Diocese Of San Joaquin Spring Clergy Retreat

Fr. Dale Matson

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 Tuesday Morning Light Campus View

 Kaweah River Below The Retreat Center

 Instruction From Bishop Walters

 Alta Peak (11,000')

 Moro Rock In Center

 Lodging

 Fathers Mark and Joe On Top Of Moro Rock

 Bishop Menees With Fr. Richard

 Holy Eucharist On Wednesday Morning

 The Reading Of The Lessons

 Standing For The Gospel Lesson

 Bishop Walters Homilist

 The Consecration

 Receiving The Sacrament

The Blessing And Dismissal

We held our well-attended spring clergy retreat at the St. Anthony Retreat Center in Three Rivers CA near Sequoia National Park. The retreat center is a respite in and of itself with its cultivated grounds, beautiful statuary and views into the high Sierra Nevada in Sequoia Park. Alta Peak and Moro Rock can be seen from the retreat grounds.  Even the drive to the center prepares the heart as you drive along a nearly full Kaweah Lake. Additionally, the sound of the heavy spring flow of the Kaweah River below the center drowns out the sound of passing cars. I enjoyed a walk back down to the river Tuesday morning.

Our retreat leader was Bishop Trevor Walters. He is currently Bishop of Western Canada for the Anglican Network in Canada, a part of the Anglican Church in North America.  He held sessions on External Affirmation Syndrome (EAS). It is also the title of his book and we were each given a copy for our own reference.

The syndrome is essentially caused by the absence of an affirming relationship from the father toward his sons in particular. Clergy often come from such a background, which means their ministry can be handicapped unless they are able to recognize and deal with their woundedness. The clergy were very engaged and asked lots of questions.

In addition to the clergy class sessions, we had Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Compline. There was also a time on Tuesday afternoon when clergy had an opportunity to have a private meeting with Bishop Menees or Bishop Walters. Others opted to head to Sequoia National Park on the General’s Highway.

Meals were a special time when clergy were able to chat with one another and catch up on the news at other churches. It was a relaxed enjoyable pace for the events.

Thanks to Bishops Trevor and Eric, Corey, the retreat staff for this edifying, healing and spiritual retreat.