Retreat Forward 2022-23

2022 

2023 

A Missing Peace

Welcome to Holy Family 

5 Entities. 1 Campus. Where Inspiration Abounds 

holyfamilyretreat.org copperbeechinstitute.org monasterygallery.art 

spiritlifectr.org 

holyfamilyretreat.org/cce 

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 

Youth Ministry............................................4 

Holy Family Programs.................................5 

www.holyfamilyretreat.org 

Christian Contemplative Experience.......... 12 

Monastery Gallery Programs................... 16 

Ways to Support Holy Family.................. 18 

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

Renting our Facilities............................... 21

Dear Friends, 

One word. Peace. 

Peace is something we crave, something we seek, and something that seems so elusive. 

We rarely find true peace, and when we do, it lasts but a short time. We speak about 

inner peace, world peace, and the promise made by Jesus for eternal peace. I don’t think 

anyone could find a reason to argue with the power of peace, or the possibility it has to 

heal the human heart. 

But peace often seems missing in our lives. 

This past season, our retreat theme centering on “trust” was widely thought to be one 

of the most important subjects that we have ever addressed here at Holy Family. It 

became clear to many of us that without trust we have no peace. During the times when 

we feel overwhelmed with anxiety, fear, or worry, we learned that there are ways that 

we can renew trust and restore peace — but it’s not easy. It is hard work, and it takes 

commitment on our part. 

Jesus wished peace for us. In the Gospel of John, just before he departs this earth, he says to his friends: 

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be 

troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27) 

With this wish in mind, I invite you, on behalf of our entire Retreat Team, to come join us at Holy Family 

for your annual retreat or for a day or evening program that might interest you, and PLEASE BRING A 

FRIEND who has not had the experience of being at Holy Family! 

During this upcoming season let us find, together, “A Missing Peace” for which we all long. Through our 

prayer together, our presentations, and our discussions, we can come closer to understanding how to 

achieve the peace that Jesus meant for us to have, and equally important, the peace that is meant for us to 

share in our families and in our world. 

I look forward to seeing you very soon and I wish you deep and lasting PEACE. 

In the compassionate heart of Christ, 

Fr. David Cinquegrani, C.P. 

We’re going green! An array of solar panels now adorn the back field at Holy Family, generating enough electricity to power the entire campus. 

Reflect. Renew. Retreat. 1

2022-2023 Retreat Theme: 

A Missing Peace 

Just before he departs this earth, Jesus says to his friends: “Peace I leave 

with you, my peace I give you… Let not your hearts be troubled or 

afraid.” (John 14:27) Peace is something we crave but rarely find for more 

than a short time. This season at Holy Family, we’ll explore the theme, A 

Missing Peace, in the hope that together, through prayer, presentations, and discussions, we can come closer to understanding 

how to achieve the peace Jesus meant for us to have, and equally important, to share in our families and in our world. 

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. 

Offering: $350; more if you can, less if you can’t 

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 

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: $150 per night 

2022-2023 Themed Retreats 

Men 

Offering: $350* 


September 23 to 25 

November 4 to 6 


January 13 to 15 

February 3 to 5 


March 10 to 12 



March 31 to April 2 

April 14 to 16 

May 5 to 7 

June 9 to 11 

Women 

Offering: $350* 


September 30 to October 2 




March 3 to 5 

April 21 to 23 

June 2 to 4 

Couples 

Offering: $575 

(includes Valentine’s 

gourmet dinner) 

February 10 to 12, 2023 

Teens 


June 23 to 25, 2023 

College 


February 10 to 12, 2023 

Retreat for Persons 

Who Are Deaf 

Saturday, June 17, 2023 

Holy Week Triduum 

FOR MEN AND WOMEN 

Offering: $350; $375 

April 6 to 8, 2023 

Matt Talbot 

FOR MEN IN RECOVERY 



October 21 to 23 

(Includes Group 28) 

December 2 to 4 

December 9 to 11 



(Includes Group 28) 

May 19 to 21 

FOR WOMEN IN RECOVERY 


November 18 to 20, 2022 

*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 

www.holyfamilyretreat.org

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. 

Noel Terranova is a retreat team member at Holy 

Family. Noel studied theology and liberal arts as an 

undergraduate at Villanova University and holds a 

Master of Theological Studies degree from Notre 

Dame. Prior to joining the retreat team in 2021, 

Noel served as the editor of the online publication 

FaithND and as a residence hall rector at the 

University of Notre Dame. He also worked as the university liturgist 

in the Office of Campus Ministry at Villanova. 

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. 

Tanya Rybarczyk is an adjunct 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 assists with hospitality for all programs. 

Other Passionists in residence include Br. Michael Moran and 

Br. Terence Skorka. 

Fr. Terry and 

Br. Michael 

at the 70th 

anniversary 

celebration. 


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 10 TO 12, 2023 

College Weekend 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 23 TO 25, 2023 

Teen Weekend Retreat 

Future Leaders in the Church 

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 

or call 860.760.9712 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, contact Liza Peters at 

lpeters@holyfamilyretreat.org or 860.760.9712. 

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Holy Family Programs 2022 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 

Mass for Peace: Memorial Mass 

for the 21st 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 23 TO 25, 2022 

Men’s Retreat 


Holy Family Retreat Team 

See page 2 for details. 

SEPTEMBER 26 TO 30, 2022 

Retreat for Priests 

Imitate Me! A Pauline 

Spirituality for Priestly Ministry 

Msgr. Frank J. Matera 

In his letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul writes: 

“Join with others in being imitations of me” 

(3:17). Saint Paul’s invitation to imitate the way 

he lives in Christ provides a model for priests 

who, by their vocation and ministry, are called 

to provide God’s people with a model of what it 

means to live the Christian life. 

