Franciscan Alumni Association Reunion
June 2023, Easton, Pennsylvania
Announcing the 2023 FAA Reunion
The Franciscan Alumni Association is pleased to announce that the 2023 FAA Reunion will take place at the Franciscan Retreat House in Easton, Pennsylvania, June 22 – 26. If this sounds familiar, you may recall that we had tried to hold our reunion here in 2019 and 2022, but had to postpone our annual get-together because of the COVID pandemic.
Our host will be Henry Beck, OFM ’70.
The planning team is:
Warren Hebert ’75
Mike Kruzich ’72
Frank Lopez ’77
Ed Schellenbach ’72
You can reach the entire team by sending an email to: 2023reunion@franciscan-alumni.org
You can also read about the 2023 Reunion and Retreat in our Spring 2023 FAA Newsletter.
Quick Links
Flyers – for those who like printed copies!
Retreat Outline
Nearby Attractions
Registration Information
General Information
Lodging and Meals (On site)
Lodging in Bethlehem, PA (Commuter)
Commuter Meals
Schedule
Wednesday Afternoon and Evening
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Lodging and Meal Plans
The St. Francis Retreat House can be found on the web here. You are invited and encouraged the visit their website to learn what a beautiful facility this is.
How to Register
Please note that all registrations must be received by June 10th.
There are three options to register for the Reunion.
First, you can register online here.
Second, you can call the Barbara the St. Francis Retreat House Secretary at 610-258-3053, extension 10. If you have difficulty connecting by phone, please be patient, the phone system at the Retreat House is rather old, and can go on retreat from time to time.
Third, you can complete a registration form, and mail it to the Retreat House. Mailing instructions are on the form. Using this form is recommended for those who will be sharing a room with their spouse, or have special dietary requirements.
There is a requested $35.00 deposit. If you have to cancel, every effort will be made to refund this deposit. However if food has already been purchased and other financial obligations have been entered for the Reunion, it might be difficult.
Costs for staying at St. Francis Retreat House
Thursday to Sunday (begins with supper on Thursday): three nights, nine meals, nightly evening socials, coffee and juices during the day. All lodging and meals included: Thursday supper, Friday breakfast/lunch/supper, Saturday breakfast/lunch/supper, and Sunday breakfast and lunch. $225 / person. [$420 / couple]
Friday to Sunday (begins with supper on Friday): two nights, six meals, nightly evening socials, coffee and juices during the day. All lodging and meals included: Friday supper, Saturday breakfast/lunch/supper, and Sunday breakfast and lunch. $190 / person. [$360 / couple]
Or if you wish to stay at the nearby Hampton Inn and Commute
Lodging: Hampton Inn and Suites, 200 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18017 / 610-868-2442. Guaranteed rates for “Franciscan Alumni Reunion” are $109.99 plus tax for Thursday evening and $149.99 plus tax for Friday and Saturday evenings. A continental breakfast is included. They will hold 10 rooms for us until June 4, 2023.
Direct Booking Link to Hampton Inn and Suites: BethlehemSuites.HamptonInn.com
St. Francis Retreat House Meal Plans for Commuters
Thursday to Sunday (begins with Thursday supper): Meals included except breakfasts (please eat breakfasts at hotel), nightly evening socials, coffee and juices during the day, and use of retreat house areas: $156 / person.
Friday to Sunday (begins with Friday supper): Meals included except breakfasts (please eat breakfasts at hotel), nightly evening socials, coffee and juices during the day, and use of retreat house areas: $101 / person
Reunion Theme: Retreat
As we gather this year, the theme of our reunion will be “Retreat”, a time of reflection on the future, mission, and vision of the Franciscan Alumni Association. The Franciscan Retreat Center is a wonderfully peaceful setting for us relax with friends and family and spend time in prayer and reflection.
Reflecting our Future
As the process of restructuring and revitalizing six of the United States OFM Provinces has taken place, the FAA Board of Trustees has been following the unification plan and progress closely. The overarching question the Board has been discerning is “How does the Franciscan Alumni Association align with, and participate in, the newly created province that will result?” Based on the feedback from our 2022 Reunion during which we discussed and reflected the foundational question “Where are we now?”, our discussions this year will explore the question “Where are we going?”. The results of these discussions will be reviewed by the board, summarized, and used as a basis for our plan to optimize our alignment and participation in the new province. More information to come.
The Schedule
Thursday, June 22
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Arrival at St. Francis Retreat House, Registration and Settling In
6:00 pm – Supper Together
7:15 pm – Our Franciscan Mosaic: Sharing stories of how we have been living the Franciscan Charism in our lives since our formation years.
8:30 pm – Social time together with snacks and drinks, and a “Sing-a-Long Song” Group for those interested in playing music or singing.
10:00 pm – Quiet and Rest
Friday, June 23
8:00 am – Morning Prayer for those who wish, or public Mass in Main Chapel.
8:30 am – Breakfast Together
9:15 am – First Session – Our Futures Joined Together
- Do you prefer to stay an alumni association for SJB and OLG Provinces as we have in the past?
