This message came to me as I reflected over the many years I had the privilege of being a guest, a friend, and a directee visiting with the lovely, humble, holy women at the Martha Centre. Personally, I came to the Martha Sisters as a young woman seeking and searching for spiritual direction in my life. I attended many events and totally fell in love with the Sisters who showed and taught me to come and see the goodness of the Lord working through them.

My dear husband, Raymond, and I had our first big experience, with the opportunity through the Sisters support and prayers and encouragement, to begin CLC at the Centre. Christian Life Community expanded and grew across Southern Alberta. The invitation went out far and wide to people who would like to join such a community, with the purpose to help them grow in faith and learn the Saint Ignatius way of life. The goodness of the Lord drew in many people because of the Sisters open door of hospitality. Over the years many communities were formed and CLC became well known throughout the areas of Southern Alberta, Lethbridge, Coaldale, Taber, etc. The Sisters to me were like golden sunshine in my life, as they were to many others through their outreach to everyone who came to the Centre and to the community.

The Martha Sisters had a big influence in my life, truly they helped me to become the person I am today by drawing me in through their open door and open hearts. In their quiet ways they helped direct me in my spiritual life. I helped out with a number of retreats by cooking and directing. The Sisters also encouraged me to become a Spiritual Director so I too could help others on their spiritual journey. The peace and love that has forever radiated from the Martha’s and through the Centre has blessed many of us by their hands of service and their hearts of love in serving the Lord.

The vision I see in my mind is when one comes to the door of the Centre it is like Jesus on the other side, as we knock the door is opened by the love of Jesus through the welcoming hospitality by one of the Sisters. For me it is like coming home. The hands and hearts of the Martha Sisters forever serving with love for Jesus through their praying, listening, teaching, caring for the sick and serving good food prepares one’s heart to become holy. I have felt privileged and honored to be able to walk on this holy ground of the Martha Centre with the Sisters who live lives of humility, simplicity and prayerfully doing everything for the love of God. And yes, they have brought hospitality to the stranger and spiritual nourishment to all who gather in this place. The Sisters taught me how to respond to the cry of hospitality through the peace and silence of the Centre.

My dear late husband, Deacon Raymond, so loved the Sisters, he made sure to bring a bottle of wine to toast to their good health and he appreciated deep conversations, telling stories of the faith he grew up in because he had a number of his own sisters who were nuns. He loved laughing and joking with them in his own special way as they did with him. In the last month of Raymond’s life on earth, we had the privilege to stay at the Centre for one month as night watchmen. That month we made it our retreat not knowing that this would be our last time there together. We felt so honored to be able to have time together, to grow a bit closer to our Lord and each other by experiencing the living presence of the Lord in the tabernacle each night as we prayed and reflected on our lives to discern where we were being called in retirement. As we know, the Martha Sisters praying presence is still felt through the walls of this holy place. We invite you to come and see the Goodness of the Lord.

The Centre is like the promised land where milk and honey still flow through those who continue to pray, to serve and welcome all with hearts of hospitality. A place to be with God, a refuge from the world, a place to come to nurture your heart, soul, and spirit.

I love to continue to serve at the Centre by facilitating programs, baking and cooking in the kitchen and by offering Spiritual Direction.

Come and See the Goodness of the Lord

With a heart of gratitude,

Ellen

By continuing to increase our spiritual development we are continually reminded that our own spiritual journeys are never ending – that we always have more to learn from those around us. This month’s core value is “Spiritual development and renewal.”

We are happy to be able to provide a variety of programs at the Martha Retreat Centre to appeal to many who are also looking for spiritual development and renewal. The current reality we have lived through over the course of the last two years certainly has people looking for some type of renewal.

This is how we see Spiritual development and renewal:

Ø  Everything we do at the Martha Retreat Centre is about Spiritual Development and Renewal

Ø  Spiritual Development and Renewal are reached within programs and retreats

Ø  Silence is healing and enriching

Ø  People need renewal at this time in our society

Ø  Some people think that spiritual = religion

Ø  The Centre provides the space and atmosphere for people to be able to open their hearts in silence

Ø  Participants feel love and light after attending programs

Ø  Our outdoor space on the grounds provides people with a new experience of the Centre

It is our sincere hope that you too have felt some sense of renewal and that you’ve been able to continue to develop your spiritual journey at some point or another while attending a program or a retreat.