St. Francis of Assisi was a dreamer. In his popular book The Journey and the Dream, Franciscan Murray Bodo captured this in St. Francis by writing “the journey is essential to the dream.” This is indeed true as St. Francis has inspired many journeys and stirred the dreams of many people over the past eight hundred years. Decades ago, one of those journeys led the Franciscans to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta as they dreamed of proclaiming the gospel. Now as Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre draws toward the 75th Anniversary in 2024 we are reflecting on the journey and continue to pay attention to this dream of living and preaching the gospel.
Reflecting on the past, one hears of the commitment of the friars, the eagerness of benefactors, the support of the local diocese and bishop, and the longings of retreatants. These are essential to the journey as we look ahead with hope and purpose continuing to dream. Seventy-five years of retreat ministry is no small feat. It comes woven with many journeys and stories of both heartache and peace, stillness and longing, seeking and awareness of God. We recognize the journey of all who have stepped foot onto this sacred ground seeking solace and hope. Those who have come to pray, those who are making amends through addiction recovery, and those seeking healing have been met with the journey and the dream inspired by St. Francis. This journey and dream which the Franciscans and the staff at Mount St. Francis have carried over these several decades. As we encounter the sacred stories of retreatants the journey of The Mount is enriched. These encounters are always an invitation to pay attention to how the dreams of retreatants align with God’s will.
In this time which feels like shifting sands or murky vision, Mount St. Francis continues its ministry of welcoming all in the name of Christ. This is a great gift which fills us with awe in the work which is ours to do. It causes us to dream like St. Francis dreamed in how we live and proclaim the gospel. “Old men are dreaming new dreams” (Acts 2.17) of a place “where there is rest and meditation” for here “there is neither anxiety nor restlessness” (Admonition XXVII). This is the anchor of the essential journey which has been and is propelling us into the future, where we continue to dream and continue to be a place of refuge. The gospel is always about a journey into the heart; one Francis encountered and one we are invited to each day at Mount St. Francis.
