Friends of the Center was organized in the summer of 2004 in order to help the Sisters of St. Scholastica to revitalize the retreat center. Their first project was the construction of a labyrinth on the southern monastery grounds on Labor Day Weekend, 2004. Over 30 volunteers from Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Virginia helped to build the ancient prayer walk from stone and wood chips. Many sisters, retreatants, and area residents have walked the prayerful journey through the labyrinth in the years since it was built.
Since then, the Friends have assisted the Center through their donations, fundraisers, volunteer work, hospitality, and retreat center promotion. They held several successful garage sales, sponsored a performance of Paula D’Arcy’s play, On My Way Home, at the Alma Performing Arts Center, put together the first annual retreat brochure in 2005, used their technology expertise to help the sisters set up a computer database, sent a program survey to those on the center mailing list, and assisted in the office, kitchen, and wherever they were needed.
If you would like to become a Friend of the Retreat Center, please fill out this form, print it out, mail to: Friends of St. Scholastica Retreat Center, P.O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913 Att: Kaye Bernard.
The February 2009 Newsletter can be viewed here.
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Download the PDF here.