Retreat Forward 2019-20

2019 

2020 

Journeys in Faith 

Last Year Holy Family Welcomed 436 New Retreatants!

Holy Family sits on a hill in the midst of 48 secluded acres. 

Walking trails wind through the woods. Inside, home-cooked meals 

and freshly-baked cookies await our guests. Come and enjoy our special 

Passionist hospitality that allows you to reflect, renew and rediscover the 

grace of God in your life. Our retreatants say that when they walk through 

the doors, the outside world retreats and peace and tranquility abide. 

We look forward to welcoming you. 

Welcome to Holy Family 

4 Entities. 1 Campus. 

Where Inspiration Abounds 

holyfamilyretreat.org copperbeechinstitute.org monasterygallery.art spiritlifectr.org 

Mission Statement 

Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center is a 

spiritual center in the Passionist tradition, open 

to all who seek to deepen their relationship 

with God and one another. We welcome men, 

women, and youth to weekend retreats, day and 

evening retreats, and programs where they can 

journey with God in an atmosphere of respect 

and hospitality. Consistent with our tradition, 

we are a community that values spiritual 

development, the holy word, creative ritual, and 

the sacred in our world. 

Contents 

Welcome....................................................1 

Retreat Theme and Dates...........................2 

Our Retreat Team.......................................3 

Journeys in Faith........................................4 

Youth Ministry............................................6 

Holy Family Programs...........................7–11 

Christian Contemplative Experience.... 12–15 

Monastery Gallery Programs............. 16–17 

Ways to Support Holy Family............ 18–19 

Prayerful Experiences.............................. 20 

Rent Our Facility................inside back cover 

On the cover: During our June teen retreat, 

participants assembled over 100 bags of food, water 

and toiletries for the homeless in our communities. 

Through generous donations from 

our community, Aidan and Declan 

Wlochowski and Sara Gotthelf attended 

World Youth Day 2019 in Panama. 

www.holyfamilyretreat.org

Dear Friends, 

Back-to-school ads on TV today just gave me a chill! How could summer have evaporated so 

quickly? 

That question makes me more aware than ever that “down time” and “free time” are hot 

commodities in our relentlessly busy and sometimes overwhelmed lifestyles. That’s why our 

retreats are so very important. Our spirits also need rest from the weariness of life’s challenges 

and burdens. The tragedies and violence that struck our nation this summer are signs that 

our world and our lives are fragile and need our attention. 

This year’s retreat theme, Our Deepest Longing, addresses that need—to find what is 

important in life and discover what God is calling us to be and to become. 

In addition to our weekend retreats, we have many other special 

offerings this season, including Colin’s Bible Study program in the fall and 

additional Chamber Choir concerts and other musical programs. Read 

about our new retreat team members on page 3, and don’t forget to wish Fr. 

Terry a very happy 50th anniversary of priesthood! 

I’d also like to take a moment to thank everyone, including our 

wonderful volunteers, who helped make this one of the best and busiest 

summers ever at Holy Family. Our Vacation Bible Camp, Family Retreat 

week and Music Camp were joy-filled celebrations of the presence of God in 

our community and the importance of faith in our lives. The West Hartford 

Life newspaper and the Office of Radio and Television from the Archdiocese 

of Hartford covered these events and were extremely impressed. 

Some final good news—last year we welcomed 436 new retreatants to our themed retreat 

programs, and that does not include all the new folks for day and evening programs. AMAZING! 

Let’s hope for 500 in the next season! 

Wishing you peace in the compassionate 

heart of Christ, 

Fr. David Cinquegrani, C.P. 

Retreat Director 

Reflect. Renew. Retreat. 1

2019-2020 Retreat Theme: 

Our Deepest Longing 

We spend our time and energy on the necessities of everyday life, which 

hold so many things that are beyond our control. But what is it that we 

are longing for in the deepest way? What is our passion in life? This year 

at Holy Family, we will explore that deep longing planted in our hearts by 

God—a longing for peace, for wholeness, and for relationships that give 

us joy and lift us up. Come away and rest awhile to find and pursue your 

deepest longing, and by doing so, may you experience how God is longing 

so deeply for you, too. 

The retreat begins with a buffet dinner 

from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday 

evening and concludes Sunday with 

the celebration of Mass at 10:45 a.m. 

followed by a hot brunch at noon. 

Families of retreatants are most 

welcome to attend the Sunday Mass 

and brunch at no extra charge. 

Annual Retreat for Families 

2019-2020 Themed Retreats 

Men 

Offering: $325* 


September 20-22 

November 1-3 


January 17-19 

January 31-February 2 

February 21-23 

March 6-8 

March 13-15 

March 20-22 

March 27-29 

April 3-5 

May 1-3 

June 12-14 

Women 

Offering: $325* 


September 27-29 


January 10-12 

January 24-26 

February 28-March 1 

April 17-19 

June 5-7 

Couples 

Offering $575 

(includes Valentine’s Gourmet 

Dinner) 

February 14-16, 2020 

Teens 

Offering: $175 

June 19-21, 2020 

College 


February 14-16, 2020 

Retreat for the 

Deaf Community 

May 1-3, 2020 

Holy Week Triduum 

FOR MEN AND WOMEN 


April 9-11, 2020 

Matt Talbot 

FOR MEN IN RECOVERY 


October 18-20 

(Includes Group 28) 

December 6-8 

December 13-15 


February 7-9 

(Includes Group 28) 

May 15-17 

FOR WOMEN IN RECOVERY 

Offering: $200 

November 22-24, 2019 

*The actual expense to Holy Family for hosting one person on a weekend retreat is $450. This cost includes items such as Holy Family’s 

housekeeping, salaries, utilities, insurance, etc. We are deeply grateful for your generous support in helping offset our costs. 

2 


Our Retreat Team 

Fr. David Cinquegrani, C.P., is retreat director at 

Holy Family, overseeing the center’s operations, 

programs, and renowned music ministry. Since 

entering the Passionist Community in 1989, he 

has served as a chaplain, music educator and 

choir director. He currently teaches music at 

St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Timothy schools 

in West Hartford. He previously taught music for 20 years at the 

University of Saint Joseph. He holds Master of Divinity and Master 

of Liturgical Theology degrees from Catholic Theological Union and 

B.A. and M.A. degrees in music from Marywood University. 

Liza Peters is the director of youth and young 

adult ministry at Holy Family and a retreat team 

member. Prior to joining Holy Family in 2011, 

she served as director of religious education at a 

parish outside Dayton, OH, and worked and lived 

in community at the St. Peter Claver Catholic 

Worker House in South Bend, IN. She holds a 

B.A. in psychology and a Master of Divinity from the University of 

Notre Dame. 

Colin Petramale is a retreat team member at 

Holy Family and member of the youth and young 

adult ministry team. He has a passion for making 

faith real and accessible to people of all ages. He 

believes that ministry invites us to be present to 

the unique story of each individual. He previously 

worked at Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly 

in Chicago and served as a campus minister at the University of 

Dayton. He holds a B.A. in Spanish from SUNY Oswego and an 

M.A. in theological studies from the University of Dayton. 

Sr. Maryann Cantlon is a Sister of St. Joseph 

of Chambery and retreat team member at Holy 

Family. She was Associate Director of Restorative 

Justice for the diocese of San Jose, CA, for nine 

years. She previously taught high school music 

and served for many years as a teacher and 

chaplain in state and federal prison systems. She 

also helped begin an educational mission among 

the indigenous Maya Indians in Quintana Roo, Mexico. She holds a 

Master’s degree in music from University of Hartford’s Hartt College 

of Music and a Master’s degree in theological studies from the 

Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA. 

