Just got back from the most wonderful weekend I'v had in a long time.
I apopogize ahead of time for the length of this post, but I have lot's to tell you all.
I left early Friday morning, A friend of mine picked me up and we drove to the church to meet up with another of out Fraturnity and we drove to Crofton, MD to meet up with some others of our community, we all, there were 6 of us, piled into our Minister's van and drove the 4 hour drive to Southern Pennsylvania.
I suupose I should explain myself, I am a Secular Fransican, I was professed in May of 2000.
The Secular Fransican Order was formarly known as the Third Order of St. Francis.
The order was founded by St. Francis of Assisi when, after observing how the friars and the Sisters had taken to live in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and were joyful in this calling, Laypeople who were already commited to married life and to Secular life also wished to follow in St. Francis' rule. so he founded a third order for the lay brothers and sisters.
This weekend was our Annual Retreat at a place owned by the Capuchin friars and priests who needed a place to get away for awhile to renew their commitment to God.
They also privided a place for groups of people wishing the same thing to come to. To get away from worldly cares and get in touch with God in a more intimate way.
This week there were about 10 of us there, Brothers and Sisters in faith.
Those early Capuchin friars knew what they were doing as they had selected a place were it was cool and beautiful! We are about 2 miles north of the PA/MD stste line and a bout a mile from the small town of Salisbury, PA. In the middle of Amish country. We went throught western Maryland through Cumberland and Frostberg, MD. and the mountians were breathtaking!
If ValerieUSA has pictures of Western Marylad and Southern Pennsylvania, She could show you all what I'm talking about. I don't know how to post pictures.
I really learned a lot about myself and about my relation with God, the Brothers and Sisters of my community and relations with other people.
With that in mind, I want to pubically apologize to anyone I have offended by what I have typed here and on other thread in the past that were hurtful and offensive. I meant you know harm and will strive to treat all of you my fellow freepers, as my brothers and sisters, and that means with the respect you all deserve ans human beings and God's children.
I hope you all had a blessed weekend, May God bless you all!
Thank You for being who you are!
Pippin!
All my experiences have been filled with the Holy Spirit and just wonderful.
Before he died, my husband and I were also a team couple (helped to present weekends) for Marriage Encounter. It was also a very rewarding ministry.