In this retreat, Fr. Matera will draw from 

various elements of Saint Paul’s spirituality to 

show how we can model our faith to others and 

say, “Imitate me!” Among these elements of 

Saint Paul’s spirituality are (1) living in union 

with the crucified Christ, (2) living by and 

from the power of God’s saving grace, (3) living 

and praying in the Holy Spirit, (4) living with 

suffering and affliction in ministry, and (5) living 

in newness of life as we await the fullness of 

resurrection life. 

The retreat begins at 4:00 p.m. on Monday 

and concludes at 10:00 a.m. on Friday. 

Offering $475 

Msgr. Frank J. Matera is 

a priest of the Archdiocese 

of Hartford. After teaching 

at Saint John’s Seminary in 

Boston and the Catholic 

University of America, 

he returned to the 

Archdiocese of Hartford 

and served as the Pastor 

of St. Mary’s Church in Simsbury from 2012 

until his retirement in 2021. He has written 

commentaries on Romans, 2 Corinthians, and 

Galatians, as well as on various aspects of New 

Testament Theology, Christology, Ethics, Pauline 

Theology, and the spirituality of Saint Paul. His 

most recent work, Praying the Psalms in the Voice 

of Christ: A Christological Reading of the Psalms 

in the Liturgy of the Hours, will be published by 

Liturgical Press in the spring of 2023. 

SEPTEMBER 30 TO OCTOBER 2, 2022 

Women’s Retreat 




OCTOBER 14 TO 16, 2022 

Retreat for Deacons 

What’s a “Missionary Disciple” 

To Do? 

Msgr. Joseph T. Donnelly 

Pope Francis has set a clear tone for the Church: 

we are to be “missionary disciples.” In what 

has been referred to as his “I have a dream 

speech,” his apostolic exhortation, “The Joy of 

the Gospel,” Pope Francis says, “I dream of a 

‘missionary option,’ that is, a missionary impulse 

capable of transforming everything, so that the 

Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times 

and schedules, language and structures can be 

suitably channeled for the evangelization of 

today’s world rather than for her own selfpreservation.” 

What a challenge! If that is true 

for the Church at large, it is especially true for 

those of us who are pastoral servant leaders in 

the Church. In this retreat we will explore some 

implications of Pope Francis’ bold charge. 

This retreat begins with dinner Friday 

evening at 6:00 p.m. and concludes with Mass 

and brunch on Sunday morning. There will be 

a Deacon Convocation on Thursday night at 

5:00 p.m. You’re also invited to arrive Thursday 

morning for an extra day that includes lunch. 

Offering: $475 for assigned Deacons, $500 for 

assigned Deacons with Convocation, $350 for 

retired Deacons, $450 for retired Deacons with 

Convocation, $100 for extra day (arrive Thursday 

morning, includes lunch and dinner) 


received a licentiate degree 

in theology from the 

Gregorian University in 

Rome and an advanced 

degree in spiritual 

formation from Creighton 

University in Omaha. 

He was ordained a priest 

for the Archdiocese of Hartford in 1971 and 

has served since then in several parishes in 

Connecticut as well as in seminary formation 

in his diocese and in Rome. He was named 

Monsignor in 2018 and was appointed Episcopal 

Vicar of the Western Region of the Archdiocese 

of Hartford in 2019. He frequently gives retreats 

for priests around the country. He recently 

completed his term as pastor of Sacred Heart 

Parish in Southbury, CT. 



SUNDAYS, OCTOBER 16, 24, 30 

NOVEMBER 6, 13, 2022 

Caring for our Common Home: 

5-Week Series on Laudato Si’ 

Noel Terranova 

5:30 TO 7:00 P.M. 

In this 5-week series, participants will explore 

Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, Laudato Si’: On 

Care for Our Common Home. With special 

attention to the source document, our sessions 

will cover the major themes of the letter 

including integral ecology, global solidarity, 

care for the poor, technological consciousness, 

consumerism, and collective action. Together 

we will examine the anthropological causes of 

environmental degradation — such as climate 

change — and discuss how the Christian 

tradition provides a foundation for hope and 

meaningful action in response to this crisis. 

We will begin each session with a simple, 

sustainability-minded supper at 5:30 p.m. 

Participants are invited to join our 7:00 p.m. 

Sunday Evening Mass after each session. 


Noel Terranova — see Noel’s biography 

on page 3. 

life. By God’s grace and the AA program, Fr. 

Emmet has been sober for 47 years and leads 

12-step retreats along the East Coast. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2022 

“My soul, be at rest…”: 

A Day of Healing and Renewal 

for Caregivers 

9:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. 

Jaclyn Terranova and Tanya Rybarczyk 

These last years have been a stressful time for all 

caregivers. If your soul feels weary, join us for a 

day of healing and renewal. Come away and rest 

awhile with God, who is the source of all healing 

and strength, in a gently guided retreat day with 

time for listening, personal prayer, and sharing 

(if desired). Reconnect to yourself and to Christ 

while we take care of YOU for the day! The 

retreat will include continental breakfast at 9:00 

a.m. and lunch at 12:30, and conclude with Mass 

at 3:00 p.m. Offering: $75 

Jaclyn Terranova is the 

Manager of Mission and 

Spiritual Care at The 

McAuley, an independent 

and assisted living facility 

in West Hartford, CT. She 

has been a CPE-trained 

medical chaplain for the 

past 10 years and has worked in many different 

care settings during that time. She received 

her Master’s in Pastoral Ministry from Boston 

College’s School of Theology and Ministry. 

Outside of work, she is married and has two 

young children. 

Tanya Rybarczyk — see Tanya’s biography 

on page 3. 

NOVEMBER 4 TO 6, 2022 





OCTOBER 21 TO 23, 2022 

Matt Talbot Men’s Recovery 

Group #28 Fall Retreat 

Fr. Emmet Murphy, O.F.M. 

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, 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. 


Fr. Emmet Murphy, O.F.M., 

is a Franciscan friar of the 

Holy Name Province who 

currently lives in Butler, N.J. 