Deb Brown-Norko is a retreat team member at 

Holy Family and a student at Yale Divinity School. 

A retired pediatrician, she specialized in child 

abuse and neglect and spent much of her career 

caring for children hospitalized with psychiatric 

illness. She has spent the last year leading retreats 

with the Mercy Sisters at Mercy by the Sea. She 

holds an M.D. degree from SUNY Upstate. 

Bill Heiden is a retreat team member at 

Holy Family, a historian and a social justice 

entrepreneur. He teaches history at the University 

of Hartford and is president of Levo International, 

a non-profit dedicated to advancing food security 

and economic progress where it is needed most. 

He conducts research relating to technology, 

religion, economic development, and power. He 

has written for the History News Network, the Hartford Courant 

and The Activist History Review. 

Tanya Rybarczyk is a retreat team member at 

Holy Family and a Catholic writer and speaker, 

specializing in adult faith formation and 

contemplative prayer practices. Tanya currently 

serves as the Director of Pastoral Care at Elizabeth 

Seton Residence in Wellesley, MA. She uses her 

joyful humor and deep spirituality to support 

those nearing the end of life or journeying with 

dementia, and their caregivers and loved ones. Tanya holds an 

M.A. in pastoral ministry from the University of Portland, OR, and 

an M.A. in English from Binghamton University. 

The Passionists at Holy Family 

Holy Family continues to be blessed by the presence of 

a dynamic community of Passionist priests and brothers 

who support retreatants and make this ministry possible. 

Fr. Terry Kristofak, who celebrated fifty years of 

priesthood this year, assists with hospitality for all programs. 

Other Passionists in residence include Bro. Michael Moran 

and Bro. Terence Skorka. Fr. Gregory Paul lives nearby at 

McLean, a senior living community in Simsbury, and is doing 

very well. 

Fr. Terry Celebrates Five Decades of Priesthood! 

We are happy to celebrate with Fr. Terry the 50th anniversary of his ordination. During this time, he has 

touched the hearts of many people. He has served in the dioceses of Philadelphia, Scranton and Hartford 

as well as eight years as Provincial Superior of the St. Paul of the Cross Province. Recently in Jamaica, NY, 

he celebrated his jubilee with his five Passionist classmates. It was a great joy for him. Fr. Terry calls Holy 

Family Retreat Center ‘home’ and we are blessed by his presence. He assists with hospitality at Holy Family 

for all our programs and guests. 

In sharing what he has learned over his 50 years as a Passionist, Fr. Terry often reminds us—“you never 

know what is in the heart of the person next to you.” Simple words, with much wisdom. Fr. Terry can be 

reached at Terry@cpprov.org. 

Fr. Terry and Fr. Gregory 


Nearly seven decades ago, Holy Family Retreat Center opened its doors 

in West Hartford, offering respite to those seeking to quiet their minds 

and deepen their faith. Since then, more than a million people have come 

through those doors, leaving the obligations, and often struggles, of their 

everyday lives behind for an opportunity to rest and nourish their spirits. 

What is it that brings people to Holy Family—on average, 400 new 

retreatants each year—and what is it that keeps them coming back? 

Journeys 

in Faith 

BY KATHY COLELLO 

Retreat Forward talked with several long-time retreatants, who shared their thoughts. 

Bill Healey 

VICE PRESIDENT OF UNDERWRITING 

AND RISK MANAGEMENT 

Bill Healey grew up in West Hartford and 

was vaguely aware of the retreat center, but 

not involved. That changed in 1999, when 

he came on his first weekend retreat with the 

men of St. Thomas the Apostle. 

“Before coming on retreat,” he says, “I rarely 

thought about how to experience spirituality 

in my life. The immersion we receive on 

retreat forces us to contemplate our faith in a way that one hour a week at Mass cannot.” 

Bill, who also attends Sunday night Mass with his wife Susan and is now a member of Holy 

Family’s advisory board, says the “truly worthwhile programming, the music, and the food” 

keep him coming back. 

“And to be honest,” he says, “I like knowing that my wife and children take note that this is part 

of my yearly routine, and it helps to solidify the idea of putting my Catholic faith into action.” 

I strongly believe that 

participating on retreat has 

helped me to be a better 

husband, father and son, 

pray more, strengthen 

my faith, and become 

better connected to 

my parish community 

and to God. 

– Bill Healey 

I feel that life without 

faith makes no sense and 

Holy Family keeps 

my faith alive. 

Marilynn Cruz-Aponte 

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS 

There’s something about bad times that pushes people to seek answers, and to come to 

Holy Family. 

Marilynn Cruz-Aponte first came to the Center in 2010, three months after her father 

died. She had gone through other significant losses between 2008 and 2010 that left 

her, she says, feeling “depleted, hopeless and lost. I needed healing and an anchor.” 

She found it at Holy Family “in the creativity of the gallery, the natural beauty of the 

trees and walking trails, the divine music, the seating alcoves, the exquisite tile mosaics, 

and the Stations and their power to remind me of the journey of life we all walk.” 

In addition to women’s weekends, Marilynn comes to day and evening programs, 

concerts, and Sunday night Mass, and she also serves on the advisory board. But the 

weekend themed retreats have been especially meaningful to her. 

“I look back at my journal notes and know for certain that the themes met me where 

I was in my life, addressing the struggle I was facing at that time. Retreat opened me 

up and increased my confidence that sorrows and hard times will pass, and that all 

experiences lead to growth when I understand God is with me; I am not alone.” 

-Marilynn Cruz-Aponte 

4 


Olivia Corso 

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MARKETING 

Like Marilynn, Olivia started coming to Holy Family about ten years ago. She and her mom 

signed up for the women’s retreat and have come every year since. She says the friendly people 

and the peaceful atmosphere keep her coming back. She also loves the gift shop and the fresh, 

vegetarian-friendly food, especially the cookies. 

Apart from the culinary delights, she enjoys listening to the music ministry at Sunday night Mass, 

and during retreat, walking the labyrinth and meditating. 

“The retreat is always transformational for me,” says Olivia, “because each year, its theme speaks to 

me at that moment in my life, and I always walk away inspired, changed, and grateful as I continue 

my journey in faith.” 

Olivia’s journey included another very special Holy Family experience on August 18, 2018, when 

she and her husband Chris were married by Fr. David in the main chapel. 

Come and experience Holy Family for yourself! It’s a beautiful place where everyone 

is welcome. You will leave forever changed, in a wonderful way. 

– Olivia Corso 

Brian and Amy Rucci 

ACTUARY, PARISH SECRETARY 

ACTORS IN COMMUNITY THEATER 

For Brian and Amy Rucci, Holy Family is, indeed, a “family” affair. Brian comes 

with his dad Paul to the men’s weekend, Amy comes with mother-in-law Gloria to 

the women’s weekend, and Brian and Amy frequently attend the couples’ retreat 

and Valentine’s dinner together, and they both sing in the choir. They’re also 

“religious” about bringing their three children to the family retreat. 

“It is one of the highlights of our year,” says Amy, “being involved in a retreat 

weekend with our whole family. We’ve formed such beautiful friendships with 

other families, and the love and support we feel from them and the retreat team is 

incredible.” 

