We look forward to welcoming you to the 2023 Northeast Region Retreat at the peaceful Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT. Our sincerest prayer for you is that you find time to retreat from your daily responsibilities to spend time with Him and your Sisters in Christ. We invite you to be still and let the true presence of our Lord guide your journey this weekend and beyond.
‘Christ in Me’ has been a labor of love, branching from the National Eucharistic Revival. You have been called by name to remain in Him and bear much fruit; we are inspired that you responded to His divine invitation. We pray that your hunger for Jesus in Holy Communion and receiving Him magnifies this weekend. Be open to the true presence of the Lord and allow Him to guide you during this retreat, trust that He knows what you and your Sisters in Christ need most.
Throughout our weekend we will have many opportunities to enhance our faith journeys by way of liturgy, fellowship and catechesis of the true presence of our Lord at Mass, in ourselves and in what way to go forth and show others how to live a truly Eucharistic life. We are delighted to walk with you this weekend.
In His Service,
The MCCW Northeast Region Team
Patti Ramos, Laura Meyers, Kristina Pagán
Retreat Location Description
The Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center is located in a bucolic suburb of West Hartford, Connecticut. The expansive forty-eight acres of mostly wooded grounds offer a refuge from the bustle to visitors as well as the people in the community. Trails meander through the forest, and visitors can appreciate thoughtful landscaping and features that include the stations of the cross, a labyrinth, and various statues of saints and Christ. One particularly striking feature on the property is a beautiful Marian Grotto located on a clearing in the forest.
The former monastery and college is still operated by the Passionists. The Passionists are an organization of Priests, Brothers, Passionist Women, and lay people that perform charitable work throughout the world. The Passionists were founded in 1720 by St. Paul of the Cross in order to teach people how to pray and are open to all who seek to deepen their relationship with God and one another. Consistent with their tradition, the retreat center is a community that values spiritual development, the holy Word, and the Sacred in our world.
Keynote Guest Speakers
We are excited to welcome Katie Taylor, a fellow active-duty military wife, Air Force veteran, MCCW member, and Catholic speaker for “To the Heights” ministry and blogger for CatholicLink.org. To find out more about Mrs. Taylor, head on over to her website for more information or check out some of her YouTube content over at Catholic Link’s YouTube channel.
Logistics
Check-In Time: 3:00 PM
Check-Out Time: 10:00 AM
Cost
Ticket purchase includes room and board, retreat materials, guest speakers, facility and grounds spaces, clergy and liturgical celebrations, swag bag, and Eventbrite fees.
Room and board rates vary by type and duration of stay.
4 day/3 night; meals include dinner on 27 April through breakfast on 30 April Shared Room/Shared Bath (30 available): $400
Private Room/Shared Bath (180 available): $415
Private Room/Private Bath (14 available, preference will be given to those with special needs): $455
3 day/2 night; meals include dinner on 28 April through breakfast on 30 April Shared Room/Shared Bath (30 available): $285
Private Room/Shared Bath (180 available): $300
Private Room/Private Bath (14 available, preference will be given to those with special needs): $330
Daytripper – 4 Day; meals include dinner on 27 April through breakfast on 30 April Daytripper: $340
Please review all retreat ticket options thoroughly before choosing and purchasing your ticket. Ticket purchases may be exchanged on a case-by-case basis and based on availability.
The deadline to purchase tickets is 17 April 2023. To purchase tickets after 17 April 2023, the MCCW Northeast Coordinator will need to consult the retreat center for availability.
Recommended Packing List
Layers: The April weather in Connecticut can be unpredictable. The retreat center and chapel are heated, but a stroll on the grounds, a hike on the nearby trails or for the Illuminated Rosary in the Marian Garden on Friday evening may be quite chilly.
Personal Hygiene: The retreat center has liquid soap in all guest restrooms and showers. We recommend you bring your own shampoo, conditioner, lotion, feminine products, medications, shower shoes, and a hair dryer. Towels and washcloths are provided.
Spiritual Items: Bring your bible, rosary, Mass/prayer journal, and veil if you wish. We will have some bibles and rosaries available to borrow if you happen to leave yours at home.
Forms of Payment: There will be opportunities to visit the giftshop, purchase raffle tickets for chances to win amazing trinkets, bid in the basket auction, tithe during Mass, and donate to the AMS Seminarian Fund. Forms of payment accepted are cash, debit card, check, or PayPal.
Prayer Sisters: The focus of the Prayer Sister Program is to support one another through prayer. In the past, some Prayer Sisters have brought small religious gifts or treats to share with their Prayer Sisters, however, in order to keep the focus on prayer, MCCW highly encourages the exchange of small notes of encouragement or prayer cards only. Greeting cards and decorative paper will be available at the Prayer Sister registration table.
Additional items: Please bring a reusable water bottle and a coffee or tea mug. You may want to bring a personal padded kneeler because the chapel does not have traditional kneelers.
