Dear Friend of Chestnut Hill Center:
As we approach the new year of 2020, I thank you for your prayers and support of Chestnut Hill Center and of the apostolic work that is carried out from here. Many of you helped with and attended these apostolic activities!
In the fall, fifty men attended a Fatherhood Conference at Arnold Hall on Fulfilling Our Vocation as Husbands and Fathers. Speakers included John and Patti Keefe on Fostering Unity in Marriage, Joe Schirripa on Teaching Children Fortitude, Mary Beth and Brendan Mahoney on Communicating Well in Marriage and Alvaro de Vicente on Raising Children in an Age of Affluence; Alvaro is the Headmaster of the Heights School in Potomac, Maryland. The steering committee, headed by JJ Bowman, prepared a fruitful weekend for all.
The Edge, the seminar program that challenges high school men to look ahead to meet the challenges of college, professional life and marriage with a mature, Christian spirit, started up again in September. Many of The Edge alumni now help with the program they once participated in as high school students. They also come for their own formational activities here, on Thursday nights and serve as activity coordinators in Horizons and Frontiers, the Father and Son Clubs running here. Please go to www.chestnuthillcenter.org for more information.
Last year at this time, we highlighted the inaugural year of Sparhawk Academy in Millis, the grade school and middle school for boys. The first year went well and the second year is off to a good start. Fifty-six boys are enrolled this year. A new chapel and classroom facility are about to open and plans are underway to construct a new classroom building to accommodate future growth. Consider visiting the school and exploring their website: www.sparhawkacademy.org.
The Prelate of Opus Dei, Msgr. Fernando Ocariz, recently wrote a letter on friendship. He included this selection from The Forge, by St. Josemaria, no. 454: I ask you, for the love of God, to love one another, to help one another, to lend one another a hand, to know how to forgive one another.
Have a great year in 2020! Joe Billmeier