The Alcoholics Anonymous 

program and Franciscan 

spirituality are the 

mainstays of his religious 

6 


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022 

Building Bridges 

9:30 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. 


In an atmosphere of welcome and friendship, 

this retreat day for LGBTQ+ communities and 

their families includes a presentation, prayer and 

reflection, conversation, quiet time to enjoy the 

beauty of Holy Family, and a delicious lunch. 

Offering: Through generous sponsorships from our 

constituents, we are able to offer this retreat at no 

cost to you. 

NOVEMBER 18 TO 20, 2022 

Matt Talbot 

Women’s Recovery Retreat 

Sr. Anita Constance, S.C. 

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, 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 6:00-7:30 p.m. 

and concludes on Sunday around 11:00 a.m. 

A generous scholarship fund is available for 

any retreatant experiencing financial hardship. 

Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, firstserved 

basis. All inquiries should be directed via 

e-mail to MTR.Scholarships@gmail.com. 

Offering: $250. ($10 dues to be collected 

upon arrival will offset the cost of medallions, 

scholarships, and retreat materials) 

Sr. Anita M. Constance, 

S.C., is a Sister of Charity 

of New Jersey. She is the 

author of several spiritual 

books, and is a certified 

spiritual director. Although 

not in recovery, at the 

invitation from the National 

Board of Matt Talbot, Sr. Anita is honored to be 

a director for Matt Talbot retreats. Her themes 

develop the topics of letting go, forgiveness, and 

healing, as well as emotional sobriety, anger, and 

resentment. Sister Anita has been giving these 

retreats for the past 12 years. 


The Path of Conscious Grieving 

9:30 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. 

Lisa Irish 

Our contemporary times have added a 

significant context of loss to our daily life 

experience. We’ve learned that loss weaves its 

way through our lives in many forms; some 

are acknowledged; many are not. Grief, our 

companion and ally, guides both our personal 

and collective journeys in the Land of Loss, 

leading us toward healing and hope. This 

day of prayer and reflection will create space 

for content, sharing, ritual, and silence — all 

valuable resources for a path of conscious 

grieving. Together, we will create and name 

moments of respite and glimmers of healing, 

and we will offer ourselves permission to grieve. 

Offering: $75 (includes lunch) 

Lisa Irish, M.A., M.Ed., 

B.C.C., is a spiritual 

director and supervisor 

with experience in 

hospital chaplaincy and 

retreat leadership. She 

offers compassionate 

understanding of loss, 

grief, and healing. Of her book, Grieving — the 

Sacred Art: Hope in the Land of Loss, Fr. Richard 

Rohr says, “…the roadmap is wise, but sensitive 

— grounded in hope — and reminds us to rest 

in God’s healing love.” Trusting contemplative 

practices, Lisa shares regular messages, 

“Glimmers,” at her website, lisairish.com. 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022 

Thanksgiving Interfaith 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. A host of 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 24, 2022 

Thanksgiving Day Mass 

10:00 A.M. 

We welcome everyone to join the Passionist 

Community as we celebrate Mass the morning 

of Thanksgiving Day. Free-will offering 

DECEMBER 2 TO 4, 2022 

Matt Talbot 

Men’s Recovery Retreat 

Fr. Jim Garvey, O. Praem. 

At Holy Family, we invite men in recovery 








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. Generous scholarships are available. 

For scholarship information, call Eric R. at 

203.360.7448. Offering: $300 (includes Matt 

Talbot dues) 

Fr. Jim Garvey, O. Praem., 

of the Norbertine order 

is a spiritual counselor 

at the renowned Caron 

addiction treatment center 

and a faculty member at 

The Catholic University 

of America. He previously 

served as a spiritual director at a psychiatric 

hospital and chaplain at several medical centers. 

Prior to entering religious life, he worked in 

sales and marketing for several national brands 

while raising a family. He holds a B.A. from 

Boston College, an M.A. from St. Charles 

Borromeo Seminary, a Graduate Certificate in 

Spiritual Direction from Fordham University, 

a M.Div. from Catholic Theological Union, 

and a Doctorate in Ministry from The Catholic 

University of America. 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2022 

Advent Baking Retreat 

Christmas Cookies 

10:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M. 

Maria Pierelli and Holy Family 

Retreat Team 

Please join longtime retreatant, Maria Pierelli, 

and the Holy Family Retreat Team for a break 

from the holiday rush. Together we will bake 

Christmas cookies and share recipes for you to 

try at home for the upcoming holiday season. 

All materials will be provided, and lunch will be 

served. Offering: $50 

Maria Pierelli is 

affectionately known as 

the “Cookie Lady.” She 

has been a retreatant 

at Holy Family Retreat 

Center for 20 years and is 

a talented baker. She loves 

baking and always brings 

boxes of cookies with her everywhere she goes. 

Maria is retired and especially enjoys her role as 

grandmother. 

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022 

Advent Reflection 

Exploring the Figures of the 

Nativity 

Noel Terranova 

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

EVENING RETREAT: 6:30 TO 9:00 P.M. 

We often think of Advent as a straightforward 

path to the celebration of Christmas, but the 

theological themes of this liturgical season are 

actually quite challenging and complex. In 

this gathering, we will explore the symbolic 

significance of each figure in a traditional 

nativity scene as a way of reflecting on the deeper 

theological meaning of the season of Advent. 

These simple and familiar figures will lead us to 

a deeper understanding of both Advent and the 

nativity tableaux. You’ll never look at a manger 

scene the same way again! 

The day program will be offered in-person 

only and include a presentation, Reconciliation, 

lunch, and Mass. The evening program will 

be offered in-person and online via Zoom 

and include dinner, a presentation, and Mass. 

Offering: $50 

Noel Terranova — see Noel’s biography on page 3. 

8 


DECEMBER 9 TO 11, 2022 

Matt Talbot 


Fr. Kevin Daly, O.F.M. 

At Holy Family, we invite men in recovery 








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. Generous scholarships are available. 