Contact Info
For general support with retreat registration and tickets, please contact northeastcomms@mccw.org. If you do not receive a response in three business days, please email directorrc@mccw.org. For information on scholarships or invoicing, please email finance@mccw.org.
The deadline to purchase tickets is 17 April 2023. To purchase tickets after 17 April 2023, the MCCW Northeast Coordinator will need to consult the retreat center for availability.
If you are a female, 18 and older, AND affiliated with the military (all branches – active, guard, reserve, dependent, retired, veteran, DoDEA, contractor) – we would be honored to have you attend this retreat!
Please note: You do not need to be a leader in your community, involved in a CWOC, live near a military installation, or even Catholic – just respectful and open to learning. We are excited to welcome women from across the Northeast Region and beyond.
We encourage you to retreat and spend time finding ‘Christ in Me’ for 4 days/3 nights at The Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center with your Sisters in Christ. As we realize this time frame and/or the overnight option is not possible for everyone, we have included a 3 day/2 night and a day-tripper option.
The day-tripper option includes meals and programming during the retreat, but not lodging.
Costs are detailed below.
Ticket purchase includes room and board, retreat materials, guest speakers, facility and grounds spaces, clergy and liturgical celebrations, swag bag, and Eventbrite fees.
Room and board rates vary by type and duration of stay.
4 day/3 night; meals include dinner on 27 April through breakfast on 30 April Shared Room/Shared Bath (30 available): $400
Private Room/Shared Bath (180 available): $415
Private Room/Private Bath (14 available, preference will be given to those with special needs): $455
3 day/2 night; meals include dinner on 28 April through breakfast on 30 April Shared Room/Shared Bath (30 available): $285
Private Room/Shared Bath (180 available): $300
Private Room/Private Bath (14 available, preference will be given to those with special needs): $330
Daytripper – 4 Day; meals include dinner on 27 April through breakfast on 30 April Daytripper: $340
Please review all retreat ticket options thoroughly before choosing and purchasing your ticket. Ticket purchases may be exchanged on a case-by-case basis and based on availability.
The deadline to purchase tickets is 17 April 2023. To purchase tickets after 17 April 2023, the MCCW Northeast Coordinator will need to consult the retreat center for availability.
NOTE – PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR CHAPEL WILL FUND YOUR RETREAT BEFORE YOU PROCESS A PERSONAL PAYMENT. IF ANY PORTION OF YOUR REGISTRATION WILL BE PAID WITH CHAPEL FUNDS, PLEASE CHECK THE “INVOICE” PAYMENT OPTION. NO REFUNDS TO PERSONAL CREDIT CARDS WILL BE ISSUED AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN PROCESSED.
When completing online registration make one of the following payment selections:
- Choose ONLINE at Eventbrite via CC (Small Fee)
- Choose MAIL-IN then mail a check and notate it with “Northeastern Retreat” in the memo line
MCCW
PO Box 85
Alpha, OH 45301 - Choose “INVOICE” if your CHAPEL is paying any or all of the registration or lodging. If your Chapel is paying, the POC needs to email the MCCW Financial Manager finance@mccw.org and registrar@mccw.org to advise the following and receive an invoice:
-
- Chapel Name (Base/Post)
- POC: Parish Coordinator and/or CWOC President (Please include emails and or phone numbers.)
- Names (& contact info) of registrants receiving a subsidy
- Amount of subsidy per person being paid
- An invoice with instructions on how to make payment will be provided once we receive your email with the information.
- ALL payments will be by Eventbrite or check. NO PAYPAL.
-
The Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center offers a variety of modest room accommodations ranging from private room/private bath, private room/shared bath, shared room/shared bath, and handicap accessible (please indicate on the registration form if a handicap accessible room is required). All rooms have a small desk and bed/bath linens. Rooms do not include a television or a hair dryer. Private and shared bathrooms provide hand and body soap, but we recommend you bring your own personal toiletries.
The dining halls are spacious with round-table seating and buffet serving. Dietary restrictions are considered on a case-by-case request. The conference room will be situated with chairs only; table seating is not an option with groups as large as ours. There are 3 chapels on site: the main chapel where we will celebrate our group Masses, a community chapel and a small monastic chapel for personal reflection.
The Catholic Gift Shop on site and will be open throughout our retreat. Wi-Fi is available in all areas of the retreat center. There is ample parking in both the front and side parking lots.
Additional areas for personal reflection and/or fellowship are several sun porches, several reading nooks, an expansive library, an outdoor patio, koi pond, labyrinth, a Marian Grotto, a Marian Garden, walking/running trails, the Monastery Gallery of Art, outdoor Stations of the Cross, sports playing fields, and much more.
*Retreat center grounds, to include all rooms, are non-smoking.
Visit their website to find out more information about the retreat center.
