In the News

Volunteer of the year ~ Mary Thibault

This year our award for Volunteer of the Year is presented to Mary Thibault.  We have had the pleasure of working with Mary over the past year as a volunteer.  Mary is a long time retreatant, a wife, mother and grandmother.

 She has become a valuable presence here at the retreat house.  As a dedicated volunteer for the Calvarian Society, she has prayerfully taken care of our many requests from those requesting special intentions and sympathy.   We are so grateful for her efforts in this important ministry.

Mary also has volunteered on several occasions in our dining room and in the office helping with weekend retreat preparations.

We especially enjoy Mary's wonderful warm-hearted personality.  She shares her kindness and brings her spirited enthusiasm with her each time she volunteers. She has been a tremendous asset to the retreat house.   We honor her and thank her for all her generous support.

Following is the text of remarks by Administrator, Andrea Urbano, as she presented this year's Outstanding Service Award on June 5, 2007.

It is with great pleasure that I present the award for Outstanding Service to this year's recipient.

This year's award goes to a person who never says "no" to me.  He has a heart that allows him to give generously of his time to assist in a variety of projects here at the retreat house.  Often, when I have been at the end of my patience with a repair person, I have called him.  And before giving me a simple and direct answer, he has made me laugh about the ridiculousness of the situation.

His involvement is varied: he has served on the Board of Directors since its inception and was an original member of our Advisory Board.  He has chaired our Facility and Grounds Committee, been an active member of the Golf Tournament Committee and has even, on occasion, donned an apron and joined his wife to help out in our Dining Room.  As a lay Associate, he has shared facilitation of the Married Couples Weekend with his wife, and has volunteered to help with many special events, including his current service on our 50th Anniversary Committee.

When I think of all of his service, I am reminded of Jesus' command to his disciples at the Last Supper: "I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." He has taken this Scripture passage to heart and made it a part of his life and I, personally, have been blessed by his service and the Retreat House has greatly benefited from the sharing of his talents.  It is an honor to present this year's award for Outstanding Service to Frank Gilchrest.