For scholarship information, call Eric R. at 

203.360.7448. Offering: $300 (includes Matt 

Talbot dues) 

Fr. Kevin Daly, O.F.M., was 

born and raised in New 

Jersey, one of nine children 

in an Irish Catholic family. 

He graduated from Siena 

College in 1974 with a 

degree in history. While at 

Siena, he competed in cross 

country and lacrosse. In 1975, Fr. Kevin entered 

the Franciscan Friars in Brookline, MA, where he 

studied theology. He was first solemnly professed 

in New York City in 1978 and was ordained to 

the priesthood in 1980 in Silver Spring, MD. 

Fr. Kevin has divided his ministry between 

parishes in New Jersey and New York City and 

campus ministry at Siena College. He has been 

an active member of AA since 1982. SUNDAY, 

DECEMBER 12, 2021 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022 

Advent Retreat for 

Young Adults 

Prepare Your Hearts 

and Rejoice 

3:00 TO 9:00 P.M. 


Advent is a season of preparation for the joy 

of Christ’s birth. Come join a vibrant group of 

young adults to explore the joy and hope our 

faith brings to our lives. We will gather on the 

Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday. 

“Gaudete” means rejoice! Mass and dinner 

included. Offering: $50 (More if you can, less if 

you can’t) 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022 — 

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

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2022 – 3:00 P.M. 

Sacred Sounds of Advent 

and Christmas 

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: $50 in-person; $25 online 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022 

Christmas Eve Mass 

4:00 P.M. AND 6:00 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. Free-will offering 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2022 

Christmas Day Mass 

10:00 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. Free-will offering 


Holy Family Programs 2023 

JANUARY 6 TO 8, 2023 




WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023 

Retreat for Parish Catechists 

Terry Kamradt 














Couples’ Weekend Retreat 



Offering: $575 per couple (includes Valentine’s 

gourmet dinner for two) 


College Weekend Retreat 




SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2023 

Hearts and Wine: 

Valentine’s Gourmet Dinner 

Join us for a festive and delicious buffet dinner 

prepared by Holy Family’s talented chef, Joe 

Ethier. Appetizers begin at 6:00 p.m. 

Offering: $75 per person; $125 per couple 


Men’s Matt Talbot Recovery 

Group #28 Winter Retreat 

Fr. Jack Cryan 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2023 

Ash Wednesday Reflection 

Entering into the Heart 

of Mercy 






WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023 

Lenten Baking Retreat 

Breads of the World… 

Panettone! 

Pam Hardiman and Beth Malley 

MARCH 3 TO 5, 2023 








MARCH 14, 21, 28 AND APRIL 4, 2023 

Four-week Scripture Series 

Praying the Psalms in the 

Voice of Christ 

Msgr. Frank Matera 





WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023 

Women’s Evening Retreat 

Dr. Deb Brown-Norko 





MARCH 31 TO APRIL 2, 2023 




SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023 

The Path of Conscious Grieving 

Lisa Irish, MA, MEd, BCC 

APRIL 6 TO 8, 2023 

Holy Week Triduum Retreat 

The Path of Transformation 


THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 

Holy Thursday: Commemoration 

of the Lord’s Supper 

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2023 

Good Friday: Commemoration 

of the Lord’s Passion 

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2023 

Taize Evening Prayer Service 

for Good Friday 


Easter Vigil 

SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2023 

Easter Sunday Mass 

10 


APRIL 14 TO 16, 2023 




APRIL 21 TO 23, 2023 

Knitting Weekend Retreat 

Beth Malley 

APRIL 21 TO 23, 2023 




WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2023 

Retreat Day for Parish Staff 




Men’s Evening Retreat 



The Joy of Easter: A Concert 

MAY 5 TO 7, 2023 




SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 

Retreat for Mothers 

and Daughters 

Growing Together with God 

Laurie Janecko and Sara Janecko Milone 

SUNDAY, MAY 14, 2023 

Mother’s Day Mass and Brunch: 

We’ve Got You Covered 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2023 

Couples’ Evening Retreat 

MAY 19 TO 21, 2023 

Matt Talbot 


Fr. Emmet Murphy, O.F.M. 

JUNE 2 TO 4, 2023 




TUESDAY, JUNE 6 AND 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2023 

(SAME PROGRAM BOTH EVENINGS) 

Music Ministers’ Evening 

Retreat 

All in One PEACE 







Retreat for the Spanish 

Speaking Community 


The Importance of Solitude 

Anita Barbero 


Retreat for Women Religious 

God Disguised As My Life 



Weeklong Directed Retreat 

Joanne White and Andrea Minelli 

THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023 

23rd Gerald J. Kristofak 

Memorial Golf Tournament 

See page 19 for details 

SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2023 

Retreat for Persons 

Who Are Deaf 



JUNE 19 TO 23, 2023 

Vacation Bible Camp 

Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light 

Holy Family Youth Ministry Team 

JUNE 23 TO 25, 2023 

Teen Weekend Retreat 

Future Leaders in the Church 


JULY 10 TO 14, 2023 

Music Camp for Children 

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



Christian Contemplative Experience Programs 2022-2023 

The Christian 

Contemplative 

Experience (CCE) 

at Holy Family 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. 

SEPTEMBER 16 TO 18, 2022 

Overnight Retreats 

The Word of God, in Silence 

and Sound: Centering Prayer 

in the Context of the Divine 

Office 

Fr. Justin Lanier 

This contemplative immersion retreat will flow 

through periods of centering prayer, walking 

meditation, teaching, and the simple chant of the 

Divine Office. The seasons of the night and day 

will be marked with the corresponding praying 

the Offices of Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, 

None, Vespers, and Compline as an expression 

and support of our intensive Centering Prayer 

weekend. There will be a basic instruction in 

chant at the start of our retreat, and no prior 

musical training or experience is required. 


