Franciscan Renewal Center

COMMENTS FROM RETREAT PARTICIPANTS
NOVEMBER, 2011

The Art of Intentional Loving – October 5 – November 16, 2011

• Thanks for a wonderful course.  Very helpful, great balance between practical, literature and science presentation.
• I choose the Franciscan Renewal Center because it is inclusive and has a social justice focus.
• Learned a lot of great information about relationships.  This information will improve the quality of my life, marriage, family and my workplace.
• It provided clear information.  The environment was not intimidating or threatening.

Popcorn, Pizza and Peace:  Movie Night at the Casa – November 4, 2011

• Every event is inspirational and everyone is so welcoming.
• A place of peace and sacred grounds.
• Affordable and enjoyable information.

Miracle of the Rosary – November 5, 2011

• The Franciscan Way and the peace and joy of this place.
• Hands on craft and presentation of the history of the Rosary.
• It is always comforting here.

Challenge to Grow in Faith and Love – November 5, 2011

• Good information presented in a variety of ways.
• It was a time to nourish my soul and mind.
• Thoroughly organized with appropriate informative handouts.

Marriage in the Lord – November 12, 2011

• The communications section was my favorite.  I learned that I need to step back and listen to my partner instead of raising my voice in hopes that louder means they’ll listen.
• Great overview of the plethora of different aspects of a healthy marriage.

LOGOS Advent Retreat – November 18-20, 2011

• Meals were fantastic.
• I am very grateful that such an opportunity is available close to home in such a beautiful setting.
• This Retreat was a fantastic experience for me.  It was educational, exhilarating yet relaxing.

Remarrying Couples Seminar – November 19, 2011

• Convenient, peaceful, beautiful, positive people and atmosphere. Come here for other events and just love to walk in the Healing Garden and the Labyrinth.
• I felt joy and serenity just being here.

A Garden Tour Extraordinaire – Gathering Wisdom on How to Care for Our Earth and Each Other – November 19, 2011

• Unique setting good energy and blessings abound.
• St. Francis is my favorite saint and I hope I can follow his lead in love for animals and landscape.

COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS
April, 2011

Marriage in the Lord – March 3, 2011

• Easy to follow, informative and applicable.V
• Values to bring to the relationship; faith, patience and communication.
• Provided very useful information on financial planning and how to resolve potential conflicts with spouse.

Twilight Retreat; The Cross and the Table – March 25, 2011

• Meal excellent as usual.
• I came here for a substance abuse course when I was a teen about 30 years ago.  This is the first time back since then, coming back to where I was blessed long ago.
• The Casa is spirit, beauty, sincerity, integrity, nature, nurture and community.

The Miracle of the Rosary:  The Franciscan Crown – April 2, 2011

• I love this place.  Have been coming here for 28 years.
• I liked the mixture of spirituality and art.

The Prodigal Son and Forgiveness – April 1 to April 3, 2011

• The food is as good as any 5 star restaurant.
• Had a positive experience the last time I was here.   Plus the grounds are beautiful and the location is great.
• I liked being able to stay overnight, beautiful grounds, retreat topic and application to my life.

Caring for Creation – April 2, 2011

• It always provides new learning in a welcoming community.
• Open minded spirituality of regular people.
• Increased learning and understanding about the environment.
• Keep up the good work.  God’s work.

Remarrying Couples Seminar – April 9, 2011

• Honest open dialogue about issues important for a successful marriage.
• It made me think about my first marriage and the mistakes I made.

Centering Prayer and the Gospel of John – April 6-10, 2011

• I’ve been coming here since the 60’s.  I have always found grace and peace here.
• Easily understood language.
• Convenient, and has everything to offer in one place.  I have great memories of precious experiences here.
• The environment was very supportive of a silent retreat.

Centering Prayer and the Gospel of John – Mini Retreat – April 10, 2011

• First time anyone tried to teach me how to pray.
• Peaceful quiet, beautiful setting.
• Practical application of Catholic tradition.

Marriage in the Lord – April 16, 2011

• A lifetime commitment to celebrate.
• Great commutation ideas, better understanding of marriage.  Appreciated the knowledge and marriage suggestions on how to become a better partner.
• Rocking presentation.  Highly entertaining.  Full of good information in an easily digestible manner.  Not overly complicated and good advice.
• Good exercises to build a better relationship.  Great ideas for communicating with my partner.  Great speakers really enjoyed their stories and examples.
• Very well thought out, very insightful.

