The Bishop Writes

(From the Nov. 16, 2000 edition of the Inland Register)

We have all been amazed at the rapid development of technology. E-mail, faxes, Palm Pilots, bread machines - they are all supposed to be labor-saving devices, but somehow, our lives seem to be even busier. Oftentimes what used to be responses by mail have not infrequently become requests to please fax and answer back before office closing time.

Families also find themselves to be very busy despite all the modern conveniences. Parents drive their children to sporting events and to myriad school activities. There are the various parish meetings and civic events. Recently a national magazine carried a theme article on the frenetic pace of modern living.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks forthrightly about the need to provide quiet time in our lives: “Come to me, all of you who are burdened, and I will give you rest.... Take my yoke upon you ... and you will find rest” (11:28). Jesus took time aside to pray and to rest, even though he was sometimes chided by the Apostles for taking time away. “Everyone is searching for you” (Mark 1:37), they tell him.

As Luke describes the event, Jesus had been praying in a deserted place. Clearly Jesus is pressured by the circumstances of his busy life, but he takes time for solitude, prayer, and reflection.

For all of us, physical rest is important and vital. We need to get our necessary hours of rest each night and even then sometimes a certain kind of fatigue sets in which necessitates a longer rest or even a vacation. There is also something to be said about a spiritual rest, a time for quiet and solitude to refresh a drooping spirit or simply to take time aside to replenish and deepen an appreciation of God’s presence in our lives.

We are very blessed in the diocese to have an area which can be considered a “deserted place,” Immaculate Heart Retreat Center (IHRC), on the southeast side of Spokane.

This institution was established over 40 years ago by Bishop Bernard Topel and was built and directed for many years by Msgr. David Rosage, now retired. There have been changes over these past years to enhance the facility and grounds. In my judgement, the center is one of the finest in its setting and in its facility.

IHRC is set on 55 acres of land, next to Ben Burr Road on the west side of Brown's Mountain. The scenery is beautiful and the perspective for watching the sunsets in the west is often spectacular. A few weeks ago as I walked outside early one morning, I came within 40 feet of a whitetail deer and, earlier, while it was still dark, listened to the interplay of the hooting of at least four large horned owls.

The retreat center was founded to provide a place for spiritual renewal, prayer, and rest. Almost 24 years ago, I made my 30-day Ignatian retreat before I was ordained Bishop of Yakima. For me, there didn’t seem to be much choice - Bishop Topel insisted I do so. And I thank God he did. I consider that time one of my most significant life experiences, with an impact which continues to this day.

In the rapidly changing and very busy world in which we live, it is important to keep our spiritual bearings. Relationships are critical for us in our daily living: first and foremost with God, and then with our neighbors, and also with ourselves. It's easy to be distracted by the wrong values, by the wrong gods. It's easy to live with divided hearts until we take time aside to see what is really going on either to the betterment or detriment of our spiritual journey. A retreat experience helps us to do that.

In the earlier days of IHRC, almost all of the retreats were completely silent, but over the years a diversity of retreat experiences have been and continue to be offered, including time for solitude and quiet. Search Weekends for the young, Marriage Encounters for the those who are married, a gathering place for days of recollection and Jesus Caritas support days for priests, meetings and workshops provided by our Pastoral Center offices, the Diocesan Pastoral Council meetings: these are just some of the events hosted at the center. In addition, ecumenical groups use the facility as well as the Dioceses of Nelson and Yakima for their priests’ retreat.

I encourage you to get into the regular practice of making a retreat if you have not done so already. There is something about extended time for prayer and the experience of God’s creation that leave their mark upon us. For me, they provide a kind of leaven for my life which extends far beyond the moment or days of the experience.

Your financial support of the center is also helpful for those who do not have sufficient resources to cover the cost of a retreat experience. Some have been exceedingly generous in this regard.

The spiritual tone of our lives should always be of concern and a priority for all of us. May we support one another by taking time to reflect and pray. As Jesus tells us: “You will find rest for your souls.” Perhaps in this manner we can appreciate even more how blessed we have been by God.

May God bless you with peace and joy.

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