Family fun, complete with face painting, food trucks and live musical acts is set to take off at an unlikely venue on Aug. 11 – the St. Francis Retreat Centre on the north side of the Big Hill.
The friars and staff at the St. Francis centre are pulling out all the stops in hopes of attracting as many of their neighbours from the surrounding community as possible, for a day of fun that may also increase local knowledge of the good work that’s done there every day.
Director Susan Campbell said many people in the surrounding area might be aware of the retreat centre, but still don’t know exactly what they do, so this celebration will be a good way to spread the word.
“I think Mount St. Francis has been sort of a hidden jewel in many ways, because it offers a respite for people seeking silence, seeking solitude, seeking to reconnect with their deepest core, to connect with the divine, the sacred – whatever that means in their life,” she said.
So there’s a balance to be struck between banging the drum to garner attention and maintaining a quiet space while flying under the radar, Campbell said.
‘We want to keep that space for people to find their quiet centre. But at the same time, if people don’t know we’re here, then they’re missing that opportunity,” she said.
“As soon as people come, they want to come back.”
She called the centre “a jewel in the forest.”
They hope to close that information gap somewhat with the 75th Anniversary celebrations.
Or, for those just wanting to meet the neighbours and have some fun – that’s OK too.
There will be a piano concert, Friar Aldin will perform with harpist Jia Jia, a couple of different choirs and Mark and Jordan.
The festivities kick off Saturday, Aug.10 at 10 am and go until 4 pm.
Mackay’s Ice Cream will be there, along with food trucks Wannawaffle, Nopal Tacos and Miss Poutine, and The Calgary Humane Society’s lemonade stand.
There will be a Bike Valet from Bike Cochrane, so bikers can park their wheels and venture off.
So it would be an excellent opportunity for a family bike excursion, too, as Bike Cochrane has been working hard to maintain and expand the trail system in the area. Access to the trail can be gained from 4th Ave on the west side of Big Hill.
Butterfield Acres farm corral will have lots of animals for the kids to interact with, and Growing Roots Forest Play will provide activities as well.
There will be a number of historical, cultural and partner displays as well, and for those looking for a quiet, contemplative break, the quiet chapel will be available all day.
The Wazin Îchinabi Ti (House of Oneness) will erect their teepee onsite and there will be an elder present to help people understand sacred space from the Indigenous perspective.
The St. Francis centre will also be taking people out on short prayer walks during the day,
For those interested in a little quieter way to help mark the anniversary, there will be a prayer walk at 10 am Sunday Aug. 11, with a formal mass at 11 am, followed by a complimentary BBQ banquet.
The Centre is at 41160 Retreat Road. To find Retreat Road, turn north off Highway 1A at the traffic lights leading into Gleneagles, and follow the signs.
Mount St. Francis is a spiritual centre of peace, healing and prayer that opened its doors in 1949, at the invitation of the then Catholic Bishop Francis Carroll of Calgary. The basic ministry offers spiritual retreats: weekend, mid-week, day away, evening twilight and week-long.
Everyone is welcome: Catholic, Protestant, non-denominational, people with no faith tradition or belonging to another world religion.
They also host community events such as the Blessing of Pets in October, an outdoor Christmas Pageant and the outdoor Way of the Cross on Good Friday. Many people from the community regularly walk the property whether it is on Bill Hill or the trail along Big Hill Creek. There are several hundred acres of property to explore.
