May 2021

May 1st, St. Joseph, the Worker:  Another amazing opportunity to call for a Work Day!

To us, it seems as though it was just a couple of weeks ago that we finished a great work day on the day after the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19), and here we are again with another St. Joseph Feast day!  This one is even called, "The Worker," so of course it is fitting to have a celebratory work day in His honor.  

The last St. Joseph work day, we were scrambling about trying to get the newly renovated Lakeside Lodge painted in order to get the carpet installed on time.   Not only did we get a lot of painting done, but we also had a few other bonus surprises!  We completely cleared the upstairs of the gym making the perfect space for a couple of spacious boy's bunkrooms, which came in handy for a high school retreat (see news about that below) We also had a young man show up at the work day to help paint that we persuaded to stay and paint some more for us.  We also found out that he is multi-talented and what you would call "in between jobs."  He's planning on entering formation to become a Diocesan Seminarian this winter.  We hired him on the spot. 

This coming workday tomorrow has just as many pressing jobs to complete.  Now that the Lakeside Lodge is painted and carpeted, we need help moving some furniture, assembling beds, and setting up the rooms.  We also have much outdoor work to do: weedwacking, mowing, cutting trees, and mulching, and some gardening. We do want our Mary Garden looking spiffy for May.  (We still have a trail to complete, too!)  We still have some more painting if you missed that opportunity before, or just really like to paint. 

​ So this Saturday, May 1, If you have some hours to give, we'd love to see you here.  We are starting at 9 and will end whenever the last person leaves!  Come and go at your own schedule.  We'll have some snacks and drinks available, but bring your own water bottle.
Bring if you can:  

• Weedwacker
• Chainsaw
• Shovel and Hoe for weeding and mulching

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Check out the perfect weather for Saturday!!

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Other news from Heart Ridge:

We had an absolutely beautiful marriage retreat here last weekend.  Troy and Kathleen Billings lead over a dozen couples to revive their marriage relationship with engaging talks, time together, activities, and prayer.  We are looking forward to making this a biannual event so that more couples can benefit from this experience. 

We also hosted the St. Joseph's Catholic School Kairos retreat here the weekend before.  This is a retreat for high school juniors which moves students to a deeper relationship with Christ and with their fellow students.  We were supposed to be able to use our Lodge, but since the renovations were not completed, we purchased camp mattresses for the boys and used our spacious upstairs rooms in our gym.  The girls stayed in the lovely Laurel Lofts and a couple of the other houses. 

Upcoming Events!

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Abide in Me Women's Retreat, May 7-8

Please pray for us and the women attending.  We are sold out!  

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Summer Family Camp 2021

We still have room for more families at our summer camps!  Don't miss this opportunity to spend some time relaxing and playing with the family in the great outdoors.  We've got so many fun and thoughtful activities planned that will create bonds and memories for a lifetime!