day six

We give You thanks today, O God, for the people who challenged us at the Casa: for those who pointed out our flaws when we needed to see them; for those we disagreed with; for those who tested our patience.

day five

We give You thanks today, O God, for the friends we’ve made at the Casa: for those who shared the journey with us whether for years or only a short time; for all of those who mourned with us when we

experienced losses, who encouraged us when we were down, and who laughed with us in moments of joy and fun.

day four

We give You thanks today, O God, for the benefactors and volunteers who have served the Casa in so many ways. They gave of their financial resources and free time to make things possible that otherwise would have been impossible.

day three

We give You thanks today, O God, for everyone who worked on staff at the Casa.  They often worked long hours for little pay because they believed in the vision the Franciscans had for this place.

day two

We give You thanks today, O God, for those people who had the vision to renew the Casa to meet the needs of changing times: for those who transformed the Casa from a quiet retreat house into a Renewal Center and made it a leader in the renewal of the Church; for those who opened the Casa to public worship and founded a community; and for those who moved the community outside of itself to serve the needs of the neediest of God’s people.

day one

We give You thanks today, O God, for the people who founded the Casa de Paz y Bien Retreat House in 1951: for Fr. Owen DaSilva, OFM, who devoted much of his life to the retreat ministry, who saw the need for retreat house in Phoenix, and who found the perfect place nestled between Camelback and Mummy Mountains; for all the friars and laypeople who worked to turn the Kachina Lodge into a place suitable for retreats; and for Bishop Daniel Gercke who welcomed and encouraged the Franciscans to open a retreat house in his diocese.

week one

Today we begin the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Franciscan Renewal Center. Over the next 60 days, we will reflect and pray in gratitude for the abundant blessings God has bestowed upon the Church, the Phoenix community, and each one of us personally through the ministry of this place we know simply as “the Casa.”

We pray that we might open our hearts this week to remember all of the people who made the Casa the significant place that it is.