"I couldn't believe how easily our Women's Retreat fell together! The planning process was fantastic and the end result was perfect! I met once with Center staff to share our needs, goals and a retreat format. When the weekend came, the Retreat was clear, concise, and supported with great handouts. It touched all who attended. Each woman felt her faith was deepened because of this experience."

Rev. Joanne Leech, Associate Rector
Christ Church Episcopal Parish, Lake Oswego

"The thing that I am most grateful for at the Franciscan Spiritual Center is that it opened my eyes to ancient Christian mysticism.  I had been seeking Christian mysticism for well over a decade, and I was not sure if it existed.  I found it here, and the effects have been life changing and profound.I first discovered them through their labyrinth.  I was not working at the time, so I had a chance to walk the labyrinth daily.  It took me deep into myself where I found encouragement and joy along with direction and peace.  The sisters and staff at the Center were a wonderful and supportive adjunct to this journey, making sure I had quiet and sharing my enthusiasm for both the Center and its labyrinth. I discovered a deeper mystical union with God through the classes on lectio divina and Franciscan mysticism and contemplation.  Lectio divina brought the scriptures alive in a way that I never knew existed — through Sister Carol Ann’s careful direction, I could feel the life and breath of the scriptures.  She also taught the Franciscan mysticism and contemplation class, which complemented and added a deeper dimension to my lectio divina training.I am going through a massive upheaval in my life, and the results are becoming more tremendous each day.  I am using my newfound Christian mysticism daily as a source and guide to my future, so the Franciscan Spiritual Center is obviously playing the starring role in my life change.  Thank you so very much for being a part of my life."     Dan Gassoway 

I have been delighted ever since the Franciscan Spirituality Center decided to locate near us.  The people at the center have been excellent to work with.  They willingly share their gifts and the ecumenical spirit has been a blessing to all.  They’ve led retreats and workshops for us.  People in our congregation have participated in spiritual direction, supervision and yoga through the center.  The material and resources they bring have been what we’ve been looking for in helping our community of faith grow spiritually.  I am grateful for the spirit of St. Francis which the Franciscan Spirituality Center embodies so well.  They are indeed a blessing for our whole community. Pastor Charles E. Mantey, Milwaukie Lutheran Church

"The programs that I have chosen to participate in fit my inquisitiveness and needs.  Three that I have not only enjoyed but grown from are Spiritual Direction, Women at the Well and the Hermitage Retreat.  Spiritual Direction has given me an open space to question, inquire, and even express frustration with God.  (It is always a place to be accepted for who I am.) Relationship.  Women-at-the-Well is a small group of women who meet to share prayer, life, and a love of God.  We are able to gather at the end of a day to “drink” and be refreshed from the well of faith and love that is in abundance at the Center. Relationship.  The four-day Hermitage Retreat Experience has offered and given me a much needed time of quiet, rest and prayer.  The journey of retreat shared with others in attendance is, as the brochure indicates, an opportunity “To sit at the feet of Jesus”.  Hermitage is my gift to myself.

     Those of us in the greater Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area are so fortunate to have the Center within our midst.  “The time has come to dwell in peace and integrity; to walk together in the light of the most High.”  (“Psalms for Praying” by Nan C. Merrill) There is a place that I can visit and experience this quote, the Franciscan Spiritual Center. Relationship."              Dorothy Charbonneau

  “The Spirituality Center offers many directions for growth in my life journey and path to a deeper relationship with Jesus. This past November, I felt led to take an extended weekend and “Sit at the feet of Jesus.” Fall can be a hard time for me, as the days shorten and become darker. I was offered the opportunity to take some time in silence and be fed. The Franciscan Hermitage Experience filled my heart’s desire to look deep into myself and find there the abundant presence of God, who created me to simply be. The experience is a gift that touches the heart and soul through all the senses. It helped me reach beyond myself and put me in touch with the needs of a family member who is suffering and crying out for the touch of Jesus in her life. It is an all-encompassing three days that makes a difference. You are being offered this gift. Is Jesus inviting you to come and sit at His feet?"    Karen Stangel

"In June of this year I retired after almost 20 years of teaching.  I was looking for something more spiritual in my life although I wasn’t sure what or where to find it.  By happenstance I met one of the sisters from the Franciscan Center.  Sister Carol Ann introduced me to the center and the possibilities that the center offered.  I felt that the Holy Spirit had gently guided me there.  Since that first experience I have been seeing a Spiritual Director and have begun Centering Prayer.

