It is my honour and privilege to be entering into my 7th year serving on the Martha Retreat Centre Society’s Board of Directors.  Over these years I have witnessed the Centre’s growth in retreats, programs, volunteers, operations, and partnerships. New programs and needed volunteers have brought many first time participants to the Centre.  The grounds and garden offered spaces where stillness, peace, meaning and purpose were explored and experienced.  It is my belief that we, the team for the Centre, will continue to hear, respond and adapt to the spiritual needs voiced in our community and beyond. The Sisters of St. Martha welcomed and cared for participants who came to the Centre for over 50 years. Today, this Board and staff are committed to wisely, boldly and collaboratively continue to bridge and grow into the next 50 years.  

I decided to join the Board of Martha Retreat Centre when approached simply out of love for the contemplative path. I have participated in an annual silent contemplative retreat in a variety of retreat centers since my early 30’s and found them essentially to be my spiritual home, and the core of a fully alive and engaged life.

In a time where many seek meaning in their lives, facilities like Martha Retreat Centre provide a place to explore one’s spiritual center through programs and retreats that facilitate community and growth.  Martha Retreat Center has a wonderful spiritual presence thanks to the Legacy of the Sisters and I am thrilled to participate in the continuance and growth of the Center itself.

I have been involved with the Martha Retreat Centre for a number of years. It all started with spiritual direction and a unique friendship with Sister Loretta that began almost ten years ago.  Divine timing had me attend a seven-day silent retreat that coincided with my 50th birthday.  What a gift to actually discover who God says I am; for this I am forever grateful! World Class facilitators along with the profound, simple grace of the Sisters have been very influential in helping me find my spiritual roots through the programs and space offered at the Centre. I am involved with the Board because I value the importance of the Sisters mission and their desire to see the continuation of the programs and benefits the Centre offers.  It is an honor to hitch our wagon to their wisdom as we pursue a new frontier.  We are rooted in a solid foundation and plugged into the Sisters undaunted hope. This makes me excited for the future and I look forward to what God has in store.

​

I was the Director of Martha Retreat Centre when our congregation, the Sisters of St. Martha of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, decided we could no longer be responsible for this ministry in Lethbridge.  Several friends of the Centre met with us and, as a group, we developed Martha Retreat Centre Society.  I have remained a member of this Board because during my ten years in Lethbridge I have witnessed the many ways individuals and groups have been blessed by taking part in the programs and retreats offered at the Centre.  We are fortunate to have a creative executive director, staff and volunteers who bring confidence, commitment and hope to our strategic plan.  As a member of the Board I pray constantly that Martha Retreat Centre may continue “as a facility for retreating into stillness and quiet through connection with the Divine. . . in nature, in one’s life experiences and through sharing with others.”  (Statement re Purpose of the Centre) 

I am a Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and I am on the Leadership Team of our Congregation. My ministries over the years have been in finances – Director of Finance and Budget Manager in Hospitals in Cape Breton and Congregation Treasurer for the Sisters of St. Martha for many years. I am delighted to be serving on the Martha Retreat Centre Board from a distance through the marvels of technology! I will work to promote the mission of Martha Retreat Centre and help to ensure the Centre is sustainable well into the future.

I came to the Martha Retreat Centre in my early 20s.  I recall the Sisters’ kindness, hospitality and spiritual wisdom.  Apart from speaking with the Sisters, I thoroughly enjoyed walking through the coulees and watching the sunset out of my bedroom window. Knowing that a place like this exists in Lethbridge gives me hope and energizes my spirit.

I believe that the legacy of the Sisters of St. Martha lives on in the building, coulees, workers, and volunteers.  I pray that the Centre will provide people with a place for peaceful contemplation and spiritual discussions for many years to come. 

​In today’s fast-paced world, Martha Retreat Centre is a rare and invaluable space for reflection and well-being. My desire to join the board was sparked after attending a book study there with friends. Knowing my mother benefited from retreats at the Centre and having attended retreats elsewhere, I was eager to learn more. I was inspired by its welcoming atmosphere, meaningful programs, and its essential role in fostering personal growth, spiritual connection, and community in Lethbridge.
Being part of the Centre has been incredibly fulfilling. Meeting new people, hearing their stories, and participating in programs has reinforced the importance of having this special place in our community. The legacy of the Sisters of St. Martha embodies values of inclusion and community, and I’m honored to help carry on their vision. I hope my efforts will ensure that this vital space remains a cherished gathering place for years to come.

In 2015 during my first visit to the Martha Retreat Centre I was touched by its peaceful serenity, a place where I could listen, discern, and be guided by the Holy Spirit. Their spiritual retreats have taught me ways to build my friendship with Jesus, value relationships, share my faith, and serve.  

In my career and volunteer activities I am called to recognize God’s gifts in others and appreciate their talents. My love of learning and desire to mentor allows me to share my gift of servant leadership with others.

My mind and heart are open to the challenges and opportunities that awaits us as the Martha Retreat Centre grows. I look forward to listening and collaborating with you. In this welcoming place let us renew our spirit as we go out into the community with true joy. It is our anchor as we touch the lives of all Jesus’ children.

My introduction to the Martha Retreat Centre came through Centering prayer on Tuesday afternoons. It became a meaningful tool in my experience of Christian faith. 
It is a firm belief that the practice of retreating into silence forms us spiritually in a way that the busyness of our lives cannot. It is a rare thing for a community to have a designated space to retreat to. I want to  participate in the continued presence of this centre in our community.
I hope for the long-term presence of a centre that creates space for formative work in the spiritual lives of the community of Lethbridge, a spiritual home of sorts. Church communities matter. They have a specific role in a life of faith. I would love to explore how we at the centre could be an extension of that life.
We as a board need to tend to the practical as well as the visionary. Maintaining this beautiful property & facility is a practical step toward creating stability for ministry over the next 5 to 10 years. It means fundraising. I would love to see the work of the centre become so central in the community that fundraising is not a challenge.
We pray these words together at the end of every board meeting: “We are participating in a work in progress, that began before us, and that will extend beyond us, perhaps in forms we cannot imagine…”
We are imagining for the life of this center. Would you pray with us and for us as we do so.