It Take An Army
When the retreat group arrives on a late Friday afternoon, the view is usually a calming image of open space, empty building, mowed lawns and a view of the bay that makes one stand still and stare. Some describe the calming feeling they get when they make the turn at the first Camp Maria Retreat center sign and then the second.
But all this beauty and all the buildings ready for their “guests” does not happen automatically. The devoted Camp Maria Retreat Center staff takes great proud in doing their work over and over again to welcome each group with a “home away from home.”
A Very Special Time with W.A.R.M
When December comes to Camp Maria Retreat Center, life usually settles down. A few groups will be with us on a weekend, the maintenance staff is getting ready for “winter”, our food service is making plans for the new year, and the administrative staff is finishing up 2018 with final reports, records and plans for 2019.
Two years ago, everything changed and we are delighted. We became the host site for two week for a group known as W.A.R.M. – the week before and the week including Christmas.
Winter Is Here, But Life Goes On
The winds of winter and the cold weather are present every day now at Camp Maria Retreat Center. The pool is closed, the canoes are stored, and the cabins are shuttered. Few people are seen walking around the ground, but lights are on in The Roost and the Spiritual Center. The Dining Hall looks busy – from the staff preparing for meals and the small groups getting for coffee and conversation in the main room. These are very special groups and guests who arrive in December.
In The Beginning….
Camp Maria has been around since 1937, so it really is not “the beginning.” But in a way it is… from the questions from our friends and from our retreatants, and from people who we meet in the community, there seems to be a block of knowledge about Camp Maria Retreat Center that has been “missing.” Today it’s official name is “Camp Maria Retreat Center.” Who runs the place today? Where are the Sisters? Why do we post information about other groups who are not part of the CMRC organization? Why do we seem to advertise other groups and then no mention of others? Camp Maria Retreat Center has been in existence for over 81 years, but some people in our community of Southern Maryland have never heard of us. This is the place to tell our story. So with your help we hope to change this “informational gap.” Your questions, your suggestions and those of people that we talk to will be the source of our blog topics and our postings. From time to time as we add new programs or host new workshops, so we will be posting that news as well. This is a great place to share the comments of our retreatants. It will be a great place to tell the stories of the day – to – day life of Camp Maria Retreat Center. The past years are fun to revisit, but the present and future are down right exciting. Welcome to Camp Maria Retreat Center – on the banks of Breton Bay. (First Blog)
Sharing Camp Maria Retreat Center 