Fr. Justin Lanier serves 

as Priest and Curate of 

Saint Clement’s Church, 

Philadelphia. He is a retreat 

leader with a devotion to 

intensive contemplative 

immersion practice. He 

conducts Centering Prayer 

workshops and classes in contemplative practice 

and theology. Fr. Justin’s early training includes 

monastic formation at Saint Benedict’s Trappist 

Monastery, Snowmass, Colorado, under Dom. 

Joseph Boyle, O.C.S.O., and Fr. Thomas Keating, 

O.C.S.O., as well as at Tofukuji Rinzai Zen 

Training Monastery, Kyoto, Japan, under Keido 

Fukushima Roshi. 


Formation 

Centering Prayer Introductory 

Workshop 

Mike Smoolca or Nancy Stimac 

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

In this introductory workshop, you will learn 

the ancient 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: $45 

Mike Smoolca is a 

contemplative group and 

workshop facilitator and 

a dedicated teacher and 

student of contemplative 

practice and wisdom 

spirituality. He is a 

Contemplative Outreach 

presenter and coordinator for the Christian 

Contemplative Experience at Holy Family, 

Contemplative Outreach of CT, and the 

Northern CT Chapter of the International 

Thomas Merton Society. Mike is a practicing 

spiritual director and supervisor as well as a 

BioSpiritual Focusing companion and teacher. 

Nancy Stimac is a 


Lectio Divina Service 

Team member and a 

commissioned presenter of 

Centering Prayer and Lectio 

Divina. She is certified 

by the Archdiocese of 

Hartford’s Catholic Biblical 

School Lay Ministry program and is a teacher 

for the Catholic Biblical School. She serves 

the Catholic community of Windsor Locks by 

lectoring, facilitating prayer groups, conducting 

Bible studies, and serving on evangelization 

teams. 

12 



Contemplative Enrichment Day 

Waking Up with the 

Enneagram: A Guide for your 

Contemplative Journey 

Rev. Nhien Vuong, J.D., M.Div. 

9:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

The Enneagram is an extraordinary framework 

for transformational development. A multidimensional 

model of consciousness, the 

Enneagram equips each of us with a highly 

precise roadmap for embodying our divine 

potential. In this introductory Enneagram 

workshop, you’ll gain insights into how the 

Enneagram maps our personality-based 

obstacles to Presence and provides a path from 

egoic to unitive consciousness. A focus is to 

explore the relationship between the Enneagram 

and Centering Prayer, Welcoming Prayer, Fr. 

Keating’s “emotional programs for happiness,” 

and contemplative silence, solitude, and stillness. 


Rev. Nhien Vuong, J.D., 

M.Div., is a contemplative 

Enneagram counselor, 

consultant, global 

community builder and 

founder of Evolving 

Enneagram. An ordained 

Unity minister and 

Accredited Enneagram Professional, Nhien 

presents on an international stage, offering 

a compassionate, interspiritual path of 

transformation without dogma using the 

Enneagram as a guide for our individual and 

collective awakening. For the past several years, 

Nhien has had the honor of presenting at some 

of the largest Enneagram events worldwide. 


Formation 

Welcoming Prayer Introductory 

Workshop 

Mike Smoolca 

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

According to Fr. Thomas Keating, “Welcoming 

Prayer is the practice that actively lets go of 

thoughts and feelings that support the falseself 

system. It embraces painful emotions 

experienced in the body rather than avoiding 

them or trying to suppress them.” This 

workshop introduces participants to the actual 

method of the Welcoming Prayer and provides 

an opportunity to practice. We’ll establish 

Welcoming Prayer’s place in Body Awareness 

Practice and include discussions of the human 

condition and the false-self system as conceptual 

background to Welcoming Prayer. Offering: $45 

Mike Smoolca — see Mike’s biography on 

page 12. 



Heart Speaks to Heart: 

Correspondence as Spiritual 

Practice 

Judith Valente and Bro. Paul Quenon, 

O.C.S.O. 

9:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

Through the ages, correspondence has been an 

important contemplative practice to recognize 

and share the presence of God in our lives. 

Thomas Merton considered his nearly 20,000 

letters as an “apostolate of friendship.” We’ll look 

at how Merton’s most engaging letters inspired 

a years-long contemplative exchange between 

Brother Paul and Judith and how it might do 

the same for you. Brother Paul will also take 

us on a virtual tour of Gethsemani, share his 

contemplative photographs and poetry, and 

engage in dialogue about contemplative living. 


Judith Valente is the author 

of several spirituality 

books, including two coauthored 

with Bro. Paul 

Quenon. The most recent 

is How to Be: A Monk 

and a Journalist Reflect on 

Living & Dying, Purpose 

& Prayer, Forgiveness & Friendship. She is an 

award-winning journalist and poet and a 

lay Benedictine Oblate who guides frequent 

contemplative retreats. Judith has written a 

contemporary guide on The Rule of St. Benedict, 

titled How to Live. 

Bro. Paul Quenon, 

O.C.S.O., has been a monk 

at the Abbey of Gethsemani 

for 60 years, the first 

years of which were spent 

under the guidance of his 

novice master, Thomas 

Merton. He has written 

nine collections of poetry 

and an award-winning memoir, In Praise of the 

Useless Life. He is a talented photographer, and a 

compilation of his poems with photographs, See 

the Moment, Feel the Moment, will be published 

in 2023. 


Christian Contemplative Experience Programs 2022-2023 



Lectio Divina Advent 

Experience 

Frank Pendola and Mike Smoolca 

9:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

Bring the experience of Contemplative Prayer 

into your Advent season! Review and practice 

the method of Lectio Divina for praying 

sacred scripture. Through reading, reflecting, 

responding and resting in the Word of God, we 

nourish and deepen our relationship with God. 

