Last weekend, we went on a camping family retreat at a ranch in Buda. This is the second year we've been and this year the weather cooperated much more to our liking. The Brothers and Sisters of St. John from Laredo come up to put on the retreat while the facilities and food are provided by a very generous family who converted part of their land into this simple, beautiful retreat area.
Though Juan Pablo had to miss both his soccer practice and game for the week, he got to play a good amount of soccer at the retreat.
Daniel and I agree that this isn't really a retreat for us in the way of refreshing and relaxing aside from the part where we don't have to cook any meals or wash any dishes. We sleep somewhat uncomfortably in a tent, trek up the hill continuously to take kiddos to the restroom, and don't follow our normal family schedule...so in that sense the weekend is actually more work. But we had a beautiful Mass each day of the weekend, the opportunity for Confession many times throughout the weekend, many opportunities to visit with other parents and with the brothers and sisters of St. John, as well as two spiritual talks, Stations of the Cross, and a Eucharist-led Rosary Procession.
So that's the retreaty-ness of the it. :)
Putting up the tent on Friday afternoon.
The opening Mass at sunset on Friday.
Tent village.
Rosary/Eucharistic Procession
Closing Mass
Though Juan Pablo had to miss both his soccer practice and game for the week, he got to play a good amount of soccer at the retreat.
Daniel and I agree that this isn't really a retreat for us in the way of refreshing and relaxing aside from the part where we don't have to cook any meals or wash any dishes. We sleep somewhat uncomfortably in a tent, trek up the hill continuously to take kiddos to the restroom, and don't follow our normal family schedule...so in that sense the weekend is actually more work. But we had a beautiful Mass each day of the weekend, the opportunity for Confession many times throughout the weekend, many opportunities to visit with other parents and with the brothers and sisters of St. John, as well as two spiritual talks, Stations of the Cross, and a Eucharist-led Rosary Procession.
So that's the retreaty-ness of the it. :)
Putting up the tent on Friday afternoon.
The opening Mass at sunset on Friday.
Tent village.
Rosary/Eucharistic Procession
Closing Mass
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