East Cleveland leader. [volume] (East Cleveland, Ohio) 1942-1970, 1956-07-12
Retreat Calls
Those From All
Walks Of Life
BY h atherine BOst

BY Katherine BOst
Why are people going into that
large brick building at 18485 Lake
Shore blvd. next to st. Joseph
High? Varied remarks prompted
yours truly to learn first hand. II
is the Diocesan Retreat House.
Come along and next time you
see someone alighting from a bus
at East 1s5th st. and Lake Shore
blvd. some Friday afternoon look
ing weary and again boarding one
Sunday about five p. m, refreshed
you'll know what transpires. Hav-
ing made reservations for the
weekend, 40 women, including
myself, arrived Friday between six
and seven p. m. with luggage.
After registration we were handed
a Retreat Manual and room assign
ment. This is an unusually small
group as there are accommodation
for 130.
Immediately you are impressed
with the tranquility of the sur
roundings, the spaciousness, clean
illness, decorations, painting and
furnishings. Supper is served at
Z p. m. and you decide rightly the
meals will be luscious. They are
prepared under the supervision of
the Sisters of st. Joseph Of st.
Mark, noted for their culinary art,
assisted by volunteers. After $3.50
services in the Chapel, you learn
strict silence is observed there
after. You retire at 9:45 p. m.
(same Saturday,. Rooms compare
to the best hotel, many with
private baths.
Schedule:
Saturday you arise at $40 a. m.
and note schedule includes services,
breakfast, lunch and supper with
spiritual readings during meals.
Afternoon there will be medita-
tions and prayer with periods to
relax between, or browse in the
library.
Practically the same routine is
followed Sunday, except at 4:15
p. m. there are Closing Prayers,
Papal Blessing and Religious ar
ticles. At 4:30 p. m. silence ends
and all gather for reception in the
dining room before departing for
home.
Who made this retreat? Women
from all walks of life; girls in their
late teens; younger and older
mothers; business women and
grandmothers. Two women have
10 children each; one young look
ing woman has seven. For the
housewives, in addition to the
spiritual and mental value, the
rest was beneficial. Business girls
and women said they enjoyed re-
Taxation from the tension of modern
life. Others welcomed the chance
to think through special problems.
For several this was a repeat
visit to the Retreat House.
Two memorable occasions are
the Stations said outside daily and
the Rosary recited in cadence
among the huge trees ending at the
beautiful Madonna Grotto on Lake
Erie's shore.
Directors:
The Director is Very Rev.
Monsignor Francis P. Johns, SID.
who compiled the Retreat Manual.
He was Professor of Dogma and
Liturgical Music at st. Mary's
Seminary, Cleveland, from 1928
until he became Director Of the
Diocesan Retreat House in 1947.
Msgr. Johns is Diocesan Director
of Music. He is well known for
his golden tenor voice and whether
he leads devotions, hymns or sings
a solo at the Retreats end, it is
a rare treat.
Retreat Master this past week
end was Rev. Donald Jette of the
Blessed Sacrament Fathers on Eu-
cid ave. He seemed to have a keen
insight into everyday worries. With
the Life of the Master as an eX-
ample, he couseled retreatants how
to better adjust to their respective
way of life. He was also on hand
for private interviews to assist
them find a practical approach to
personal problems.
The Assistant Director of the
Retreat House, Father John +.
Storey formerly of Holy Cross
parish) read during meal time.
His calm demeanor and clear voice
will be remembered as we'll as the
messages.
Who Makes Retreats:
Handbook of Retreats shows
every week end of the year men
and women, young and old. Cath
olic and non-Catholic, married and
single, rich and poor gather in
these quiet halls for solace and
comfort. Some come from Greater
Cleveland, others from various
points farther east, west and south.
Special retreats are arranged
for brides, various mems and
women organizations, profession
ais, industrial employees, public
servants. There are language re-
treats for Hungarian, Italians,
Slovaks, Slovenians, etc.
Those interested in making a
Retreat, may call Kenmore 1-7370.
July schedule includes 18th to
15th-Men; 10th to 18th Teen Age