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Dear Marta,
Firstly, I would like to thank you all for the tremendous support, confidence, and Christian friendship that has been poured out to me over the past five years at Mater Dolorosa. However, the time has come for me to answer another call. As a Franciscan at heart, I have been invited to lead another retreat center in northern California, this time a Franciscan one. Today we are all trying to respond to our calls and vocations as best we can. In my case, I have been discerning this call. I do not make this decision lightly. The retreatants, staff, and retreat center community have come to mean something precious in my life and difficult to separate from; however, this may be my “last chance” to respond to a specifically Franciscan calling. Opportunities like this do not fly into our path often, particularly at my age. So, with sadness and regret, I have resigned as CEO and Director of Ministry here at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center. I will be leaving at the end of May 2023.
I want to thank you all for your support, love, prayers, and assistance which has helped Mater Dolorosa remain stable during a period of significant instability, stay solvent during very challenging financial circumstances, and increased the spiritual programming to bring others to the center and communicate the message of the Passion of Jesus Christ. I have had the privilege of working with one of the best teams in the retreat business. Their dedication to the retreatants and visitors who walk our hallways and gardens is a sight to behold. It will be tough not to see it every day. I also thank the Board members, donors, and the hiring committee who brought me to this sacred space. Your confidence and support have kept me going when the path was very unclear at times. I also want to thank the Passionist community who took me into the sacred space of their retreat ministry. And the retreat team members have been a pleasure to work with on prayer programs, conferences, music, poetry, and many other prayer-filled experiences over these past 60 months. I hope to stay in contact with you all.
We have a great team here at Mater Dolorosa, and you can expect retreat business as usual. Expect to learn more about the long-term plans from the center and leadership in the coming weeks and months. I remain very confident in the teams at the center and our stellar Board of Directors, who help ensure we keep everything on track.
I am changed forever by my time here. I will carry the Passion of Jesus Christ in my heart in a different way due to my time and experiences here, and I hope that I will get the chance to continue the Charism which has been so carefully sown into the fabric of this beautiful, sacred place.
I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers in the coming months and years and hope I can continue to count so many of you as friends as we have traveled these five years together.
If any of you would like to stay in contact with me my personal contact information is listed below.
Peace and All Good, and May the Passion of Jesus Christ be Always in Our Hearts.
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