- Do you have any dreams for a more engaged Franciscan fellowship in the future?
- Do you desire more fraternal connection with other Franciscan alums, more than once a year at a reunion?
- What would it look like if we built on the union of the six USA provinces to form a six province Franciscan alumni fellowship?
- Would you like to be a part of the “impetus” for a nation-wide Franciscan alumni association to come into being?
We will break up into smaller groups for discussion facilitated with trained facilitators. Family members are free to take part or to have some fun with other family members by going sight- seeing or relaxing together.
10:15 am – Break
10:30 – 11:30 am – Our Futures Joined Together Part II – We will continue our discussion in a large group.
Free Time – Time to explore the towns Easton, Bethlehem, Jim Thorpe or explore nature trails nearby. Please see Nearby Attractions for more information. (Please sign out at breakfast if you are not staying for lunch here at SFRH.)
Noon – Lunch together for those staying on campus.
Free Afternoon: time to explore Easton and Bethlehem, PA, or nearby nature trails, etc.
6:00 pm – Supper Together
7:15 pm – Movie Night – Possibly “Soul Searching: The Journey of Thomas Merton,” “A Celtic Pilgrimage” with John O’ Donohue, “Of Gods and Men,” “Two Popes” or another movie with a spiritually reflective meaning for us.
9:00 pm – Recreation and Social Time together with snacks and drinks.
10:30 pm – Quiet and Rest
Saturday, June 24
8:00 am – Morning Prayer for those who wish
8:30 am – Breakfast Together
9:15 am – Beginning Again – A little more time to share insights from our conversations about our future together.
- What new insights and guidance have we felt for our personal lives and for our FAA fellowship to grow in the Franciscan charism that we all share?
- What new thoughts do we have about “widening our tents” to join with alums and their families from the other USA provinces? (small groups)
10:15 am – Break
10:30 – 11:30 am – Beginning Again Part II
- What guidance can we offer to the present FAA Board and to future FAA Board members about going into the future?
- What guidance or direction has stirred these days that we would offer FAA Board members about engaging with alums and their families from other USA provinces? (large group sharing)
11:30 am – 4:30 pm – Free Time – Time to explore the towns Easton, Bethlehem, Jim Thorpe or explore nature trails nearby. Please see Nearby Attractions for more information. (Please sign out at breakfast if you are not staying for lunch here at SFRH.)
Noon – Lunch Together
On Campus Options
1:15 pm – “A Journey into our Roots” with Fr. Loren Connell
2:45 pm – “Creation Meditation Walk” with Frank Lopez at a nearby county park
4:30 pm – FAA Business Meeting, FAA Awards, and Brief Introduction to Secular Franciscans
NOTE: For those leaving early on Sunday, there is a 5:00 pm Saturday Evening Mass at St. Jane de Chantal Parish nearby. It is a short five minutes drive from SFRH.
6:00 pm – Supper Together
8:00 pm – FAA Memorial Service in Main Chapel
9:00 pm – Recreation with snacks and drinks
10:30 pm – Quiet Time and Rest
Sunday, June 25
8:00 am – Morning Prayer for those who wish
8:30 am – Light breakfast together
10:00 am – Sunday Eucharist with SFRH Sunday Community in Main Chapel
11:30 am – Larger brunch together
12:30 pm – Departures
Nearby Attractions
Martin Guitar Museum and Gift Shop, Nazareth, PA – The 1883 Shop, Martin Museum, and Tours
Illick’s Mill Park, Bethlehem, PA – Beautiful park with a restored grist mill. The “Appalachian Mountain Club” has staff on site.
Bethlehem Steel Stacks: Walking the Trestle – A walk along the trestle of the famous “steel stacks” with historical markers full of information about the work and workers at the steel stacks.
Town of Bethlehem, PA – Bethlehem is full of gift shops, restaurants, pubs, art displays, and history. A walk along Main Street is full of delights.
Town of Easton, PA – A revitalized downtown area in Easton.
Town of Jim Thorpe, PA – “A Small Town for Every Family” One hour away from us into the Pocono Mountains. (See also the Town of Jim Thorpe Facebook Page)
Canal Boat Rides and Museum, Easton, PA – Canal boat rides on the Lehigh Canal in Hugh Moore Park.
Lehigh Valley Attractions – Other locations of interest.
Who’s Coming
So far we have heard from the following folks who will be attending. If you are coming, and your name doesn’t appear, please let us know by sending an email to: 2023Reunion@franciscan-alumni.org.
Henry Beck ’70
Dave Burkitt ’77
Mark Clark ’72
Loren Connell ’61
Butch Feldhaus ’75
Rick Gardner ’75
Warren Hebert ’75
Dennet Jung ’54
Rick Kasper ’70
Paul Landers ’74
Frank Lopez ’77
Mike Niklas ’75
John Roberts ’64
Larry Schulte ’73
Joe Sears ‘ 75
Ed Schellenbach ’72
Ed Skutka ’60
Don Wiley ’76
Richard Wissel ’70