St. Francis Center for Renewal Moves Beyond Bricks & Mortar During COVID-19 Pandemic
May 11, 2020
The Sisters and staff of St. Francis Center for Renewal have reviewed the potential of opening our doors this summer at the Center and became concerned that the risk is greater than the good. Summer is generally a quieter time for us, even when life is normal. When we added face masks, social distancing requirements and the inability to offer buffets, salad and drink stations, coupled with investment in disposable wares, temperature screenings and continued concern over shared living space, the concept of “opening” seemed more like confinement. Consequently, we have made the difficult decision that our doors will remain closed through August.
Know, however, that we are alive and kicking! With so much anxiety, loss and grief surrounding us, we believe that there has never been a time of greater need for the services that we provide … for finding an Oasis for Peace and Healing!
We are not shying away from our mission or our work. We will expand and deliver our online capability in keeping with our original intentions to better serve the homebound, which now includes all of us – young, middle-aged and beyond. Even as our area reopens, social distancing and monitoring our space is still an important reality! Watch for news on our offerings ahead to see how these programs might brighten and enlighten your summer!
Enduring the Financial Woes — Like many small organizations, the times have brought financial woes to the Center, as there is little to no income realized. Many of our friends and supporters have risen to this occasion and found ways to support us through this time. To those who can and do support us, we thank you with grateful hearts! Keeping in mind that our 2019-2020 Annual Appeal will end on June 30, we are designing a special online Day of Giving for this purpose.
We have chosen to celebrate the longest day of summer, the Summer Solstice on June 20, with a special Day of Giving for the ministry of St. Francis Center for Renewal. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks. If you have the means to be forthcoming on this day during this difficult time, we also thank you in advance. If you cannot do so, we hope you can support us in other ways that matter — through prayers and participation in our programming. We hope that we all will not only soldier on but grow in ways that help us emerge stronger and better for the journey. We need your help to do that!
Spiritual Direction — Online spiritual direction will be available with Sr. Marguerite Stewart, beginning June 1. If you are interested in meeting virtually with Sister Marguerite, please email her smargueriteosf@yahoo.com.
Apartment Available — We are also offering availability of our clean and sanitized Hermitage Apartment for anyone who wishes to “get away” in a comfortable, private setting to decompress and enjoy the gift of solitude. Interested parties would bring their own food and drink for their stay. Cost and reservation information can be obtained by calling the Center at 610-867-8890.
April 22, 2020
With heavy hearts, we are report that St. Francis Center for Renewal (SFCR) will remain closed through the month of May 2020. Retreatants, groups and meetings have, one-by-one, been cancelling already. The idea of opening to exposure would not be worth the risk at this time.
So much has happened and the world has changed, but our mission has not! SFCR will continue to find ways to deliver an ‘Oasis of Peace and Healing to all of God's People,' especially when our doors are closed and physical presence is not permitted. These times, they are a challenge — but through faith, fellowship, trust and community, good things can be grown.
The Sisters and Center staff had been gearing-up to deliver regular programs of outreach communication to the home-bound and socially-isolated in our community later this year. Called Beyond Bricks & Mortar, this initiative intended to connect us with those who were not able to come to our campus setting. Ironically, the Covid-19 crisis has escalated the timing of this since now we all find ourselves home-bound and socially isolated!
We started small in April with two online gatherings and are growing our offerings for May with seven or more online gatherings to inspire hope, raise spirits and socially connect people. Our shared humanity and faith in the unwavering goodness can be experienced by all through our online capability. Anyone seeking peace and healing should feel free to join.
Most of our programs only ask for a freewill offering, which helps to keep the Center running during these very challenging financial times. However, inability to donate should not deter anyone from attending. All that is truly required is a good heart!
We know from the feedback we have received in April that people are joyful in finding these local connections. Our strong faith energizes our desire to serve the needs of people in the times in which we serve. We hope to “see” you soon! It's easy to get started by just registering online for your program of choice.
Note the offerings for May are listed below. Program descriptions and instructions for registering will be added soon.
SIMPLY PRAYER: With Sister Marguerite Stewart, OSF
10 a.m. Tuesday, May 5, 2020 | Freewill offering welcomed
EVERY DAY IS MOTHER'S DAY with Claire Hintze & Joan Fogel
7 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2020 | Suggested offering: $15
BLESS THIS SPACE: with Maryann Kearns, MS
10 a.m. Tuesdays, May 12 and 26, 2020 | Freewill offering welcomed
MASTERPIECE IN THE MAKING with Nina Corona
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2020 | Suggested offering: $20
LOSS & GRIEF with Jason Boyko, LPC
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2020 | Suggested offering: $20
WHY LAUDATO SI & WHY SHOULD WE CARE? with Marie North
10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 21, 2020 | Freewill offering welcomed
Program offerings can be made by check, online with a credit card or over the phone with a credit card. Send check payable to St. Francis Center for Renewal to:
St. Francis Center for Renewal
395 Bridle Path Road
Bethlehem PA 18017
Please indicate on memo line: Program Donation and Name of Program
To make a secure online credit card donation, visit the SFCR Online Store. Please indicate under Additional Information that your gift is a program registration donation.
To make a credit card donation by phone, please call the main office at 610-867-8890 during regular weekday business hours.
March 19, 2020
Probably not a surprise, but please note that St. Francis Center for Renewal will be closed through April 2020. We will assess the situation for May in late April. In the interim, all Center bookings, events and activities through April will be cancelled. Booking contacts should note that we will be calling you directly within the next week to work-out details relating to your deposits. We pray that you will remain safe through this time period and look forward to serving you in the road ahead when operations return to normal.
March 15, 2020
St. Francis Center for Renewal has consulted and monitored national health expert recommendations and local community actions (especially of non-profit institutions) surrounding the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and will implement the following plans and protocols:
All non-essential work, events and activities at the Center will be cancelled through March 29, 2020.
We will contact and communicate directly with those entities, that have a deposit on file, regarding reimbursement of those funds.
We will utilize this down time to clean and thoroughly disinfect our building and facilities.
We are reminding everyone to ensure that they follow CDC recommendations in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Containment of infection is vital to lessening the impact to life in our community.
The Sisters and administration will reassess the situation prior to March 29, 2020 to provide any updates needed at that time.
We are being vigilant with prayer. Remember Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God.