WEST CLARKSVILLE, N.Y. — Daniel Riley, OFM, and Joseph Kotula, OFM, recently visited alumni and friends of St. Bonaventure University in Southern California, as part of the Mt. Irenaeus “Mountain on the Road” program.
In addition to Dan and Joe, four SBU students and alumni director Joseph Flanagan attended the event. It was the first of such gatherings Dan has participated in during his sabbatical.
Flanagan, a 1974 graduate of SBU, shown in the photo at right with Dan, said the students helped lead a twilight reflection attended by nearly 40 on the evening of March 5 at University of San Diego. On March 7, the 30 friends of the Franciscan Mountain Retreat gathered for Mass at the Serra Retreat Center in Malibu, Calif.
He added that alumni appreciate participating in Mountain on the Road events for a chance to reconnect with fellow alumni and see friars from Mt. Irenaeus as well as “to take a break from the hectic pace of day-to-day life.”
Joe said, “My experience of the Mountain on the Road programs has been a positive and blessed one. The simple approach of meeting, greeting and praying with people is very powerful. I have heard people say the experience was life-changing for them. It is a great joy to share our lives and feel the wonder of being in community with so many people.”
The California Mountain on the Road wrapped up the programs for the 2009 academic year. Events were also held in Syracuse, N.Y., Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C., and Atlanta.
Upcoming events planned by Mt. Irenaeus include a Franciscan Sojourners retreat in April and a Mountain homecoming for summer interns and Students for the Mountain coordinators in July. Details about Mt. Irenaeus programs are available in the Winter 2009 issue of the Mt. Irenaeus newsletter, found on the Web site.
— Rebecca Doel is communications coordinator for the Province.