In addition to using Scripture, we’ll apply Lectioinspired 

methods to images (Visio Divina), 

music, body senses and to noticing God’s action 

in our daily lives. This workshop provides 

participants with many avenues leading to 

Contemplation during Advent, Christmas, and 

the year ahead. Offering: $65 (includes lunch) 

Frank Pendola is a 

commissioned presenter 

for Contemplative 

Outreach and serves on the 


of CT leadership team. He 

currently serves as music 

minister at local parishes 

in Rhode Island. Frank loves to lend his voice in 

chant or song as an aid to contemplative practice 

with friends from various denominations and 

spiritual traditions. 


page 12. 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2023 


The Contemplative Spirituality 

of Icons and Iconography 

Marek Czarnecki 

9:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

Icons in the Orthodox Christian tradition have 

been used as visual theology and as windows 

into the spiritual world. Through sacred imagery, 

the Holy Spirit speaks to the believer, revealing 

deep truths that may not be evident in other 

ways, leading the believer into the depths of 

prayer and contemplation. During this day, we 

will share the spiritual foundations of icons, 

reveal the contemplative practice of writing 

icons, and experience the contemplative 

practice of praying with icons. 


Marek Czarnecki is 

a gifted iconographer 

and artist, teaching and 

writing icons out of his 

liturgical arts studio, 

Seraphic Restorations, in 

Meriden, Connecticut. 

He is a student of Russian 

Orthodox iconographer Ksenia Pokrovsky. 

Marek is a popular icon workshop and retreat 

leader. His icons have been featured in numerous 

exhibits, videos and articles, including The New 

York Times and St. Anthony Messenger. 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2023 


Body Presence and 

Contemplative Awareness — 

BioSpiritual Focusing Day of 

Presence 

Donna O’Connor and Mike Smoolca 

9:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

Discover a deeper awareness of healing and 

wisdom accessible to each of us through our 

bodies. We’ll establish BioSpiritual Focusing’s 

place in Body Awareness Practice and then 

progressively and experientially introduce 

participants to the focusing concepts which 

will conclude with individual experiences of 

being companioned through a focusing session. 

Participants will be invited to welcome and hold 

their feelings with curiosity and loving care to 

achieve integration into greater wholeness. This 

day provides the foundations to pursue further 

practice and study of BioSpiritual Focusing. 


Donna O’Connor is the 

BioSpiritual Focusing 

Coordinator at Genesis 

Spiritual Life Center in 

Westfield, Massachusetts, 

a retreat leader, and longtime 

spiritual director. 

Donna has a special 

interest in helping people who struggle with 

weight, body image, and eating disorders and is 

experienced in 12-Step Spirituality. 


page 12. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023 


The Mystical Experience of 

Everyday Living 

Sophfronia Scott 

9:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

Mysticism is often viewed as the privileged 

experience of a few chosen, holy individuals. 

But German Jesuit Karl Rahner wrote about 

“everyday mysticism,” and Carmelite Sister Ruth 

Burrows described the mystical life simply as 

“God touching the depths of our being.” God is 

closer than we think—to all of us. We’ll explore 

everyday mysticism as life events filled with 

God’s unmistakable presence. Sharing Thomas 

Merton’s experiences and her own, Sophfronia 

will help attendees notice, identify, and 

appreciate mystical encounters in their everyday 

lives. Offering: $65 (includes lunch) 

Sophfronia Scott, M.F.A., is director of Alma 

College’s Master’s program in Creative Writing 

and holds degrees from Harvard and the 

Vermont College of Fine Arts. A novelist, essayist, 

and contemplative thinker, her books include 

the newly-released The Seeker and the Monk: 

Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton, as 

well as All I Need to Get By, Unforgivable Love, 

Love’s Long Line, and This Child of Faith. Her 

work has appeared in Time, People and O, The 

Oprah Magazine. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2023 

Formation 

Centering Prayer Introductory 

Workshop 

Mike Smoolca or Nancy Stimac 

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

In this introductory workshop, you will learn 

the ancient 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: $45 


page 12. 

Nancy Stimac — see Nancy’s biography on 

page 12. 

14 




Fear, Freedom and Levels of 

the Mind — Cultivating Interior 

Freedom in Fierce Times 

Mark Kutolowski 

9:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

Fear blocks our ability to hear God’s presence 

and action in our midst. How do we live 

from a place of spiritual freedom in an era of 

upheaval and fear? In this workshop, we will 

seek to cultivate awareness of fear as it relates to 

the Primitive, Rational, and Spiritual levels of 

mind. Much of the day will be spent practicing 

exercises to strengthen the nervous system, 

enhance interior awareness, and build our ability 

to remain spiritually present in the face of fear. 


Mark Kutolowski is an 

Oblate of Saint Benedict, 

a contemplative retreat 

leader, Centering Prayer 

teacher, wilderness guide, 

and instructor in the 

Slavic martial art and 

health practice, Systema. 

He has spent the past 20 

years exploring the integration of Christian 

contemplation with physical transformation and 

our relationship with the natural world. Mark 

and his wife Lisa live a lay contemplative life and 

offer hospitality at their homestead, Metanoia of 

Vermont (metanoiavt.com). 

Jim McElroy has been 

practicing Centering Prayer 

since 1996 and has been a 

commissioned presenter 

since 2002. Jim 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 currently leads Contemplative 

Outreach’s Welcoming Prayer team and serves 

on Contemplative Outreach Ltd.’s governing 

board. 

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2023 

Annual Day of Reflection 

The Ecstasy of God 

Fr. Michael K. Holleran 

9:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

How fully, deeply, and consciously do we live the 

overwhelming dynamism of the Trinitarian Life? 

Do we recognize it as our own life, and that of 

the whole universe? Come and explore this vast 

and vibrant mystery, so central to our faith, in 

a synthesis inspired by Beatrice Bruteau, God’s 

Ecstasy; Cynthia Bourgeault, The Holy Trinity 

and the Law of Three; and Richard Rohr, The 

Divine Dance. Offering: $55 (includes lunch) 

Fr. Michael K. Holleran is a Catholic priest, 

Sensei (Zen teacher) and former Carthusian 

monk. He currently is 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. 