Brian says the men’s weekend, which he’s been attending since 2000, has become 

part of a continuing journey rather than the once-a-year “tune up” it was at the 

beginning. He especially enjoys the talks and presentations and during free time, 

walks the labyrinth. 

“I also really like morning and evening prayer. I actually bought CDs at the 

bookstore so that I can do morning and evening prayer on my own at home.” 

For Brian, the main chapel at Holy Family holds special meaning, particularly the 

mosaic on the wall. “I like to pick one tile and think of it as being me—one piece 

in the picture of God and life.” 

You can sit in the back and hide 

during the whole retreat if you want to. 

But try it once. It changed my life. 

It can change yours, too. 

-Brian Rucci 

Each year the retreats build on each 

other, and they have become a vital part of my 

spiritual journey. I can’t express in words how 

important the retreat is to me. 

-Amy Rucci 


Youth Ministry 

Holy Family’s youth retreats provide our children an opportunity to grow spiritually and 

deepen their understanding of our Catholic faith. Grounded in catechesis, these retreats also 

expand the youth’s experience of prayer. Cooperation experiences and small group faith 

discussions add fun and a sense of community to the retreats. Our youth ministry programs 

will help your parish or school communicate the joy of faith and the beauty of a lifelong 

journey with God. 

FEBRUARY 14 TO 16, 2020 

College Retreat 


The pace of college can often leave students with 

the need to rest and reflect in a sacred space. 

On this weekend retreat for college students, 

we explore the retreat season theme and offer a 

variety of workshops to strengthen faith through 

learning and small group discussion. The retreat 

is centered on the liturgy of the Church and 

enhancing the experience of community among 

college students. It begins on Friday evening 

with a buffet dinner and concludes after Sunday 

brunch. 


JUNE 19 TO 21, 2020 

Teen Retreat 


This two-night retreat offers interested 

teens an opportunity for growth in personal 

faith, community building and leadership 

training. The retreat provides a sacred and 

restful atmosphere to support teens in the 

understanding of their Catholic faith. It 

encourages teens to share their gifts and talents 

with their parishes and to be leaders in sharing 

their faith with others. The retreat begins on 

Friday evening and concludes with a family Mass 

on Sunday. 


Confirmation Retreats 

We provide inspiring Confirmation retreats for 

high school youth to experience the tranquility 

of this holy place. These Sunday evening retreats 

incorporate Holy Family’s retreat theme for 

the season. The evening includes a catechetical 

component, prayer experience, cooperation 

activity, a beautiful Reconciliation service 

with the help of Holy Family’s very talented 

musicians, and a delicious dinner. 

Contact Liza Peters at 

lpeters@holyfamilyretreat.org 

for more information. 

Retreats for Catholic School Students and Faculty 

We invite Catholic school communities to experience the tranquility of Holy Family. By offering a welcoming and peaceful place 

for your students and faculty to be renewed, we hope to support the important work of our Catholic schools. 

Our retreats for students include community-building exercises, small-group discussion and sharing, time for reflection, Mass, lunch, and 

a project that can be taken home as a memento of our day together. 

Our faculty retreats offer a dynamic conference to address the particular needs of working in a Catholic school environment. 

We also include a variety of workshops, which can be modified to fit the needs of your faculty. Together, we will celebrate Mass as a 

community of faculty members and share a delicious lunch. 

To schedule dates or to craft a retreat experience that meets your needs, please contact Liza Peters at 

lpeters@holyfamilyretreat.org or 860.760.9712. 

6 


Holy Family Programs 2019 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019 

Mass for Peace: 

Memorial Mass for 

18th Anniversary of 9/11 

7:00 P.M. 

Join us in praying for peace in our hearts 

and peace in the world as Holy Family 

commemorates the anniversary of September 11. 

Refreshments to follow. Free-will offering 

SEPTEMBER 20 TO 22, 2019 

Men’s Retreat 


Holy Family Retreat Team 

See page 2 for details. 

SEPTEMBER 23 TO 27, 2019 

Annual Priests’ Retreat 

Rev. Michael F. Tunney, S.J. 

In the company of fellow priests, explore 

companionship with Jesus Christ. Scriptures and 

prayer experiences from The Spiritual Exercises 

of Ignatius Loyola will structure the retreat days. 

Art and imagery will likely play a part as well. 

Retreatants are welcome to bring sketch books 

and art materials, as they wish. Join us for a 

time of rest and renewal as we share discussion, 

fellowship, quiet, music and liturgy. The retreat 

begins at 4:00 p.m. on Monday and concludes at 

10:00 a.m. on Friday. Offering: $475 

Rev. Michael F. Tunney, S.J., 

is rector of the Fairfield 

Jesuit Community and 

teaches in the Religious 

Studies department at 

Fairfield University. He 

co-leads a faculty and staff 

seminar in the Catholic 

intellectual tradition. He was the founding 

director of the Office of Mission and Identity at 

Canisius College, where he chaired the Fine Arts 

department. He is former rector of the Canisius 

Jesuit Community. Michael holds an M.F.A. 

in painting and M.S. in art history from Pratt 

Institute, and an M.Div. and Master’s in Sacred 

Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology, 

Berkeley. His artwork has been exhibited in 

numerous galleries and his illustrations have 

appeared in America magazine. 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 

Movie Night 

7:00 TO 9:00 P.M. 

We invite our community to share the 

experience of viewing and discussing an 

acclaimed movie that addresses critical issues 

in our present cultural, religious and political 

landscape. White Right: Meeting the Enemy is 

a 2017 documentary film by two-time Emmy 

and Peabody Award-winning director Deeyah 

Khan. The film is one hour in length and will be 

followed by a discussion led by Holy Family staff. 

Light refreshments will be served throughout the 

evening. 

SEPTEMBER 27 TO 29, 2019 

Women’s Retreat 




SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 

Building Bridges 


10:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. 

In an atmosphere of welcome and friendship, 

this retreat day for LGBTQ+ communities and 

their families include presentation, prayer and 

reflection, conversation, and quiet time to enjoy 

the beauty of Holy Family. 

Offering: $35 (includes lunch) 

SUNDAYS, SEPTEMBER 29, OCTOBER 

6, 13, 20, 27, NOVEMBER 3, 2019 

Bible Study: 

The Psalms on Our Journey 

Colin Petramale 

5:30 TO 6:45 P.M. 

For Christians, the Psalms form an essential 

part of our liturgical life. They reveal an exciting 

and vibrant faith journey of a people—Israel. 

Come to this faith-sharing and scripture study 

group to dive deeper into the Psalms and learn 

how they sustain us on our journeys of faith. 

Participants are welcome to join us each week for 

our community Mass at 7:00 p.m. We will have a 

culminating dinner on November 3. 


Colin Petramale — see Colin’s biography on 

page 3. 


A Day to Breathe 

Join us on Friday morning of your 

retreat weekend (any time after 

9:00 a.m.), check in early, enjoy some 

quiet time and a nurturing lunch, and 

settle in before the retreat begins. 

Offering: $50 

Holy Family Programs 2019 

NEW! Retreat 

Refresher Day 


Just a few days after a weekend 

retreat at Holy Family, the peace 

and power of the experience can 

begin to fade and its lessons can be 

overwhelmed by our busyness. 

