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Call us at 616-842-3370

Lenten Day of Retreat Wednesday, February 29. Click here for schedule and info

Weekend Retreat Fee Adjusted

(From Fr. Vince’s January newsletter)

Beginning March 23, with the first of the women’s parish-based retreats, the fee for the weekend retreat will be raised to $120.  Those unable to pay the full amount are asked to contact the director prior to the weekend.  Together we can discuss the situation and make some harmonious arrangement. 

The new fee of $120 still remains far below the actual per capita cost of $165.

For the past year’s parish-based retreat weekends, St. Lazare averaged 37 retreatants.  Of these, virtually every weekend, 3-4 people pay nothing, and 3-4 people pay double.  This may appear as a break-even situation regarding the collections of fees, but the fee charged has been half of the actual cost.  Of the 3-4 who pay nothing, usually only one person speaks with me about their situation despite my Friday night request that they do so.  To those who do not see me privately, I follow up with a kindly worded Debtor Letter.  St. Lazare’s situation is that we cannot afford to have retreatants utilize the facilities, enjoy five meals, two overnights, and other amenities, and pay nothing.  St. Lazare receives no subsidies from either the diocese or Vincentian Community.  St. Lazare needs to cover its costs of operating the retreat house.  St. Lazare needs to achieve its solvency or close its doors.

During the coming months, we will pursue numerous avenues to achieve solvency for the retreat house.

  • Increase the occupancy rate of each weekend through the $20 non-refundable registration fee.
  • Increase the number of weekends occupied through the recently consolidated under-utilized weekends.  In the last two months, St. Lazare had filled six of the newly available weekends.  We have booked two Cursillo weekends, three GR area Youth Groups, and the West Catholic Father-Son Retreat Weekend.   An additional eight weekends remain available for use.
  • Weekdays are available.   Graduation and/or Confirmation classes are granted a huge discount which amounts to hard costs only. 
  • We have invited each of the nine deaneries of the diocese to hold one of their quarterly meetings at St. Lazare in order to experience first-hand the numerous changes that have occurred in capital improvements and ambiance.  It is hoped that their first-hand experience will encourage the priests to spread the good news about St. Lazare Retreat House.  We will seek suggestions from the priests on how to cover the cost of the parishioners unable to pay the full fee. 
  • Investigate the availability of financial grants for St. Lazare from various Foundations.
  • Introduce payment by credit cards.
  • Make plans for a Capital Campaign to start probably in January 2013, which will be the 60th anniversary of the Vincentians’ opening of St. Lazare Retreat House.

  • Many people will appreciate the reasonableness of the pricing change, and some others will wish that it were not necessary.  Many people will appreciate the reasonableness of requiring non-paying retreatants to contact the director before attending the retreat, and some other people will wish that some other avenue would be taken.  Most people will be happy to hear of these steps towards solvency, and others will be saddened.   May I offer an incentive to all of us: we all will be saddened if St. Lazare is forced for financial reasons to close its doors 2-3 years from now.

    With the help of the grace of God, the intercession of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, and good advice from countless people, we will do all that we can to make St. Lazare’s last well into the future.  I have complete confidence that we can make St. Lazare’s solvent.  Currently, the short-fall is a relatively small number in itself, but it is a big percentage (23%) of St. Lazare’s annual budget.  We need to face and deal with the situation immediately and effectively.

     

Save the date: Saturday morning, June 23. This year’s Golf Outing will be held at Grand Haven Golf Club. We raised the individual rate in order to encourage golfers to form foursomes, which foursome rate is less than last year’s individual rate. You can save money, and we can make money, by your forming foursomes!!

Volunteers will be needed to seek $100 sponsors, and $1000 corporate sponsors, and prizes from merchants. Non-golfers too are welcomed to man the registration table, and to join in the day’s fun and food. In case of cancellation due to weather, the food still will be served, and every golfer will receive a rain-check to be used anytime during the 2012 golf season. Last year, we had 60 golfers. This year, can we reach for 100 golfers, and cap it at that number in order to keep the play moving smoothly?

 

     

    THE WAY TO THE WAY BRICK ROAD

    You are welcome and encouraged to visit our Shrine, even in the winter! The bricks are shoveled, as you will see in the pictures on our Shrine News page! Come to spend some prayer and leisure time with Mary. 

    If you are interested in having a brick inscribed and set on the roadway for yourself, your family, a loved one or an organization call (616) 842-3370 ext. 1.  The cost for a single brick is $75.00 and $150.00 for a double brick.

     

    Please go to our Shrine News page, for pictures.