Hello Friends!

I am humbled to continue to lead Fr. Bernard Youth Center as the president of the board. We have a strong and dedicated group of members who not only give of their time at the

Auction, but also dedicate many hours behind the scenes to make decisions and guide the organization. We have an exceptional staff who make the operations side of our work hum, and ensure that each guest here on retreat has a fulfilling spiritual experience.

It was great to see so many familiar faces and many new ones at our Auction in March. We sold out all tickets the day before and I was honored to welcome guests from the Archdiocese, and full tables from the Abbey and Monastery. Having Sister Maureen Niedermeyer give the blessing led the evening off on the perfect note. I want to recognize Stephanie Stoneking’s great work on making the Auction a success. She worked many hours and did an amazing job. If you attended, I hope you agree! Hopefully you were a successful bidder. If not, we invite you to attend next year, or help support us at any time with a donation.

One of the most successfully parts of the evening was the Fund-A-Need, which was a record at over $19,000! These gifts have already purchased a new commercial refrigerator for our kitchen (the old one died just days before our Auction). The other improvement to our campus will be a lighted sign at the entrance to guide in people to our building from Main Street. It will feature a computerized message that can be customized to announce events or welcome groups personally. It is being designed and should be installed this summer. Our current signs will be relocated to help make it clear, especially in the dark, where our entrance and parking is.

Our board has changed in the last few months, but we are fortunate to have new members already in place, and are searching for more. We are currently in our search for our next staff leader. We are so grateful for the exceptional and steadfast work Mark, Stephanie, Emma, and Sarah have done in the last year. We would be lost without their talented expertise and attention to the youths and leaders who come through our doors every week.

I want to take a moment to thank Mary Sowa, who has worked a few hours each week since our doors opened. She has been responsible for our financial records and payroll. Her husband retired and Mary wants to join him in full retirement. We have contracted with Julia Hopkins to take on our books, but we could not be where we are without Mary’s diligence and dedication, as well as helping us to keep an eye on every penny. Mary will be leaving as we close out our fiscal year in June. Thank you Mary, and God bless you and Tim in your fun days ahead.

I am excited with our new plan and goals, and a number of enhancements that will ‘ratchet up’ our work. We have been looking at more efficient meetings, adding committees, doing our first real budget, and making other changes to policies and procedures. We have been holding meetings with the Archdiocese, the Sisters, and the Abbey, as well as others partners and parishes. We do all this because we want Fr. Bernard Youth Center to continue to grow, and to be fiscally strong, as well as good and careful stewards of you, our benefactors’ donations.

Thank you again for all you give to us, especially your prayers at this time.

Greetings and Peace!

This morning the Youth Center is filled with music and prayers because one of our high schools is here for Mass and a day of service. Anyone present will sense the importance of

the work that happens here constantly, and enjoy the vitality and energy that fills our building when a group of young people are here on retreat.

My name is George Myers, and I’ve been serving as the Interim Executive Director since late February. I’m a nonprofit consultant, and an Associate with the Nonprofit Association of Oregon on what’s called their Executive Transition Services Team. That’s a fancy way of saying I help organizations keep moving ahead while they search for their next Director.

I’m so pleased to be here, and working with an exceptional staff team, a dedicated board of directors, and able to briefly assist the Fr. Bernard Youth Center and its mission. I live in Sisters, and drive “over the hill” each week to spend two days in the center’s office. I’ve stayed overnight in the Frassati House, the dorms, and even the Shalom House, so I have a real taste of what our retreatants experience. I’ve also had an opportunity to enjoy and explore the shops and restaurants in Mt. Angel and Silverton.

When I first arrived, our primary goal was to have the best auction we have ever had. Thanks to lots of hard work from our team, dozens of volunteers (young and old), and the sold-out crowd at the dinner event, we did it! We netted over $53,000, which is about a 15% increase from the year before. I met many people that evening, and felt the enthusiasm in the room. What a great event! We are already planning for next year! Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 10, 2018.

Since then we have been busy with ideas for new programs, looking at opportunities for Frassati House (we plan to rent it for a year to ICPE, a missionary group Mark Dol works with), and reinforcing our connections with the Sisters, Abbey, partners, parishes, schools, and the Archdiocese. We have a new operational plan and are working on a budget. I’m giving reviews to all staff for the first time in several years. They worked with me to better define their job descriptions and this will bring focus to them and us. There is even a new phone system going in, which will let you leave a voicemail directly with the person you are trying to call.

Change is usually difficult and stressful for people and organizations. I’m impressed with the willingness of people to look for strengths and opportunities here, and be interested in looking for ways to do things better. That’s often what an interim can do - bring a fresh outsider perspective. We have had many great conversations, meetings, and ideas in the past few months. I feel the faith and hand of God that helped found FBYC over 10 years ago. I know that God is still here and working with us. Transition and change are one constant in this life, and yet it usually takes one to a better space or place. We are not through this period of change, but everyone I meet and talk with sees a bright future for us. Please continue to pray for the success of this ministry, and for the leaders and staff of FBYC. And please send in a donation too so we can keep the welcome mat out for groups like this high school.

A new leader will be joining us soon, and I will head back to Sisters. That’s what interims do. But I won’t forget this sacred place and the people I have met in these few months. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here. Thank you for your interest and involvement with Fr. Bernard Youth Center.

It has been a busy year at the Fr. Bernard Youth Center! In addition to hosting retreats almost every weekend, FBYC has also been continuing some in-house events for the local community. Thank you for making these possible! A few highlights include:

Two Confirmation Retreats for area parishes run by staff and volunteers

Spring “Mercy Nights” of dinner, fellowship, Adoration, and Confession

Three talks by Sister Helena Burns from the Daughters of Saint Paul, in partnership with St. Mary’s Parish and the Archdiocese of Portland

Days of Reflection for area Youth Ministers, and expanded this year to Directors of Religious Education

Monthly Women’s Ministry Group

Marriage Preparation Program

Confirmation Retreat Mercy Night Sister Helena

Fr. Bernard Youth Center, Mailing Address: P.O. Box 790, Mt. Angel, Oregon 97362

Site Location: 980 S. Main St. Mt. Angel, Oregon 97362

Thanks to our generous benefactors, we were able to partner with the Chastity

Project to provide free resources for the young people on retreat here! The items

were very popular and are quickly disappearing, so we’ve launched a second project. You can donate on our website, or

through the Chastity Project.

Our prayer wall in the Chapel received an upgrade with a beautiful, custom made

shelf built by Board Member Fred Vandecoevering. This wall is where

retreatants leave their prayer intentions, so the verse on the shelf is very fitting: “The

prayer of a righteous person has power.” (James 5:16) Thank you Fred!

During the Fund-a-Need at our Auction, we asked for a lighted sign to welcome guests to FBYC. We are preparing the area around our current sign location (left) for the new reader board (right). Check

back this summer to see the new sign. Thank you for making this possible!