If you’ve attended a weekend retreat 

and seek to refresh and deepen 

your experience, join us for a Retreat 

Refresher Day. Listen to your favorite 

talk a second time, enjoy some quiet, 

attend the workshop that you missed, 

and share conversation with others 

who seek to integrate the wisdom of 

retreat into daily life. The day begins 

with the Saturday morning conference 

at 9:30 a.m., includes lunch, and 

concludes after the 6:00 p.m. Mass. 

Women: February 29, June 6 

Men: March 14, June 13 

Offering: $65 

NEW! Private Retreats 

A private retreat is quiet time and 

space to deepen your spiritual life. This 

might include time for rest, prayer, 

study, reading, a visit to our labyrinth, 

or simply time away from your daily 

rhythm of life. Retreats include a 

private room with a private bathroom 

and meals. 

A two-night minimum is required. 

To determine availability and make a 

reservation, email Kasia Owczarek at 

kowczarek@holyfamilyretreat.org or 

call 860.760.9799. Optional spiritual 

direction can be arranged for an 

additional offering. 

Offering: $135 per night 

OCTOBER 18 TO 20, 2019 

Matt Talbot Men’s Recovery 

Retreat — Group #28 

Rev. Lou Pambello 

At Holy Family, we invite men in recovery into a 

peaceful atmosphere where you can rest, renew 

your spiritual life, and deepen your sobriety. 

Hear an inspiring lecture, get a massage (extra 

fee), catch up on some rest, and care for yourself 

as we care for you in mind, body, and spirit. Our 

Matt Talbot weekends are open to ALL people, 

from ALL backgrounds, regardless of whether or 

not you are a member of a church. The retreat 

begins on Friday with a buffet dinner from 

6:00 to 7:30 p.m. and concludes on Sunday 

around 11:00 a.m. 

Visit holyfamilyretreat.org/recovery for more 

information. 

NOVEMBER 1 TO 3, 2019 





SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2019 

Festive Fall Musical Offering 

Holy Family Music Ministry 

3:00 TO 4:00 P.M. 

The Holy Family Chamber Choir and selected 

soloists, both vocal and instrumental, will 

present a concert from a variety of musical 

periods and styles in the main chapel. The 

concert will be followed by a reception including 

light refreshments and spirits. Bring a friend and 

join us for a delightful and relaxing experience 

prior to the busy holidays. 

Offering: $25 

NOVEMBER 22 TO 24, 2019 

Matt Talbot 

Women’s Recovery Retreat 

At Holy Family, we invite women in recovery 

into a peaceful atmosphere where you can 

rest, renew your spiritual life, and deepen your 

sobriety. Hear an inspiring lecture, get a massage 

(extra fee), catch up on some rest, and care for 

yourself as we care for you in mind, body, and 

spirit. Our Matt Talbot weekends are open to 

8 


ALL people, from ALL backgrounds, regardless 

of whether or not you are a member of a church. 

The retreat begins on Friday with a buffet dinner 

from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. and concludes on Sunday 

around 11:00 a.m. 


information. 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2019 

Thanksgiving Ecumenical 

Service 

7:00 P.M. 

As our world faces so many challenges to peace, 

the Holy Family community invites our friends 

of all religious and cultural backgrounds to 

come together to pray and worship in a spirit 

of unity, gratitude and love. Bishop Peter 

Rosazza, Rabbi Donna Berman, Dr. Shyamala 

Raman, Bishop Laura Ahrens, and a host of 

other religious leaders will be present to give 

witness to the diversity and friendship that 

we espouse as people of faith. The service will 

be held in the main chapel and will include 

scripture, music and reflections by various guest 

speakers. Following the service, we will gather for 

refreshments in the main dining room. 

Free-will offering 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2019 

Thanksgiving Day Mass 

9:00 A.M. 

We welcome everyone to join the Passionist 

Community as we celebrate Mass the morning 

of Thanksgiving Day. Free-will offering 

DECEMBER 6 TO 8, 2019 

Matt Talbot 

Men’s Recovery 

Retreat 

Attaining and 

Retaining 

Spirituality 

Through the 

12 Steps and 12 

Promises 

Deacon Herb Coyne 

See Matt Talbot description on page 8. 


information. 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 

Advent Retreat for 

Young Adults 

Our Deepest Longing: A Young 

Adult Call to Community 

Colin Petramale and Patrick Laorden 

1:00 TO 9:00 P.M. 

What is it that we long for? We have all asked 

this question at some point in our lives, and 

it seems even more important in this rapidly 

changing world. Come join a vibrant group of 

young adults to explore this question of longing. 

We will examine how our longing affects our 

lives in community, and how our longings can be 

used for the most good for ourselves and others. 

Mass and dinner included. Offering: $40 

Colin Petramale — see Colin’s biography on 

page 3. 

Patrick Laorden is a 

parish social ministry 

coordinator with the Office 

for Catholic Social Justice 

Ministry in the Archdiocese 

of Hartford. He assists 

parishes in strengthening 

social justice ministry 

through leadership development and skill 

building workshops. Patrick has been engaged in 

social justice efforts through his previous work 

with Catholic Relief Services, prison ministry, 

mission work, and serving on a social justice 

commission. 

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 

Advent Reflection 

There Is a Longing: Hearing the 

Whispers of Advent 

Fr. David Cinquegrani, C.P. 

DAY RETREAT: 10:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. 

EVENING RETREAT: 6:00 TO 9:00 P.M. 

Each of us has a longing in our hearts to 

encounter the presence of God in one form 

or another, to uncover and grasp what Ronald 

Rolheiser calls “the secret worth knowing.” 

Advent is not simply a time to get ready for 

Christmas; it’s the time for Christians to prepare 

their hearts and minds for the revelation of the 

Divine and to accept God’s indwelling in every 

moment. Join Fr. David in exploring our deep 

longing for the Savior, Emmanuel—among us 

and within us. The day program includes the 

Sacrament of Reconciliation. Both programs 

include Mass. Offering: $40 (includes meal) 

Fr. David Cinquegrani, C.P. — see Fr. David’s 

biography on page 3. 

DECEMBER 13 TO 15, 2019 

Matt Talbot 

Men’s Recovery 


Rev. Jack Cryan 

See Matt Talbot description 

on page 8. Visit 

holyfamilyretreat.org/recovery 


SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2019 

Sacred Sounds of Advent and 

Christmas 

2:00 P.M. AND 7:00 P.M. 

Come join us to celebrate the joy and beauty 

of this sacred season at Holy Family. Our 

concert features an adult choir, chamber choir, 

instrumentalists, handbell choir, soloists, and 

children’s choir. A reception follows each concert. 

Offering: $40 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2019 

Christmas Eve Mass 

4:00 P.M. AND 5:30 P.M. 

The celebration of the sacred Christmas liturgy is 

the highlight of our year at Holy Family. You are 

cordially invited to join us for one of two Masses 

on Christmas Eve. Holy Family’s beautiful music 

and voices will fill your spirit with the joy of 

the season. All are welcome. No registration 

necessary. Free-will offering 

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2019 

Christmas Day Mass 

10:30 A.M. 

The celebration of the sacred Christmas liturgy is 

the highlight of our year at Holy Family. You are 

cordially invited to join us for our Christmas Day 

Mass. Holy Family’s beautiful music and voices 

will fill your spirit with the joy of the season. All 

are welcome. No registration necessary. 

