because one is not aware that everything can come 
from the hand of God; for it is written, 
that no sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing (Mt.10:29); and for me it is true and is the easiest way 
to virtue if we accept everything from the hand of God,
be it ever so little."
Mary Ward 1585-1645



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"In every walk with nature 
one receives far more than he seeks."
Muir
Spring Retreats ... Save your spot!

Hidden Gold... 
...writing to uncover life's surprising gifts...
Friday May 1 - Sunday May 3, 2015

This weekend retreat will combine reflection, writing exercise and reading in a group circle with an intention 
to look for "gold" that has been, and is already present 
in your life story. This retreat invites you to stop, rest, 
to look with different eyes at what is and what has been, and to express it in whatever form is best for you...

Facilitator: Brenda Peddigrew, RSM



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Keeping Our Recovery Alive
Friday May 29 - Sunday May 31, 2015

An opportunity for women in twelve step programs 
to spend time away from the daily busyness of life and 
to practice "easy does it" within their recovery process.

Facilitator: Elaine Dombi, Sister of St. Joseph, addiction counselor& spiritual director.


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Coming this Summer...

NEW - Our 5-Day Silent Retreat
Wednesday July 8 - Sunday July 12

In an atmosphere of silence, take time to rest, reflect, 
and restore yourself. This new 5-Day retreat is being offered in response to interest expressed in silent retreats by those who are wanting the experience without committing to 8 days just yet.

Silence is more than the absence of talking. Making a silent retreat allows the intention of entering an interior space 
of deep communion with the Divine. People spend 
their time writing, reading, swimming, walking, hiking, sleeping, or doing whatever they enjoy, but generally 
with the intention of interior growth rather than productivity. Sometimes people come with an issue 
they are grappling with, but most come just to be 
in silence and listen to the still small voice within...

A private room and meals will be provided. Evening reflection offered (optional).




For more details on any of these retreats and programs, 
or to view all of our full 2015 retreats and events,
visit www.lorettomaryholme.ca  or email [email protected] to book your spot!
At Maryholme...

Linens fresh from the line...
At Maryholme we take great pride in the fact that we can offer our guests the scent of fresh air on their bed linens - all thanks to Slava who tirelessly hangs out all the laundry to dry in the breezes blowing in off Lake Simcoe. 

Come for a stay and drift off to sleep in sheets that have been washed in Slava's organic Maryholme cedar laundry soap and hand hung to dry for you... best zzz's ever!



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Volunteers: 
Our big project for this spring is to plant more cedars along Osbourne Street to thicken the hedge there. Because we have student volunteers from Our Lady of the Lake College School coming to do the work for us during school hours, we will not be meeting for a project on the long weekend 
in May as we usually do.

We appreciate your willingness to save the date for 
a Maryholme project - you are released to make plans 
to enjoy your long weekend! Be assured, we will have more work in the future and will give you lots of opportunity 
to get your hands into the soil at Loretto Maryholme.

This summer we will be holding nature workshops 
on Tuesday mornings. Stay tuned...

 
Mark your calendar...

Earth Day Canada
April 22, 2015

Celebrated every year on April 22, Earth Day is the largest environmental event in the world. More than six million Canadians-including nearly every school-aged child-participate in an Earth Day activity in their communities.

Founded in 1990, Earth Day Canada is a national environmental charity. They offer free, year-round,   award-winning programs to educate and inspire Canadians of all ages, backgrounds and sectors to reach local environmental solutions. Their mission is to foster and celebrate environmental respect, action and behaviour change that lessens our impact on the earth.



Sign up for Earth Day Every Day and you'll also have 
the option to submit your name for an Earth Flag that will be taken to the international climate conference in Paris     at the end of the year. The Earth Flag will illustrate 
the collective resolve of people across the country               to reduce climate impacts.

Check out the Earth Tones April 2015 newsletter here 
International Concerns...
Some information about topics that are important to all of us who live in the Great Lakes Watershed...

Exploring Lake Simcoe ...

Loretto Maryholme Spirituality Centre is listed                   on  www.exploringlakesimcoe.com as an amazing place 

to visit.
 

Exploring Lake Simcoe (XLS) is a long-term project 

by the Ontario Water Centre (OWC) designed to help people enjoy, understand and participate in activities 

in the Lake Simcoe watershed.
 

To view our spot, go to  
www.exploringlakesimcoe.com      

and click "Come in" and click "LIST view" at the bottom 

of the page. Scroll down until you see Loretto Maryholme under "History" or "Sights", then click on our name.
 

A small window appears with a photo, Loretto's name 

and the word "Explore". Click on "Explore" to see the full Maryholme photo collage and description. Enjoy!
 

 

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Fasting for the Climate
On your fast day for the climate, please remember 
the many who lost their lives and thousands that were displaced by this terrible Cyclone Pam, which strucklast  month. It is said the damage could have been much greater without efforts to build climate resilience within communities, to make a just transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy as quickly as possible to avoid further catastrophic climate damage. The fasting movement this month is showing solidarity with our Pacific neighbours.



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Videos of the "Living Cosmology" Conference at Yale
The videos have now been posted online from 
the November Yale conference "Living Cosmology: Christian Responses to Journey of the Universe."
To view the videos of the 11 panels and the celebratory service, click here. 

A collection of conference papers will be published 
by Orbis Books. View the table of contents here:
 

For the conference program, the celebratory service program, biographies of participants, photos, articles, 
and more, visit here. 


Spring at Loretto Maryholme
... view our photos year round on our Facebook page ...
Like us on Facebook






 
For accommodation details, visit
Comments from our guests...
Many thanks to our wonderful visitors who take the time to write in our guestbook and send us notes...

"Thank you for a wonderful time of peace & spirituality provided by your beautiful surroundings!"
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"Beautiful place - beautiful people. Thank you."
Loretto Maryholme Spirituality Centre is a sacred space of peace and beauty 
on Lake Simcoe for those seeking to restore energies needed for personal
and communal transformation. 

The Centre is available for use by individuals and groups whose activities 
reflect the Centre's mission. Facilitation of a workshop, a day of reflection, 
or an opportunity for spiritual direction can be arranged.

For accommodation arrangements, please email