Second Annual Volunteer Day a Success!

Each year, we offer at least one St. Joseph Day of Reflection in honor of our patron. For 2023, the St. Joseph the Worker feast day took a service-oriented turn. 

On Monday, May 1st, 19 guests joined us for Mass, a full day of volunteering, a Keltie & Co. Catering lunch, and even a little birthday cake! The event wrapped up with a group photo after daytime prayer and a travel blessing.

Click HERE to see pictures from the 2023 Volunteer Day!

Following Mass in the historic St. Joseph Chapel, led by Fr. David Huemmer, guests gathered for coffee in the dining hall to select service projects.

More than half of our guests ventured outside on this 42-degree cloudy day to pull weeds in the Sacred Heart of Mary Courtyard, at the front entry, in the Alumnae Garden and at both grottos.

Indoor volunteers inventoried guest rooms, cleaned window tracks, vacuumed, and wiped down surfaces.

Another guest joined me (Twyla) organizing our supply closet. This closet is filled with items used when the St. Joseph Center was an assisted living facility. There are items we use, like tablecloths, vases, and centerpieces, to items we’ll never use like secular holiday décor. This re-organization began in January when students from Marian University spent a day inventorying the closet and identifying items for donation.  Now that the reorganization is complete, our Maintenance Technician Bruce Freeman is constructing a new hanging system so we can move all the table linens from the third floor to this more accessible closet.

Three guests joined Fr. David Huemmer working in the chapel—cleaning the sacristy, sorting two closets and deep cleaning the altar and the shrines. The Chapel not only looked cleaner, but also it smelled so good after they mopped!

At lunchtime, guests sang Happy Birthday to three employees and one volunteer celebrating milestones that week! Volunteers enjoyed a taco bar for lunch followed by cake made by Keltie & Co. Catering Cook Tina Hunter.

After the meal, volunteers either returned to their morning work or found new opportunities inside. By then it had begun to rain, and most outdoor work ceased.

At 2:30 pm, we all gathered in the St. Joseph Chapel to pray from the Liturgy of the Hours and gather for a group photo. Director Terry Connelly thanked each visitor and welcomed them to come back and volunteer another time.

Plans are already in place for the St. Joseph the Worker Volunteer Day in 2024. In addition, we’re discussing a fall cleanup day as well.

We welcome individuals and groups to volunteer at the retreat center at any time. In the past we’ve hosted Scouts, high school and college students and Cursillo groups in addition to individuals who are looking for a regular or semi-regular place to serve. We can accommodate indoor and outdoor projects. Reach out to Terry Connelly at [email protected] to match your service with our facility.