Free-will offering 


Holy Family Programs 2020 

JANUARY 10 TO 12, 2020 





College Weekend Retreat 



MARCH 13 TO 15, 2020 




WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 

Parish Catechists Workshop 

Exploring Scripture with 

Today’s Youth 

Deborah Pelletier and Susan Piescik 









JANUARY 31 TO FEBRUARY 2, 2020 





Matt Talbot Men’s Recovery 

Retreat — Group #28 

Using the 11th Step with 

Support from the 6th and 

7th Steps 

Deacon Tom Evrard 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020 

Knitting Into the Now 

Dr. Brandon Nappi 


Couples’ Weekend Retreat 




Hearts and Wine: 

Valentine’s Gourmet Dinner 





WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 

Ash Wednesday Reflection 

Liza Peters 

FEBRUARY 28 TO MARCH 1, 2020 





Retreat Refresher Day for 

Women 



MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 

Evening with E.J. Sweeney 

The Resurrection: What Did 

Jesus’ Disciples See? 





SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2020 

An Afternoon of Chamber Music 

Holy Family Music Ministry 

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020 

Retreat Refresher Day for Men 



MARCH 20 TO 22, 2020 




WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 

Women’s Evening Retreat 

Kerry Weber 





TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2020 

Lenten Bread Retreat 

The Polish Tradition: Babka and 

Butter Lambs 

Barbara Skomorowski and Beth Malley 

APRIL 3 TO 5, 2020 





Holy Week Triduum Retreat 

The Path of Transformation 


THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020 

Holy Thursday: Commemoration 

of the Lord’s Supper 

10 


FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 

Good Friday: Commemoration 

of the Lord’s Passion 

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 

Taize Evening Prayer Service 

for Good Friday 

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2020 

Easter Vigil 

SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2020 

Easter Sunday Mass 





WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2020 

Retreat Day for Parish Staff 

Liza Peters 


The Joy of Easter: A Concert 


Men’s Evening Retreat 

Spirit-filled Men of the Gospel 

and Hope 

Rev. Warren J. Savage 

SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2020 

Mother’s Day Mass and Brunch: 

We’ve Got You Covered 

MAY 15 TO 17, 2020 

Matt Talbot 

Men’s Recovery Retreat 

Dennis Callnan 

TUESDAY, JUNE 2 AND 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2020 

(SAME PROGRAM BOTH EVENINGS) 

Music Ministers’ Evening 


Fr. Michael Driscoll 





SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 

Retreat Refresher Day for 

Women 








Retreat Refresher Day for Men 



JUNE 14 TO 20, 2020 

Retreat for Women Religious 

Bearing Witness to the Holy 

Sr. Chris Koellhoffer, I.H.M. 

JUNE 14 TO 20, 2020 

Weeklong Directed Retreat: 

Walking the Path of Love and 

Gratitude 

Sr. Cathleen Murtha, D.W., and 

Joanne White 


Teen Retreat 


Holy Family Youth Ministry Team 


Vacation Bible Camp 


JULY 20 TO 24, 2020 

Music Camp 

Fr. David Cinquegrani, C.P., and the 







Retreat for the 

Deaf Community 




Christian Contemplative Experience Programs 2019-2020 

The Christian 

Contemplative 

Experience 

at Holy Family (CCE) seeks to 

affirm the oneness of all Christians 

and to transcend our outward 

differences by joining together 

in silent prayer. Our purpose is to 

provide a space where Christians 

can meet, share and pray together 

in the contemplative tradition. 

CCE is informed by the principles, 

prayer practices and teachings 

of Contemplative Outreach, LTD, 

founded by Thomas Keating in 

1984. It includes the methods of 

Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer 

and Welcoming Prayer, among 

others. We are also enriched by the 

Wisdom teaching and methods of 

Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault and her 

International Wisdom network. 

Our structured program is based 

on the insights, teachings and 

methods of these two sources 

as well as various classical and 

modern Christian spiritual masters. 


CCE – Formation 

Reclaiming our Mystical Roots 

Dr. Rickey Cotton 

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

This workshop focuses on the Christian 

Contemplative Heritage as a vital resource 

for today’s contemplative life. We begin the 

discussion with the Christian desert hermits who 

lived in Egypt, Palestine and Syria from the third 

to the fifth centuries AD. We’ll also look at their 

key monastic descendants ranging across the 

fifth to late nineteenth centuries. 


Dr. Rickey Cotton is a 

Contemplative Outreach 

commissioned presenter 

of Centering Prayer 

and Lectio Divina and a 

member of the faculty for 

Contemplative Outreach’s 

Living Flame program. 

Rickey has developed and presented many 

contemplative workshops around the country, 

including ones on Meister Eckhart and Raimon 

Panikkar’s Christophany. He is a retired professor 

of English and department chair at Southeastern 

University. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019 

CCE – Contemplative 

Enrichment Day 

Exploring the Wisdom of the 

Gospels 

Rev. Bill Redfield 

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

An exploration of the Gospels’ Wisdom 

Parables will give us an understanding of Jesus 

as “Wisdom Master.” Using a Lectio Divina 

approach, we will unpack various parables 

together. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the 

Wisdom of the Gospels and have a method to 

give the Gospels a living meaning. 


Rev. Bill Redfield is an 

Episcopal priest and 

licensed clinical social 

worker who has worked in 

private practice in central 

New York and Maine. He 

served for nearly 20 years 

as rector of Trinity Church 

in Fayetteville, NY, before retiring. He has had a 

lifelong interest in the intersection of spirituality 

and the inner life. He is the creative force behind 

the birth of Wisdom House in Fayetteville and is 

a student of and collaborator with Rev. Cynthia 

Bourgeault. 

12 


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2019 


Forgiveness Prayer and Practice 

Steve Standiford 

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

We will deepen our understanding of what it 

means to forgive one another as we consider 

what forgiveness is and what it is not. The 

day includes the opportunity to practice the 

Forgiveness Prayer, a guided meditation created 

by Mary Mrozowski, one of the founders of 

Contemplative Outreach. 


Steve Standiford is a 

regular Centering Prayer 

practitioner. He leads 

retreats and workshops and 

teaches spiritual practices 

through Contemplative 

Outreach. He is also a 

psychotherapist in private 

practice in Manhattan and Westchester County. 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8 TO 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019 

CCE – Intensive Retreat 

Reclaiming the Mystical Heart 

of Christianity 

Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, Ph.D. 

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2019 


The Psychological Experience 

of Centering Prayer 

Jim McElroy 

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

The human transformation we undergo in 

Centering Prayer is complex and multifaceted. 

We face common questions about how our 

practice is progressing and our psychological 

experience of releasing the emotional wounds of 

a lifetime. This presentation is intended to clarify 

the psychological process on our journey to 

transformation. Offering: $65 (includes lunch) 

Jim McElroy is a 

commissioned presenter 

of Centering Prayer, which 

he has been practicing 

since 1996. He has been 

on the leadership team of 

12-Step Outreach since its 

formation in 2005 and is 

especially interested in teaching contemplative 

practices to the recovery community. He is a 

former coordinator of Contemplative Outreach 

of St. Louis and is on the Welcoming Prayer and 

Living Flame faculty. 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 


Lectio Divina Introductory 

Workshop for Advent 

Mike Smoolca and Nancy Stimac 

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

The method of Lectio Divina, to pray sacred 

scripture, is introduced. Presenting a Christian 

tradition of prayer through reading, reflecting, 

responding and resting in the Word of God, 

one’s relationship with God is nourished and 

deepened. Scripture appropriate for the Advent 

season will be utilized in this workshop. Both 

individual and group experiences will be 

provided. Offering: $50 (includes lunch) 

Mike Smoolca is an 

experienced contemplative 

group and workshop 

facilitator and a dedicated 

student of contemplative 

practices and wisdom 

spirituality. He is a 


presenter and coordinator for Contemplative 

Outreach of CT and the Northern CT Chapter 

of the International Thomas Merton Society. 