JULY 7 TO 9, 2023 

Overnight Retreats 

Prayer Without Ceasing – 

Contemplation in Work, Body, 

and Creation 

Mark Kutolowski 

‘Pray without ceasing.’ (I Thessalonians 5:17) 

How can we experience ceaseless prayer and 

conscious union of our hearts with God? This 

retreat will explore the integration of silent 

contemplation with prayerful engagement 

with our bodies, creative manual work, and 

interaction with the natural world. We’ll engage 

with the Benedictine vision of work as prayer 

and learn prayer disciplines that support 

intimacy with God through engagement with 

Creation. Participants will have the option to 

camp on-site, or stay in the regular Holy Family 

accommodations. Offering: $425 

Mark Kutolowski — see Mark’s biography on 

this page. 

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 


Emotional Sobriety Through 

Contemplative Practice 

Jim McElroy 

9:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. 

Bill Wilson, one of the founders of Alcoholics 

Anonymous, coined the term “emotional 

sobriety.” He noticed that some AA members 

with long-term sobriety still experienced 

troublesome emotional reactions which were 

caused by “faulty emotional dependencies.” 

Contemplative practice heals the emotional 

wounds of our lifetime and touches the deep 

unconscious, where all of our real hurts, 

motivations and deepest visions lie. This day 

will focus on using contemplative practices to 

respond with a new heart and being fully present 

in each moment. Offering: $65 (includes lunch) 


Monastery Gallery of Art Programs 2022-2023 

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. 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 

Papercrafts Series: Paste Paper 

Kathy Parulski 

9:30 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. 

In this daylong workshop, you will learn how to 

make your very own paste paper. Paste paper is 

one of the earliest ways used to decorate paper. 

From the late 16th century through the 18th 

century, paste papers were mainly used as book 

covers and endsheets. Today they can also be 

used as pages in a journal or book, for handmade 

cards, and for many other papercrafts. No 

experience is necessary, and all supplies will be 

provided. Please wear old clothing or an apron. 

Offering: $50 (includes supplies and lunch) 

This workshop is the first of three classes 

working with paper in various ways. You can 

register for an individual class, or you can 

register for all three classes in advance for $125. 

Kathy Parulski is cocurator 

of the Monastery 

Gallery of Art and a master 

bookbinder and book 

artist. 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. 

OCTOBER 16 TO 19, 2022 

Lavish Artful Autumn: A 

Whimsical Women Retreat 

Joanne Sharpe 

Treat yourself to a creative escape. Join other 

like-minded creatives for a three-day art-making 

retreat, “Lavish Artful Autumn,” led by Joanne 

Sharpe. This retreat begins with a warm-up class 

and dinner on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. and ends on 

Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. The retreat is limited to 

20 people. Visit monasterygallery.art/whimsical 

for more information. 

Joanne Sharpe is a 

lifelong creative artist 

dedicated to empowering 

women to embrace their 

own creativity through 

national and international 

workshops and innovative 

online classes that explore 

journaling, lettering, 

textiles, and mixed media art. She is the author 

of the best-selling book, The Art of Whimsical 

Lettering, which was named Amazon’s Editor’s 

Pick for the Best Craft Book of 2014. Find out 

more about Joanne and her art adventures at 

joannesharpe.com. 


Papercrafts Series: 

Decorative Papers and Folds 


9:30 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. 

In part two of the Papercrafts series, Kathy will 

guide the class through decorating paper using 

many different mediums. The paste paper made 

in the first class, as well as this new paper, can 

be used with the folding techniques shown. No 


provided. Offering: $50 (includes supplies and 

lunch) 

This workshop is the second of three classes 




Kathy Parulski — see Kathy’s biography on 

this page. 


Papercrafts Series: 

Covers and Books 


9:30 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. 

In part three of the Papercrafts series, Kathy 

will lead the group in creating a book using 

the skills and papers from the previous two 

classes. You will leave with not only a “book” 

but also a thorough knowledge of paper and its 

opportunities. No experience is necessary, and all 

supplies will be provided. Offering: $50 (includes 

supplies and lunch) 

This workshop is the third of three classes 




Kathy Parulski — see Kathy’s biography on 

this page. 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 T 

16 



Reinventing Christmas Trees 

Beth Malley 

9:30 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. 

Join Beth in this fun class where participants will 

create an elegant Christmas tree that can be used 

for your holiday decorating anywhere in your 

home. No experience is necessary. All supplies 

including glue, a surprise material, and spray 

paint are provided. Come and start your holiday 

using your creative energy! 

Offering: $50 (includes supplies and lunch) 

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 is a 

docent at the Wadsworth 

Atheneum and hosts the prayer shawl ministry 

at Holy Family. 

WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 15 

AND 22, 2023 

Chinese Brush Painting 

for Beginners 

Judy Giguere 

7:00 TO 9:30 P.M. 

This two-night beginner’s class explores Chinese 

Brush Painting, an ancient art form that 

developed in China hundreds of years ago. The 

style and technique of Chinese painting have 

varied greatly over the years — from very detailed 

portraits to paintings of flowers executed with 

large brush strokes. Judy, an expert in the media, 

will lead participants in the creation of two of 

the Four Gentleman — bamboo in the first 

class and the Chinese Orchid in the next. No 


provided. Offering: $85 (includes supplies) 

Judy Giguere is a teacher 

of Chinese Brush Painting, 

artist, historian, and writer. 

She is the author of The 

Four Gentlemen: The Art 

of Chinese Brush Painting. 

Judy’s goal is to share the 

joys of Chinese art and 

history for the benefit of all. 


Collage Class 

Diane Ward and Kelly Taylor 

7:00 TO 9:30 P.M. 

