TODAY Kroger center on tap - Canton Public Library

SURMAOU*. KUNXM
MS-SI31
THURSDAY, MARCH 7,1996
KAREN MEIER
Traveling down
a different road
I'm traveling down a road I've never traveled
before And since you're here with me. 1*11
•hare the journey with you.
Our family, a* you might already know, waa
bleated with the birth of baby Steven on Feb 16
I wrote of his dramatic arrival en route to the
hospital laat week What 1 didn't tell you then,
but 1 knew, wait that this very special baby, thia
miracle of oura. waa born with Down syndrome.
My family — h us hand Ron. son* Tony. Joe
and Jack, daughter Carmen and 1 — have been
entrusted with the precious life of a baby so gentle
and quiet He's touched and changed our lives
for the good, forever All of us, including not yet
2-year-old Jack, have gathered baby Steven into
our arms and into our hearts and we're never
letting go.
From his miraculous birth in the van on that
bitu-r cold, winter night, with just Ron and me
and God there, our gentle baby continues to beat
the odds As 1 type these words on the computer
screen in my den. Steven is sleeping near me.
We're now home And that's the beat feeling The
whole family ia together and that, although to
many may not seem like much, is everything He
is. at thia writing. 11 days old and he is growing
and blooming and eating.
Eating, though, wasn't easy Lhoee first days of
hi* life I learned that this is both common and
serious A Down syndrome baby typically has
See fi 12A
danton (jPbserver
COMMUNITY LIFE
Bridal Registry,Page 15A~;
Religious News, Page 17A ^
; li
Page 11A :
Community embraces new retreat
• Moth balled in 1988, the
former St John's Seminary
in Plymouth Township has
opened its doors again. But
instead of training young
men to be priests, it's a
retreat <strong>center</strong> for youth
and families.
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO
STAFF Wamta
nee mothballed
and put
on the real estate
market by the
Archdiocese of Detroit,
St. John Seminary
in Plymouth Township is
breathing new life into the area's religious
community aa the St. John
Center for Youth and Family.
The way I see it ia we sit at the
height of Wayne County; we overlook
the whole area," aaid the Rev.
John Weat, the <strong>center</strong>'s director and
pastor. "One of the neatest things
we've been able to do ia light up the
tower At night it looks like a light
house and that's what my hope for
the place is — that well be a beacon
of hope for the whole metropolitan
area.
"People will come here and be renewed
or find a depth dimension for
their life and take it back home *
The <strong>center</strong>, which sits on 200
acres of land, will focus on strengthening
the faith of youths with its
premiere program being The Cardinal
Maida Institute for Youth Leadership
Formation
"It's really to reach out to what
many have called, the lost generation,'
people beyond high school."
West said. "We do a real good job
with programs for luds and all that.
But we really need to focus on that
generation that's going to take the
reins"
The program will offer, for exam*
pie, Sunday evening services where
young adults do the readings and
the music; and Reflection Circle*, an
organiied way to discuss what it is
to be a Chrietian or a Catholic in the
world where the focus will be put on
scriptures, current events or certain
concerns.
There's not a whole lot of places
that are open to youths." West said.
"We decided to design this so it
would serve youths. We could have
them come out here so they know
this is their home *
Although youths are the <strong>center</strong>'s
focus, it also offers Engaged Encounters
for soon-to-be-married couples.
Marriage Encounters so married
couples can "find new life in their
marriage."and Retrovaille, a program
named for the French word for
recovery where folks who are having
See ST. JOHN'S, 20A
SUBURBAN FORD DEALERS
Now open:
Among the
first to use St.
John Center
for Youth and -
Family, Au- ZZ
drey and Lou
Schneider (at •
left) walk the
halls of the
former seminary
while
Larry Donnel•,
Ion talks to
<strong>center</strong> director
Rev. John
West.
OPEN SATURDAY TO SERVE YOU BETTER
Mow! Get:
4 0
Lease t Hew w Taints GL