Mike is a practicing spiritual director who 

received his certificate from Fairfield University. 

He has been an internship partner at the 

Spiritual Life Center in West Hartford, CT. 


Christian Contemplative Experience Programs 2019-2020 

Nancy Stimac, a longtime 

contemplative prayer 

practitioner, is a Centering 

Prayer facilitator and 

commissioned presenter of 

Centering Prayer and Lectio 

Divina for Contemplative 

Outreach. She is a graduate 

of the Archdiocese of Hartford’s Catholic Bible 

School and Lay Ministry programs. She uses 

her gifts to serve the Catholic community of 

Windsor Locks as a prayer group facilitator, 

Bible study leader, RCIA teacher, lector, and 

evangelization team member. 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2020 



James Baldwin: Contemplative 

Prophet of Love 

Rev. Mark Longhurst 

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

In this workshop, we will explore the work of 

American writer and activist James Baldwin 

through the lens of mysticism, prophecy, and 

love. We’ll consider the Hebrew prophets as 

mystics, James Baldwin as continuing the witness 

of prophecy, and Baldwin’s reflections on racism 

fueled by the fierce vision of love that grounded 

his work. Included in the day are intentional 

practices of silence, chanting Psalms, and 

conscious dialogue. 


Rev. Mark Longhurst 

is a writer and pastor of 

the First Congregational 

Church in the Berkshire 

hills of Williamstown, MA. 

His deepest passion is to 

support the awakening 

and renewal of a justiceseeking 

contemplative vision for our own lives 

and time. He worked for activist organizations 

in the Boston area and earned an M.Div. at 

Harvard Divinity School but credits his study 

with Richard Rohr for setting his heart on fire 

with love for God through the Christian mystical 

tradition. He regularly blogs for Ordinary 

Mystic, hosted by patheos.com. 



The Dark Night of the Soul: 

Night of Spirit 

Susan Komis 

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

How do we find words for a “dark” experience… 

or is it really dark? St. John of the Cross, a 

sixteenth century Spanish mystic, charts the 

fundamental journey of the human spirit. “Dark 

nights” are the misunderstood and amazing 

stories of spiritual development. The program 

will focus on the Night of Spirit, which presents 

the experience of being spiritually wounded and 

simultaneously healed by the Divine Physician. 


Susan Komis is a pastoral 

minister, spiritual director, 

retreat leader and presenter 

of contemplative prayer 

and spirituality. She is 

the former director of 


Chapter Programs and 

Services and coordinator of Contemplative 

Outreach of St. Louis. 



Centering Prayer Introductory 

Workshop 

Mike Smoolca, Nancy Stimac 

8:30 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M. 

In this introductory workshop, you will learn 

the method and principles of Centering Prayer 

practice in a quiet, reflective atmosphere. We will 

cover the history, psychology, and theology of 

the practice. Two prayer sessions and a question 

and answer session are included. 

Offering: $30 

Mike Smoolca — see Mike’s biography on 

page 13. 

Nancy Stimac — see Nancy’s biography on 

page 14. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020 



A Contemplative Reformation: 

Parish Life 

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham 

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

When encountering a “decline” in typical 

congregations, there can be much anxiety and 

fear. Rather than a time for despair, what if this is 

a season of deconstruction and reconstruction? 

Let’s imagine the living experience of Christian 

community through the lens of a contemplative 

posture rather than simply a program 

maintenance model. 


Rev. Stuart Higginbotham 

is an Episcopal priest and 

rector of Grace Episcopal 

Church in Gainesville, GA. 

He has studied and worked 

with the Shalem Institute 

for Spiritual Formation for 

over a decade, and he draws 

on the richness of the Christian contemplative 

tradition in his ministry to a community of a 

thousand souls in North Georgia. He is a coeditor 

and contributor to the forthcoming book, 

Contemplation and Community: A Gathering of 

Fresh Voices for a Living Tradition. 




Integrating Nature and Body in 

Contemplative Practice 

Mark Kutolowski 

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

This day-long immersion centers around the 

relationship of the physical world, with the 

journey of transformation in Christ. Participants 

will practice disciplines for integrating the body 

in the journey of contemplative transformation. 

We will also learn methods of prayer and 

meditation that support intimacy with God’s 

presence in the natural world. 


Mark Kutolowski is an Oblate of Saint Benedict, 

a contemplative retreat leader, Centering Prayer 

teacher, wilderness guide, and instructor in 

the Russian martial art and health practice, 

14 


Systema. He has spent the 

past 20 years exploring the 

integration of Christian 

contemplation with 

physical transformation. 

Mark and his wife Lisa 

guide River of Life wild 

pilgrimages throughout 

New England and live a lay contemplative 

life at their homestead, Metanoia of Vermont 

(metanoiavt.com). 

THURSDAY, APRIL 23 TO 

SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020 


Introductory Wisdom School 

Rev. Bill Redfield 

Wisdom describes a foundational lineage of 

spiritual knowledge that underlies all the world’s 

specific faith traditions and outlines a manner 

of spiritual transformation. Here, participants 

will be introduced to the Wisdom Way of 

Knowing, through teaching and practice. A 

meditation practice is an assumed prerequisite. 

Visit holyfamilyretreat.org/wisdomschool for 

information on accommodations and pricing 

options. 

Rev. Bill Redfield — see Bill’s biography on 

page 12. 

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2020 


Centering Prayer Introductory 

Workshop 

Mike Smoolca, Nancy Stimac 

8:30 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M. 

In this introductory workshop, you will learn 

the method and principles of Centering Prayer 

practice in a quiet, reflective atmosphere. We will 

cover the history, psychology, and theology of 

the practice. Two prayer sessions and a question 

and answer session are included. 

Offering: $30 

Mike Smoolca — see Mike’s biography on 

page 13. 

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020 



Meditations of the Heart 

Lerita Coleman Brown, Ph.D. 

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

In his book, Meditations of the Heart, mystic and 

theologian Howard Thurman shares his insights 

from having quietly and deeply communed 

with the Eternal. Dr. Brown’s book, When the 

Heart Speaks, Listen: Discovering Inner Wisdom, 

illustrates how hearts are available for solace 

and overflow with divine guidance. Both books 

offer an invitation for deeper listening. Our 

enrichment day will include contemplative 

prayer, readings, silence, and a guided session 

of active imagination, to explore the spiritual 

wisdom of the mystical heart. Offering: $65 

(includes lunch) 

Lerita Coleman Brown 

is the Ayse I. Carden 

Distinguished Professor 

Emerita of Psychology 

at Agnes Scott College as 

well as a spiritual director, 

retreat leader and speaker. 

A graduate of the Shalem 

Institute and a devotee of the work of Howard 

Thurman, Lerita writes about and promotes 

contemplative spirituality in everyday life. Her 

website, peaceforhearts.com, is dedicated to 

helping people learn to live from the peace 

and joy in their hearts. She is author of a new 

book entitled, When the Heart Speaks, Listen: 

Discovering Inner Wisdom. 