Evaluation Testimonials From Patron for Events in October 2010

Prayer in the Cave of the Heart

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

Spirituality Retreat for Women

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

Popcorn, Pizza and Peace

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

Watercise

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.

Testimonials From Events in 2011

Our time at the FRC was amazing and you were a key to that.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for your patience, for the way you were so willing to serve and for making us feel like family.  God worked in our midst in powerful ways and we owe a big part of that to our dear family at the FRC!  May God continue to bless and guide your life in profound ways!

Mark D. Baker
Missions Door
"Connecting People With Opportunities"

Comments from Retreat Participants; May, 2011

The Art of Intentional Loving – March 2 – April 13, 2011

• I loved the theory and practical application of the material.
• The class was great.  I would take it again and recommend it to others.
• An amazing body of material in a very accessible, understandable format, such a valuable experience delivered in a warm non-threatening way.

T’ai Chi/Qigong – March 21 – April 18, 2011

• The peace and energy received; health knowledge was excellent too.
• I have wanted to do this for years.

Holy Week – April 17 – 24, 2011

• The Casa is my spiritual home I return to Holy Week Year after year.
• The true sense of community here at the Franciscan Renewal Center.
• Father Bill’s ability to make everything new and exciting.
• Always something new to make us aware of Christ in our lives.

Gifted and Called – May 6  - 8, 2011

• The food was fantastic, heaven on earth.
• Joyful worship, great hospitality and all are welcome.
• I enjoyed all the talks and sharing.  The value of the weekend is tremendous.
• Continue to keep people thinking and be able to appreciate the good things of our faith and not focus on the negative.

Women’s Conference “Walking in Her Shoes” – May 6 – 7, 2011

•    Topics and inclusion of other faith traditions.
•    I enjoyed the education experience and energy of the presenters and felt their passion about helping to prevent domestic violence.
•    It was an eye opener, resourceful, informative and inspirational.  It was so empowering.

Contemplative Prayer – May 14, 2011

• I wanted a local ecumenical retreat and heard that the Casa was open to faiths other than Roman Catholic.
• Quiet desert space.
• Silence in a group is always very fruitful.

Peaceable Anger – May 14, 2011

• Programs on non-violence are instructional and inspirational.
• Specific steps that can be used to deal with anger.
• New insight into my personal issues.

Comments from Retreat Participants; June, 2011

A Teaching Mass - May 21, 2011

• A great enriching experience.
• I have been coming here for many years; I live in the Southeast Valley.  I have found it to be a place of inspiration and, occasionally, a refuge.
• The environment is inviting and the people are welcoming.

Popcorn, Pizza and Peace – June 3, 2011

• Familiar, sense of community and social justice focus.
• I liked the discussion after the movie and meeting with great people.
• Family friendly.

Divorced and Separated Retreat – June 3 – 5, 2011

• Trust in faculty that they would be top notch and excellent in quality and integrity.
• It helped me to move past my divorce.
• It helped me understand my situation in a new light, understand the meaning of forgiveness.  I am looking forward to this helping me get through this very difficult time.
• Offer a similar program for those thinking about separating!  I learned far more this weekend than I have in months of counseling.

Married Couples Retreat – June 4, 2011

• The Casa is wonderful and so relaxing and beautiful. I am leaving feeling renewed and refreshed in my marriage.
• The small groups are good, presenters wonderful and knowledgeable and the activities were well constructed and meaningful.
• The topics of forgiveness and gratitude were very useful to my husband and me at this time in our marriage.

Inter Community Sister’s Retreat – June 5 – 12, 2011

• I find God in the desert, the mountains, the pool, the solitude of the whole place and the prayerful liturgies.
• Hospitality, Franciscan Spirit permeates super deluxe meals, beautiful grounds, generosity and excellent input.
• Continue doing what you are doing. You do an outstanding job!

In Wake of Death – June 10 – 11, 2011

• The Catholic spirituality, peace and lack of judgment, safety emotionally and spirituality the Center always offers.
• Came here at the suggestion of a friend.  I will come here again because of the peaceful environment.
• It really helped me realize that I wasn’t alone and I’m doing ok.
• Loose structure, warmth, ability to relax and consider grieving, meeting others in similar situations.