Trick or Treat, an October trick in the weather at MTSRC!

October started with lovely fall colors all around
The Mary Theotokos Spiritual Retreat Center. 

As the preparations for winter begin, (barn stalls made warmer, garden closed down, roof and heating repairs) the goats do their part cleaning up what's left of the garden. However getting them
to the garden can prove challenging!

How do they get up there? Do they think they are in the Alps?

The Turkeys are more cooperative in their cleaning the garden responsibilities. 

Their job after all is to fatten up for food shelves!

These two "Toms" like to lead the way.

Aside from the outdoor work, the situation on the large porch off the back of the church is in need of immediate attention.

One of the main support beams has shifted and this will require that we use house jacks to lift the whole porch off it's support posts, replace that main beam and then lower the porch back in position. 

(Without sending the porch down the hillside.)

Let the porch raising begin, cutting the old supports, then the lifting and lowering.

The definition of precarious!

When the new beam is in place it's time to lower the porch back to it's original 

and much more sturdy position!

All fingers and toes intact!

And just in time for a little Trick, with the treats for Halloween! 

A sudden weather change to wake up to!

An omen of weather to come!

Part Jack-O-Lantern part Snowman!

The weather of the Northeast Kingdom, always keeps you on your toes!

So we say farewell for now, and wish you a happy All Souls Day,

from The Mary Theotokos Spiritual Retreat Center.

With visitors on the way I will say,

Pax et Bonum

from Vermont.

The event of events at The Mary Theotokos Retreat Center!

October 10th, 2011

As the sun came up over the Mary Theotokos Retreat Center today many preparations were carried out for the memorial service of our founder, Father Stephen von Fauer. 

Over the past week many hands have been working around the clock to ensure that the grounds, the facilities, the food and all preparations for the event would be ready.

Around 7 am, the Bishop Emeritus Basil Losten from the Stamford Eparchy arrived to begin his prayers before the service and shortly after, on this beautiful fall morning, the guests arrived. Friends, neighbors, parishioners, many people who came to honor the memory of a man who dedicated himself to serving God, helping the poor and in building this spiritual refuge where so many could come to find God through Mary his mother. 

A poster board was set up in the retreat center living room by friends to commemorate 

Fr. von Fauer in selected photos. 

A lovely photo album was made by the Father's close friends 

for visitors to enjoy as well.

Final touches and final instructions were made 

as the sun began to rise over the retreat center.

So many hands pitched in preparing refreshments, 

and providing food dishes for all, that the event was certainly well catered, through the generosity and sacrifice of many. All out of love for a Priest, mentor and social activist who dedicated so much of his life to helping others.

As the sun reached 7:30 am, the cars began to arrive,..

Conversations began all over the drive way remembering Father von Fauers' many adventures in building the center as well as the many things he did out of love and compassion that had touched so many lives.

As 8:00 came around we all made our way to the large church for the 

Divine Liturgy memorial service.

Bishop Basil Losten presided over the ceremony and 

retired Priest, Fr. Charles Davignon 

from the Roman diocese of Vermont served assisted in the service. 

After a beautiful service the celebrants headed to the retreat house 

for refreshments and to share their stories, recollections and fond memories 

of a such a giving and loving servant of God.

After many conversations, and fond memories were shared, the sun began to set on the event and we all found our way back to our regular lives after 

wonderful and spiritual time. 

We were all grateful for the legacy that Father von Fauer 

created by building this retreat center. 

A place where so many from all sorts of different walks of life, from all different backgrounds, the searching, the addicted, the afflicted, the lonely and the lost could come and work on God's farm and where in the silence of their heart they could reunite the Lord's voice.

Praise be to the Lord Jesus,

Pax et Bonum

from The Mary Theotokos Retreat Center in Newark Vermont.

Vermont property for sale

This property mentioned below is being sold in nearby Lyndonville VT,  please pass this information along to anyone who may be interested.

Sale by owner, $155,000.

Own a piece of the North East Kingdom just outside Lyndonville Vermont. 

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The lot is a wooded two acres with a short driveway,
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jwalker7616@gmail.com

The Memorial Mass is Monday the 10th of October here at the Mary Theotokos Retreat Center, entered below is a recent obituary for Father Stephen von Fauer

Rev. Stephen C. von Fauer
Sept. 3, 1930 - Sept. 18, 2011

Raised in Argentina of German and Italian descent Fr. von Fauer attended seminary in Spain where he was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood on May 13, (Feast of Our Lady of Fatima) in 1953. He returned to Argentina and for nearly a decade devoted his service to the Ukrainian immigrant community there. Fr. von Fauer emigrated to the United States where from 1966 he served the Diocese of Burlington as pastor of several parishes including St. Monica's in Barre, St. Anthony's in Sheldon Springs, and St. Theresa's in Orleans. He was the founder of the Mary Theotokos Monastic Center, a working farm and retreat center in the Byzantine Catholic tradition. After nearly four decades he retired from active parish service to his beloved monastic center where he welcomed many friends and visitors over the years. Fr. von Fauer peacefully fell asleep in the Lord on Sept. 18. His funeral liturgy was held at St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Church in New York City on Sept. 23 with burial at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic cemetery in Goshen NY. A memorial Mass was offered by Bishop Salvatore Matano of the Archdiocese of Burlington in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, on Sept. 27. Bishop Basil Losten of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford CT will serve the Divine Liturgy and memorial service at the Mary Theotokos Monastic Center on Monday, Oct. 10th (Columbus day) at 8 AM followed by refreshments and fellowship. All are welcome. The center is located on Rt. 5A in Newark. For directions or questions call John Walker at (802) 467-3009.