CCE – Annual Day of Reflection 

Christianity Seen Through 

Contemplative and Inter-faith 

Lenses 

Fr. Michael K. Holleran 

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

The Christian Contemplative and Mystical 

traditions know the original, healing truths of 

Christianity such as Trinity, Incarnation, and 

Resurrection. When Christianity plunges deep 

in contemplation to recover its most original 

and life-giving insights, it not only rejuvenates 

itself, it discovers its compatibility and 

correspondences with other religious traditions. 

Come, explore and share! 


Fr. Michael K. Holleran 

is a Catholic priest, Sensei 

(Zen teacher) and former 

Carthusian monk. He 

currently serves as a priest 

of the Archdiocese of New 

York at the Church of 

Notre Dame at Columbia 

University. He was a Jesuit 

for five years and a Carthusian monk for 22 years 

in the U.S., France and England. He is a Sensei 

in the White Plum Asanga of the Zen tradition, 

through his mentor, Fr. Robert Kennedy, S.J. 

Nancy Stimac — see Nancy’s biography on 

page 14. 


Monastery Gallery of Art Programs 2019-2020 

The Monastery Gallery of Art (MGA) 

at Holy Family Passionist Retreat 

Center unites the arts, creativity 

and the sacred. We welcome works 

from artists of all backgrounds 

drawing on the wisdom of diverse 

faith traditions. Through exhibitions 

and educational programs, MGA 

values and promotes all forms of art 

that explore themes of compassion, 

resilience, peacemaking, loving 

kindness, social justice, and care for 

others and our planet. 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10 TO 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2019 

Exhibit: Through the Artist’s 

Eyes: Nicholas Scalise 

RECEPTION — 


3:00 TO 5:00 P.M. 

Nicholas Peter Scalise 

(1932-2009) was a fine arts 

artist whose career spanned 

over 50 years. During that 

time, he received more than 

200 regional and national 

awards and had more than 

30 solo exhibits at galleries 

and museums across the United States. 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 

Paint Night 

James Spinelli 

6:30 TO 9:00 P.M. 

Enjoy a fun night of creative painting and a glass 

of wine, too. You will take home a completed 

canvas. No experience needed. This event is a 

fundraiser for the MGA and includes materials, 

wine and cheese. Offering: $50 

James Spinelli is a painter, 

assemblage and abstract 

expressionist who utilizes 

his creativity as a vehicle 

to showcase his personal 

life experiences. Jim is 

committed to educating 

adults and children alike 

by offering them the opportunity to find their 

voices. He believes that collectively, we can bring 

positive change to our communities. Jim holds a 

B.F.A. from Central Connecticut State University 

and has exhibited and taught extensively 

throughout New England. 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 TO 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2019 

Whimsical Women Art Retreat: 

Artfully Inspired Autumn 

Splendor 

Joanne Sharpe 

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019 TO 

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020 

Exhibit: Syntax Mixed Media 

Artists 

*Various Artists 

RECEPTION: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019 

7:00 TO 9:00 P.M. 

This group of artists create art using mixed 

media, then come together to critique and 

exhibit. Their guiding principles include a 

professional approach to the business of art, as 

well as mutual respect, balanced with the joy of 

making art. 

*Participating artists: Karen Larocque of 

Mystic, Jan McLean of Shelton, Jean Swanson 

of Bethany, Kelly Taylor of Glastonbury, 

Diane Ward of Farmington and Gretchen 

Wohlgemuth of West Hartford. 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2019 

Paper Wreath 

Kathy Parulski 

5:30 TO 9:00 P.M. 

Create a gorgeous wreath from vintage paper. 

Perfect for seasonal hanging that can 

be made for any holiday. No experience 

necessary. 

Offering: $50 (includes materials and a 

light meal) 

Kathy Parulski is cocurator 

of the Monastery 

Gallery of Art and an 

accomplished bookbinder 

and book artist. Her 

work ranges from the 

restoration of family Bibles 

to original book works 

using metal edge binding and recycled materials. 

She has taught adults and children throughout 

New England and has exhibited extensively 

in Connecticut. A certified Zentangle teacher 

and former newspaper publisher, she holds a 

graduate certificate in women’s spirituality from 

the Women’s Leadership Institute at Hartford 

Seminary. 

16 


TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 

Christmas Houses 

Beth Malley 

5:30 TO 9:00 P.M. 

Create a village of Christmas houses using paper 

and acrylic paint, then make them come “alive” 

with tea lights. You will complete at least one 

house and have the template to make more on 

your own. No experience necessary. 

Offering: $50 (includes materials and a light meal) 

Beth Malley is co-curator 

of the Monastery Gallery 

of Art and a certified 

Zentangle teacher who 

enjoys helping others 

explore their artistic and 

creative gifts. She has taught 

Zentangle privately and at 

Copper Beech Institute, Grace Academy and Our 

Lady of Calvary Retreat Center. Her artworks 

have been displayed at the West Hartford Public 

Library, Golden Thread Gallery and Monastery 

Gallery of Art. She is a docent at the Wadsworth 

Atheneum and likes to knit and crochet. 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 TO 

MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020 


RECEPTION — 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2020 

3:00 TO 5:00 P.M. 

Artists from the community and beyond will 

exhibit works of art that are geared to a specific 

theme. Expect to see a variety of media and 

presentations as each artist showcases the theme 

in his/her own way. 

TUESDAYS, JANUARY 21 TO 

MARCH 31, 2020 

The Artist’s Way 


6:00 TO 8:30 P.M. 

Recover your creative spirit through techniques 

and exercises to gain self-confidence in 

harnessing your creative talents and skills. 

Offering: $130 (includes textbook and a light 

meal) 

Kathy Parulski — see Kathy’s biography on 

page 16. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 

Acrylic Pours 

Mary Marsan 

5:30 TO 9:00 P.M. 

Join us for a fun evening learning a new art form 

called acrylic pouring. Create two 8" x 10" 

paintings using various techniques. Demonstrations 

will be given and no art background is needed to 

produce fabulous and colorful art. Please bring 

an old shirt, smock or apron to wear. 


Mary Marsan is an artist 

and teacher exploring 

the connection between 

spirituality and creativity 

using a variety of art forms, 

including oil painting, 

acrylics and collage. She 

is also a certified spiritual 

director for the Spiritual Life Center located 

at Holy Family Retreat Center. She previously 

served as coordinator of lay ministry and adult 

faith formation for the Archdiocese of Hartford. 

She holds a Master of Divinity degree and a 

degree in art education. 


Chinese Brush Painting 

Judy Giguere 

5:30 TO 9:00 P.M. 

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to 

learn two techniques of The Four Gentlemen 

Chinese painting process, which are the Bamboo 

and the Chinese Orchid. The workshop 

will encompass the basic elements of Chinese 

Brush painting for these two subjects. No 

experience necessary. Offering: $50 (includes 

materials and a light meal) 

Judy Giguere is a Chinese 

brush artist, writer, teacher 

and town historian for 

the town of Plymouth. 

A frequent speaker and 

writer on local history, 

she has studied Chinese 

art and is dedicated to 

the preservation of the history and technique 

of ancient China. She is the author, illustrator 

and publisher of two volumes on Chinese 

brush work released by Maple Tree Studio. Her 

2018 book, The Four Gentlemen —The Art of 

Chinese Brush Painting, is now in the process of 

reprinting. 

FRIDAY, APRIL 24 TO 

MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020 

Student Art Exhibition 

RECEPTION: FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020 

7:00 TO 9:00 P.M. 

