Dear Friends of St. Anne's Shrine,
 

We are planning for a faith-filled pilgrimage season at the Shrine as we enter spring and begin celebrating our liturgies while also offering a variety of spiritual programs for the summer. Weather permitting, we hope to begin the season on Sunday, May 7 with the 10:30 a.m. Mass.

We will offer a directed 5-day retreat in June and in July, there will be two separate days of recollection with an overnight optionn and a three-day mini-retreat. These activities provide pilgrims an opportunity to stay in our cabins on our beautiful grounds and enjoy our food service. The Wednesday Reflection Series after our 11:15 a.m. Mass on Wednesdays in July and August has also been scheduled, with a focus on the importance of the Eucharist in our faith lives. We also plan to celebrate the feast days of St. Anne and the Assumption of Mary in our usual fashion. Please see our events page for a full schedule of activities and programs.

We have had some personnel changes over the winter months. Joe Gallagher has been hired as our new administrator taking the position held by Nancy Dulude who retired. Joe is a graduate of St. Michael’s College with a Master of Science degree in Business Administration and has worked in the banking and not-for-profit industries. We also hired Abbi Stumpf to manage our food service and hospitality areas as we try to increase our overnight retreat programs. Abbi has a degree from The Culinary Institute of America and has directed a not-for-profit organization which offered pregnancy and family resources. We have also brought on a new cook and seasonal employees as we plan for the pilgrimage season. The tight labor market has posed challenges to us but we are fortunate to have been able to renew our staff after recent retirements.

Our investments in staff resources and the upkeep of our buildings with 32 acres of grounds requires significant outlays of funds. With increased programming, we believe these investments will bear fruit in spreading God’s Word. In the Easter season, we continue to hear in the Acts of the Apostles about the growth of the early Church. We pray that the ministry of the Shrine nurtures this growth through the celebration of the sacraments and our spiritual programming.

To help us meet operating costs, a Massachusetts family has issued a $40,000 matching challenge for this appeal. Every dollar you contribute will be matched, making your gift go twice as far. Please help us realize this generous matching-gift opportunity so that we can get the Shrine ready for our pilgrimage season. Please also submit the intention form so we can remember your prayer requests. Thank you for your continued support of the Shrine and be assured of my prayers for you and your family.

Sincerely in our Risen Lord,