Memorial Service for Fr. Von Fauer announced



  A memorial service for Fr. von Fauer

has been set for Columbus Day,

Monday October 10th, 2011 at 8 AM in the Church here

at The Mary Theotokos Spiritual Retreat center.

Bishop Basil Losten of the Stamford Ct., Eparchy

will preside at the Mass

and all are welcome to the service as well as the reception afterwards in the retreat house.

 

For directions to the center please scroll down on this blog to see those details.
If you have any other questions, feel free to call at (802) 467-3009 or
email me John Walker at jwalker7616@gmail.com

Pax et Bonum

from

The Mary Theotokos Spiritual Retreat Center

Updates of services

The Diocese of Burlington received news that Father Stephen C. von Fauer died on Sunday,

September 18, 2011 in New York City.

Father von Fauer’s funeral is scheduled for Friday, September 23, 2011 at
St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in New York City, at 11:00 a.m.

Bishop Salvatore Matano will offer a Memorial Mass on Tuesday, September 27, 2011, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 12:05 p.m.

Priests are encouraged to attend and to bring a violet stole and
chasuble to concelebrate the Mass.

Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of Father von Fauer,

as well as the consolation of his family.

May the angels lead him into paradise; may the martyrs receive him at the Lord’s coming,

and lead him into the holy city of Jerusalem.

May the choir of angels receive him, and may he have eternal rest with Lazarus,
who was once poor. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington

55 Joy DriveSouth Burlington, VT 05403

phone: 802-658-6110 x1300 fax: 802-881-0187

a sad day,..

Fr. von Fauer and his favorite dog Nikki, in happier times...

Today is a sad day for all of us at The Mary Theotokos Retreat Center in Newark Vermont. News has reached us from Bishop Emeritus Basil Losten that our founder, the creator who was the faith and heart of the mission here, Father Stephen von Fauer, passed away in his sleep of congestive heart failure in his care facility in New York City last Monday, September 19^th in the evening hours.

As we pray for his soul in the Chapel, walk the grounds, look to the animals, welcome the occasional visitor passing through on vacation; all of us here are reminded of the impact this caring, spiritual man of God made on so many. It was his vision coupled with the experiences of Catherine Doherty and her creation of the Madonna House that lead him to join the Ukrainian Catholic Church and build this facility. It was his understanding of the mercy and hospitality of the work of Dorothy Day that inspired him to clothe the poor of this area with stock piles of clothing for adults and children he kept in his barns. It was this understanding of the “hospitality houses” Day created in New York City that lead Fr. von Fauer to welcome the lost sheep to this facility for spiritual guidance, comfort and healing fellowship.  It was his love that empowered him to open this facility to men, women and children of all ages and faiths to visit and grow closer to God in the silence of their heart, surrounded by the beauty of rural Vermont and the tranquility of his farm here. Many who came here learned to journey closer to God whether they were working the farm, praying or experiencing the “Poustinia”, a hermitage like retreat Doherty spoke so much of.

But it was not only at The Mary Theotokos Retreat Center that Father von Fauer touched lives. He was a Roman Priest in Vermont for many years before becoming a Priest in the Eastern Rite.  In that vocation he touched countless other lives ministering to an entire flock of parishioners on a daily basis.

His was truly a life of service and sacrifice for God.

Last winter before Fr. von Fauer left the care facility in Vermont and was moved to New York City, I sat and talked with him. It was one of our few meetings when we spoke to each other. I spoke to him about how beautiful the center was, how much work we were doing to restore it to its former glory and functionality as a retreat center. We talked about the farm animals he had and the dogs he loved so much. I asked him what he wanted me to do at the center, as the manager/caretaker. I asked him what was HIS wish for it. He grasped my hand and said, “Keep it going!” We prayed the Rosary together and I promised to do that. Since then many hands have been involved with keeping his wish a reality. A reality where many more pilgrims, searching for God in these chaotic and difficult times may come to the Mary Theotokos Retreat Center and continue their journey to God in this spiritual oasis he built from nothing but his faith and his heart.

God rest his soul,

Pax et Bonum

From the Mary Theotokos Retreat Center.

Funeral Services are this Friday in New York City where he will be buried.

A memorial service will be held here at the center over the Columbus Day weekend, when a plaque dedicated to the Father will be set up on the grounds 

by the Ukrainian Bishop Emeritus, Basil Losten.

Please Check back for details on this event at this blog.

Thank you for your prayers

John Walker