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Family charts course of togetherness |
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By Dave Hrbacek
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Wednesday, 14 July 2010 |
The late-morning sun beats down on a small pond north of Stillwater on a sultry July day.
Mario Meeds, left, and his sister, Christine, paddle their way around a pond at Dunrovin Christian Brothers Retreat Center near Stillwater. They work side by side at the center with their two other siblings, Anna Rose and Maria, and their parents, Jerome and Mary. Photo by Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit
Seeming not to notice the heat, 16-year-old Christine Meeds paddles a
canoe with her younger brother, Mario. Though only 5, the only boy in
this family of six is ambitious with a paddle, to the point of splashing
others who come too close.
Such is the life of these two, their
two other sisters and their parents, Jerome and Mary, as they enjoy life
as caretakers of Dunrovin Christian Brothers Retreat Center, a 50-acre
parcel located about 10 miles north of Stillwater.
At times
peaceful, at times hectic, it has been a lifestyle filled with
satisfaction, togetherness and robust spiritual growth since Jerome was
hired as executive director in April 1999 by the Christian Brothers, who
own the center.
“I often get called Brother Jerome,” said
Jerome, 48, with a laugh, as he explained how his presence affects those
who come to Dunrovin for a retreat. “There were four brothers here when
we first started. It was four brothers, three nuns and our family. So,
we were the only lay people.”
Sticking together
When
Jerome responded to the newspaper ad for the position 11 years ago, he
had served as director of Catholic Youth Camp for 11 years. He enjoyed
the job, but it was taxing on the family to live at CYC for five months
during the summer, then go back to its St. Paul home for the other
seven.
“It just wore us out,” Jerome said.
So, Jerome and
his wife, Mary, 49, decided to look for a new opportunity, one that
would keep them in one place year-round and, most important, give them
the chance to work side by side with their four children, which also
include Anna Rose, 18, and Maria, 15. The family attends St. Michael in
Stillwater.
“Jerome had a longing for our family to do work
together, where he wasn’t commuting every day away from the family to a
job,” Mary said. “He wanted involvement, face to face, together with
us.”
With that goal in mind, Jerome quickly and eagerly accepted
the Christian Brothers’ job offer. Just six weeks later, the brothers
asked the family to move to Dunrovin. Since then, the six family members
have lived in three different houses on the grounds, eventually
settling into the largest dwelling, a four-bedroom home that overlooks
the St. Croix River.
“It’s not a magnificent house, but you can’t
beat the view,” Jerome said. “It’s an incredible place to live. . . . I
love my job, I love living here.”
Busy days
That
sentiment holds true for the other family members as well, in spite of
the fact that thousands of people invade the retreat center annually for
the 100 to 150 retreats Dunrovin hosts every year for groups and
families.
There is little down time for the family, even during
the summer, which is every bit as busy as the rest of the year.
For
several weeks in June and July, students from San Miguel Schools in
Chicago come for a series of five-day camps. Then, local San Miguel
students come for day camps. It’s an opportunity for kids who may have
never been outside their city to see nature.
All six members of
the Meeds family get involved.
For example, Christine helps with
activities like canoeing, instructing kids how to do it, then jumping
into a canoe herself to paddle with them.
Though too young to
perform these tasks, Mario recently tagged along with his sister and
even helped her put away kayaks when the kids were finished.
Anna
Rose and Maria likewise pitch in and, not only do much needed work, but
befriend some of the campers, too.
“I enjoy the opportunities I
have, like this camp,” Christine said. “That’s probably the highlight of
living out here.”
Another highlight is the chance to be
surrounded by the natural world and step into it every time they walk
out the door.
Every member of the family takes advantage of the
trails that weave around and through the mostly wooded grounds. From now
until fall, wildflowers bloom almost everywhere.
“I go running
out on the paths,” said Christine, who often carries her camera to
record the beauty she sees. “And, Mario loves it, too. It’s little boy
heaven out here.”
Getting around
There are some
challenges, however. Dunrovin is a 45-minute drive from the Twin Cities,
and Jerome and Mary must make that trip almost daily, sometimes more
than once a day.
In addition to traveling for various
appointments, they also have to make long trips for the kids to see
their friends, most of whom live in St. Paul.
One way they have
addressed that issue is inviting their friends to come out to Dunrovin.
In fact, several of the girls’ friends have served as volunteers at the
San Miguel Camps, which also include leadership sessions for the dozen
or so teens who make the commitment to help each session.
“Their
friends think this place is unbelievable,” Mary said. “They love coming
out here.”
Perhaps, the greatest blessing of all for Jerome and
Mary is seeing how the lifestyle and ministry work they have carved out
for their family have helped their children grow spiritually. In the
early years, they weren’t sure it was working. Now, they are seeing the
fruits.
“A really big positive is the formation of our children’s hearts,” Mary
said. “We see that happening. We see the generosity and the love
beginning to really mature in their hearts. And, it’s been hard, there’s
been some sacrifice. But I think God is really doing it. That is a huge
benefit.”
And one, they say, that is likely to continue. Jerome envisions staying
at Dunrovin until he retires.
“The brother who’s in charge of the Christian Brothers asked me a few
years ago, ‘What’s your long term plans?’” Jerome said. “They’d like me
to stick around. I said, ‘Well, now that you’ve given us this house,
you’re not getting rid of me. You’re stuck with me. You’ll have to pry
me out of here.’”
Want to know more?
- For more information on Dunrovin Christian Brothers Retreat Center, visit www.dunrovin.org or call 651-433-2486.
- Those interested in supporting Dunrovin’s Inner City Youth Camps and Weekend Youth Retreats are invited to a dinner cruise aboard the paddleboat Avalon on July 26 at 6 p.m. at the Stillwater Docks. Call the phone number above to reserve a spot or visit the website. Cost is $35 per person and $250 for a table of eight.
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