Franciscan Renewal Center

• Peter is a wonderful teacher, iconographer and role model. By writing an icon it brings a deeper contemplative nature to the time here.
• New friendships – praying while painting.
• Peter Pearson is a great soul and teacher of the mystery of God in icons and in the Jesus prayer.

• Open, honest and welcoming.
• The justice issues and actions draw me.
• Past experiences all good.
• Is there any better place to be?
• The Casa exudes healing, caring, social justice and love like no other place I have been.“All are welcome” – This is the message from the Casa and one I wish to share with the rest of the world.
• Tremendous story / presentation on what are the keys to success in Café Justo.

• The spirit was alive and well in our instructors and participants.
• It is such a wonderful environment for a retreat and the staff is always supportive and caring.
• I live next door, I love the quietude, I love the majesty of the mountains, I love the labyrinth and I love the Franciscans.
• Friendly, beautiful, reasonable price, good energy and theology.
• Practical instruction on centering prayer.

“What did you find most helpful to you personally?”

• Focusing
• Slowing down
• Class provided good exercise & relaxation

“What did you find most helpful to you personally?”

• The instructor made it very comfortable and easy to learn new information and skills.
• The relaxed atmosphere. I learned so much.
• Small class. Tremendous knowledge/ability of presenter.
• The sense of humor.
• All of it.

• The Casa is active, open and welcoming.
• The education and reminder of events and how the struggle for justice goes on and on and the question it leads to is: What am I doing about it?
• The spirit fills this place. We drive one hour each way to come each week we’re in Arizona.
• Got me thinking.

• I come several times a year. I look for topics of interest and registration that I can afford.
• I felt the spirit present in this place and in the welcome the first time I attended.
• Knowledge sharing on fair trade.

"Of the many spiritual places that you can attend, why did you choose the Franciscan Renewal Center?"

• I find the Casa people and environment welcoming, open, accepting, relaxing and thought-provoking.
• I love its rustic beauty and peacefulness

"What did you like or value about the program?"

• For decades, the Casa has been the place to come to find out what’s happening in the larger church. This movie was a great example.
• Informative, shows true love, the right to be open, be among people who get it, are not afraid to do what needs to be done, be different

"Of the many spiritual places that you can attend, why did you choose the Franciscan Renewal Center?"

• I’ve been enjoying the holy ground of the FRC for 20+ years.  It’s a place of spiritual centering for me.
• The peace of God is here. I live in metro Phoenix. I’m familiar with many graces having come to me at this place since the early 60’s.

"What did you like or value about the program?"

• It brought me back home to my soul and my need for community.
• The presenter was excellent.  My only objection is that it was too short; I would have liked a week.
• The teachings were wonderful.  I learned some new things, but basically things I knew were reinforced and expressed, at times, in new ways.
• Ability to remove myself physically from the hustle and bustle of the world around me
• A wise teacher, a chance to experience meditation with instruction

“What did you find most helpful to you personally?”

• That I need to talk about issues at hand instead of ignoring them, basically not fearing anything.
• I learned much about relationships.
• That communication is the key and don’t be afraid to express yourself.
• It strengthened and unified my own beliefs and morals about my future with my fiance.
• The affirmations of what we’re doing well with our relationship as well as provoking thought and discussion in all areas.

"Of the many spiritual places that you can attend, why did you choose the Franciscan Renewal Center?"

• It is a happy, thoughtful place, not rigid or stern. I always feel spiritually inspired after mass.
• The Casa’s ability to reach out to all groups, provide opportunities for prayer, education experiences that bring God to the Center of one’s life.
• I love this place.  There is kindness and beauty here.

"What did you like or value about the program?"

• I opened my mind and heart to a whole new way of bringing God into my life.
• It was just the ticket! It was what I needed and hoped for.
• Wisdom of the women participants, knowledge of the leaders, structure of retreat allowing free time

“What did you find most helpful to you personally?”

• Just to have a quiet place to relax and pray.
• I need to learn to relax and this gave me the time and facility to do so.
• The quiet time
• I loved the focus on prayer today and the time.
• Having a variety of services, i.e., massage, Reiki, in one place at one time. I could experience everything without feeling rushed and still have quiet time.

"Of the many spiritual places that you can attend, why did you choose the Franciscan Renewal Center?"

• I love the pool and the atmosphere. It is a wonderful place to come for a class, very spiritual.

"What did you like or value about the program?"

• I value the experience, the relaxation, the exercise, the stretching, the environment, the participants and most of all Susan!
• Very beneficial for my need: good exercise, peaceful and full.
• I value the knowledge.  I learned how stretching helps my back pain.  I was happy to meet new people too.  What a gem Susan is.  How truly blessed the Casa is to have her.