One Saturday morning I found myself in an unfamiliar place with people I did not know wondering what I had gotten myself into.  This was the daylong introduction to Father Keating and Centering Prayer. That day and the ongoing meetings have been a gift from God. Centering Prayer has become a wonderful blessing in my life.  I find myself looking forward to my prayer time each day. As I complete my prayer time I feel a sense of joy and peace that is really very difficult to put into words.   A thought from Father Keating’s book, “Open Minds, Open Hearts”, has touched my prayer time and my heart. During Centering Prayer, I am asking God to be present in my heart, soul, body and mind.  What an amazing thing…to be in the presence of God!

Through my spiritual direction and Centering Prayer, I feel I am on a lifelong journey with the Lord.  I have been blessed in ways I had not imagined or expected."

       Tracy Dennison

 "The Hermitage retreat was an experience of deep prayer, silence and solitude.  All of this was experienced in community.  The prayer of the community held me as we sat listening at the feet of Jesus being reminded of God's abundant love and care for us and all of Creation."    Adam Weaver

"We have benefited from Marriage Preparation so much. Working with Sister Lupe has helped us to know more about ourselves and to grow as a couple in communication and spirituality."
Maria Ramirez and Alfonso Rivera Rodriguez Jr. 

"We were able to think and talk about many topics related to marriage in Couples Communication that we had not considered before. It was a very confortable environment. Everything was very helpful and we both feel ready for marriage now."                         Craig Lewis and Yurilana Garcia 

"Muchas Gracias por todo su apoyo y ayuda que nos brindo. Nuestra relacion ha mejorado el 100% despues de recibir sus clases y ahora nos sentimos mas seguros que nunca del paso que vamos a tomar."                                             Leticia Miranda y Ezequidl Rodriguez

 "I describe spiritual direction as a relationship of companioning in which the experience of everyday affairs can be explored with eyes, ears and heart of faith with the intention of discerning God's presence and action in one's life.  The spiritual friendship with my director at the Franciscan Center has been instrumental in helping me to take my head knowledge of God on a journey into my heart.  There I have discovered a much bigger and more compassionate God than was previously known.  As we listen together with the Spirit, this loving God is the one who gently speaks "direction" and sends me back into my life knowing that through this spiritual companion, Christ has loved and encouraged me to press onward in quest of The Holy." - Sandi DeMaster, Spiritual Directee  

"I am most appreciative of what I have found to be deep sacred and affective learning in Peer Supervision of Spiritual Directors facilitated by Sr. Mary Jo Chaves at the Franciscan Spiritual Center.  The learning within the group bears rich fruit in my ministry of accompanying Directees on transformative spiritual journeys." Janice Roggenkamp, Certificate in Spiritual Direction 

 "Sister Mary Jo has done retreats at two different parishs in Vancouver for Catholic Women's Ministry. She is a joy to work with. The first retreat (St. Johns): we told her we would like to do a retreat on strong woman of the bible. She designed a beautiful retreat for us. She fed not only our spirituality but our creative spirit as well. The day was a mosaic of activities that spoke to all of our senses. Working with Sr. Mary Jo is like playing. She has such a playful, joyful spirit. The other retreat she did for us was at Our Lady of Lourdes. This was a labyrinth retreat. Again, she delighted and touched our spirits in unexpected ways. Planning retreats with Mary Jo is a joy. We learned and were fed spiritually as we prepared for the retreats. She is willing to create and bring to life whatever your vision is and make it better than you imagined it could be. Currently, we are working on bringing back the first retreat we did with her, this time at Our Lady of Lourdes." Candy Phillips, St. Johns in Vancouver