Dear Friends:

Recently I found myself sitting in a restaurant with some good friends. As we shared stories and experiences I realized how present God was in those moments through the minds and hearts of those sitting with me at the table. It was a real-life "close encounter" with the Creator!

In complete contrast to that scene were the actions of some of those sitting at the tables nearby. I saw people on cell phones or computers, talking with others and not being engaged with the very people who were present before them at the table. It occurred to me that those people had chosen to absent themselves from the present moment of grace in order to do something else. They had, in my opinion, missed the point!

This year our retreat, Only for Today, will explore the joys and challenges we face is being open to God in the present moment, today, right now! We will use the life of Christ in the scriptures as well as a unique set of statements inspired by the late Pope John XXIII. His insights will lead us to discover the surprising ways that God speaks to us through people and situations in our lives. For our part, we can respond to God by daily being present to hear that sacred voice calling us to peace and to holiness, not in some unattainable way for the future, but "only for today..."

We hope to see you here and we welcome those with whom you choose to share this experience. Consider the people in your lives who would benefit from the retreat experience and make the effort to invite them and may God guide all of us to peace at every moment of our lives.

We hope to see you soon!

Fr. David Cinquegrani, C.P.
Retreat Director