Student artists from East Catholic, Mercy, 

Northwest Catholic and St. Paul high schools will 

display their talents in this very special exhibit. 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 

Accordion Paper Wreath 


5:30 TO 9:00 P.M. 

Join us for this evening of fun and creativity 

making an accordion wreath that is adaptable to 

any season or size! No experience necessary. 


Kathy Parulski — see Kathy’s biography on 

page 16. 

SUNDAY, MAY 31 TO 


Icon Painting and Carving 

Retreat: Six Days of Creation 

Marek Czarnecki 

Please visit our website at monasterygallery.art 


FRIDAY, JUNE 5 TO 

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 

Icon Painting Exhibition 

Marek Czarnecki is a 

gifted iconographer and 

artist, teaching and writing 

icons out of his liturgical 

arts studio, Seraphic 

Restorations, in Meriden, 

CT. A student of Russian 

Orthodox iconographer 

Ksenia Pokrovsky, he is author of and part of 

the teaching team for the Six Days of Creation 

courses. His icon painting has been featured in 

numerous exhibits, videos and articles, including 

The New York Times and St. Anthony Messenger. 

He holds a B.F.A. degree from the prestigious 

School of Visual Arts in New York City. 


Your generosity strengthens our programs and facility. 

Before After 

Paving Project Update 

Thanks to the support of our donors, our paving project is nearly complete and we are busy with some finishing touches 

around the property—including a Peace Garden to honor our dear Fr. John Baptist who passed away last year. 

At a total cost of $600,000, however, we are still actively fundraising. If you haven’t given to the paving effort, please 

consider a gift today. 

With nearly 20,000 people coming to our campus every year—many of them elderly—your donation towards our goal 

will help to ensure that they do so safely and efficiently, in order to sustain our ministry for years to come. 

Visit holyfamilyretreat.org/paving to make your gift. 

Our new e-basket EFT program 

is the easy, safe and convenient 

way to give to Holy Family. 

Find out more at 

holyfamilyretreat.org/ebasket. 

Naming Opportunity at Holy Family 

Recently, a park bench was dedicated in memory of one 

of our longtime retreatants, Bruno Bagnaschi. Fr. David 

commemorated the event with a small prayer service for friends 

and family. Guests gathered in the retreat dining room afterwards 

for a light luncheon, prepared and served by Holy Family staff. 

Please contact Luke Giroux at 860.760.9784 if you’d like to 

consider a naming opportunity to honor or memorialize a 

loved one. 

18 


Thank you for supporting Holy Family! 

Annual Fund 2019-2020 

Please give today! 

Donations to the Holy Family Annual Fund support our annual 

operating budget as well as our 65-plus year tradition of more if you can, 

less if you can’t. Thanks to your generosity, no one has ever been turned 

away from making a retreat due to finances. 

Please make a donation to this year’s Annual Fund; what you do makes a 

difference in the lives of many. 

holyfamilyretreat.org/give 

Planned Giving — 

The Flynn Heritage Society 

Often we hear from people who wish they could 

make a substantial gift to Holy Family but simply 

cannot afford to do so. Making a planned gift by 

remembering Holy Family in your will or estate 

plan is a great way to make a gift that will benefit 

Holy Family in the future. 

The Flynn Heritage Society is composed of those 

people who have included Holy Family in their will or 

estate plan. For more information or to speak with other retreatants 

who are already members of the Flynn Society, contact the Development 

Office at 860.760.9716, or visit our website. 

The Flynn Heritage Society is named for Fr. Joseph Leo Flynn, C.P., 

Holy Family’s first retreat director. Fr. Joe Leo welcomed the first 

retreatants to Holy Family in 1951. 

www.holyfamilyretreat.org/flynn 

20 years 

of fun on 

the fairway! 

The 20th Annual Gerald J. Kristofak 

Memorial Golf Tournament 

Thursday, June 18, 2020 

Indian Hill Country Club, Newington, CT 

Join us for a fun day of golf 

This tournament honors the memory of our dear friend 

Gerald Kristofak and provides vitally needed financial 

support for the ministry. 

Become a sponsor 

Widespread promotional exposure opportunities are 

available for your company. 

holyfamilyretreat.org/golf 


Prayerful Experiences 

Music Ministry 

Over time, Holy Family has become a respected center for liturgical 

music throughout the region. The Holy Family choir, handbell choir, 

children’s choir, and chamber choir consist of nearly 100 singers 

and musicians who, by their love and passion for sacred music, have 

become extended members of the Passionist family. This entire 

group ministers at Advent and Easter concerts that prayerfully 

celebrate the joy of these sacred seasons. 

Chamber Choir Concerts – 

Sundays, November 17, 2019 and March 8, 2020 

Christmas Concert – Sunday, December 22, 2019 

Easter Concert – Saturday, April 25, 2020 

Music Ministers’ Evenings – June 2 and 3, 2020 

Gift Shop 

Come in and browse through our collection of inspirational books, 

unique handcrafted items, greeting cards, and fairly-traded gifts. 

Open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and some 

weekends. Call 860.760.9734 for additional hours or information, 

or visit our online store at 

holyfamilyretreat.org/giftshop. 

Ongoing Programs 

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings | Christian Contemplative Prayer | JustFaith Group | Prayer Shawl Ministry 

To find out more about any of these programs on our campus, please visit 

holyfamilyretreat.org/ongoing-programs. 

Mass Cards: Love with Prayer 

“As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the 

world of one person.” ~Paul Shane Spear 

Taking care of the people you love and reaching out with a gentle touch is the highest form of prayer. 

Our Mass card ministry is a beautiful tradition, providing support to those you care for and 

love. The gentle prayers offered in our cards profoundly touch the heart of the recipient. 

Choose a card to convey a message of hope, condolence, encouragement, or celebration. 

Send a loved one a Mass card today. In a world full of challenges and change, prayer is the hope 

that touches hearts. 

Call 860.521.6709 and we will be happy to help you select the perfect card. Or order directly at 

holyfamilyretreat.org/masscards 

20 


Choose Our 

Beautiful Facility 

for Your Family or 

Corporate Event 

PHOTO: Justin Benson 

J. Benson Photography LLC 

Known throughout the Northeast for its peaceful setting and gracious hospitality, 

Holy Family has long been a favored destination of retreatants and those seeking 

to hold a special event. 

Comfortable and immaculate quarters and delicious, creative meals prepared by 

our executive chef, Joe Ethier, contribute to a relaxing and satisfying stay. 

To reserve space for your next event, 

please contact Kasia Owczarek: 

860.760.9799 or 

kowczarek@holyfamilyretreat.org. 

• Meeting rooms for groups 

from 6 to 250 people 

• Two beautifully appointed 

chapels 

• Suites with bathrooms 

available 

• 210 beds, 164 single 

rooms 

• Customized menus 

• Wireless internet 

• Music services

303 Tunxis Road 

West Hartford, CT 06107-3119 

860.521.0440 

www.holyfamilyretreat.org 

Nonprofit Org 

US Postage 

Paid 

Hartford, CT 06101 

Permit no. 637 

Who’s Your PlusOne? 

PlusOne is a way for you to share 

your experience of Holy Family 

with other people in your life. 

We simply ask that any time 

you visit our campus or attend 

a program, you bring one new 

person. By introducing new 

people to Holy 

Family, you help 

to sustain our 

thriving ministry. 

holyfamilyretreat.org

Retreat Forward 2019-20

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?