Join Diane and Kelly, two local artists who have 

exhibited in the Gallery, and learn how to create 

a collage. Collage is an artistic composition made 

of various materials (such as paper, cloth, or 

wood) glued on a surface. Diane and Kelly will 

lead the class in understanding the materials, 

process, and completion of a collage. No 


provided. Collage allows for your own creativity 

in its assembly to shine through. Offering: $50 

(includes supplies) 

Diane Ward showed an 

early interest in drawing 

and making art. She worked 

as a graphic designer until 

graduation from nursing 

school in 1991. She retired 

from oncology nursing in 

2016. Diane is a member 

of Syntax: Mixed Media 

Artists, a group of five women who create art 

independently and meet regularly to critique 

each other’s work and to share ideas and 

techniques. 

Kelly Taylor’s artist journey 

started at an early age when 

she began experimenting 

with markers, scissors, 

paints, paper, and glue. A 

love of color, texture, and 

the visual richness of life 

have all contributed to her 

lifelong pursuit of creating art. Acrylic paints, 

gels, and pastes; collages, photographs, and 

photo transfers are some of the materials and 

techniques she now uses to create abstract art 

in her home studio. She is a member of Syntax: 

Mixed Media Artists, a group of five women who 

create art independently and meet regularly to 

critique each other’s work and to share ideas and 

techniques. 

TUESDAYS, MAY 2 AND 9, 2023 

Creative Expression with 

Acrylic Pouring and Collage 

Mary Marsan 

7:00 TO 9:30 P.M. 

Join Mary for a two-night workshop on acrylic 

pouring and collage. On night one, you’ll learn 

acrylic pouring and will create two 8" x 10" 

paintings using various techniques. On night 

two, you’ll work on collage. Demonstrations will 

be given, and no art background is needed to 

produce fabulous, colorful art. All materials will 

be provided. Please bring an old shirt, smock or 

apron to wear. Offering: $85 (includes supplies) 

Mary Marsan is the former 

Archdiocesan Coordinator 

of Lay Ministry and Adult 

Formation. She holds 

a Master of Divinity 

degree and a degree in Art 

Education and is a certified 

Spiritual Director for the 

Spiritual Life Center. During her retirement, she 

is exploring the connection between spirituality 

and creativity, using various art forms, including 

oil painting, acrylics, and collage. 


Your generosity strengthens our programs and facility. 

Holy Family 

Resilience Fund 

Because you care deeply about spiritual 

enrichment and the special places, like Holy 

Family, where it can flourish, you continue 

to support Holy Family’s Resilience Fund 

with your thoughtful generosity. 

You see clearly that these holy places are 

unique, sacred, and excruciatingly important 

to each of us in today’s troubled world. And 

you are willing to invest in that belief. 

The main thing is that your generosity 

allows us to be here — to help individuals 

find a place of spiritual refuge to be quiet, 

inquire, spend time with God, and develop 

ever more capacity to love in this world. 

Because you invest in cultivating goodness 

through your support, you create a path 

to a more loving, just, peaceful, and 

respectful society. 

And this good work you support — or 

maybe more accurately, this God work — 

reaches far into the places where people 

work, live, vote, and recreate. 

At Holy Family, we’re convinced that our 

commitment to cultivating peace “one 

person at a time” is what is going to unleash 

our collective intelligence, ingenuity, and 

solidarity and help bring healing to our 

world. 

We are grateful to you for nourishing souls 

through your kind and caring support. And 

we pledge to use your gifts to sow peace and 

love in the hearts of those who turn to Holy 

Family for spiritual nourishment. 

To support Holy Family’s Resilience Fund and the good work it makes possible today, please visit 

holyfamilyretreat.org/resiliencefund. 

Monthly recurring gifts are a wonderful way to support Holy Family! 

Our e-basket (electric fund transfer) program is an easy, safe, and 

convenient way to automate your giving. 

Visit holyfamilyretreat.org/ebasket to learn more and get started. 

18 


Thank you for supporting Holy Family! 

Annual Fund 2022-2023 

Please give today! 

Donations to the Holy Family Annual Fund 

support our annual operating budget as well as 

our 70+ 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 at Holy Family 

When you remember Holy Family in your will, your generosity has an impact far 

beyond your lifetime. 

Your planned gift touches the souls of future generations of retreatants and 

spiritual seekers whose lives are transformed by their experience of the love of God. 

You can create a gift plan using a variety of your personal assets. We will guide 

you through options that will allow you to take care of your family and meet your 

other financial goals. By incorporating various assets, you may be able to do more 

for Holy Family than you think you can. 

Let us help. Please visit legacy.holyfamilyretreat.org or contact Dawn 

Fleming at dfleming@holyfamilyretreat.org to start a conversation. 

The 23nd Annual Gerald J. Kristofak 

Memorial Golf Tournament 

Thursday, June 15, 2023 

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. 

Christmas Concerts – Saturday, December 17 

and Sunday, December 18, 2022 

Easter Concert – Saturday, April 29, 2023 

Music Ministers’ Evenings – June 6 and 7, 2023 

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 Group | 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 by 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. Choose a card to convey a 

message of hope, condolence, encouragement, or celebration. In a world full 

of challenges and change, prayer is the hope that touches the heart. 

Send a loved one a Mass card today. 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 contribute to a relaxing and satisfying stay. 

• Meeting rooms for groups from 

6 to 250 people 

• High tech AV equipment 

• Wi-Fi 

• Two beautifully appointed chapels 

• 185 beds; 155 single rooms 

• Suites with private bathrooms available 

holyfamilyretreat.org/facilityrental 

• 40' x 80' outdoor pavilion 

(available spring ’23) 

• Customized menus

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 

Fresh look 

The ceiling of the main Chapel experienced some water damage from heavy rains in August of 2020. Thankfully, insurance 

will cover the repair and painting of the ceiling and walls. As we go to press, items have been removed; scaffolding is up; 

protective barriers are in place. The next time you’re on campus, the project should be completed!

Retreat Forward 2022-23

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