History of the St. Joseph Prayer / Healing
Ministry Retreat.
Sister Mary Frances, C.S.J.P. and Sister Mary Matthew, C.S.J.P.
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Sister Sioban, C.S.J.P.
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Charlotte Saunders is on the right.
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In 1977 on the North Shore of Lake Crescent, four women went on retreat after taking Father Leo Thomas's class on the Healing Ministry. These four were Sister Mary Matthew, Sister Frances, Sister Sioban, and Charlotte Saunders. With their motto of "Every Disciple Has a Disciple" two years later there were eight, and the St. Joseph Prayer / Healing Retreat grew.
They met in the convent at Port Angeles for several years, then at some of the homes of those interested in helping out with the leadership with the healing ministry. After a while they met at the various Church halls in Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend. Art and Lucetta Halls became involved through helping out at Sequim. They attended the retreat with their autistic daughter who could not read. After prayer for her by the Sisters, she was able to read and understand what she read. Lucetta, who came to the retreat requiring oxygen, soon realized that she no longer needed oxygen. After these two miracles, the Halls decided to have the retreat as their ministry, in thanksgiving. They took over the retreat in 1982.
The retreat was held a few times at Fort Ludlow, Port Townsend. It was also held at Doctor Don Bettger's place a few times, and at Bremerton. Dan Zimpson attended the second retreat. It was also held at North Shore Campgrounds at Lake Crescent where they stayed in little cabins. Then they moved to Camp David, and were there in 1983, on the west end of Lake Crescent, until it got too small.
They held the retreat at Spokane for a few years. They met at one fort that was not too satisfactory, and then settled on Fort Worden in 1990. Art and Lucetta took over the management of the retreat until 2011 when Art stepped down at the age of 90 and Kathy Moore took over. Kathy had joined Sister Mary Matthew in her healing/ prayer ministry in 1997. She attended many retreats with Sister Matthew, as it was a requirement of Sister's order, The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. She realized this retreat was special and she did not want to see it end. So, in 2011 she offered to take it over from Art. This is truly a family retreat, it honors Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and people can receive deep inner healing through the prayers of the prayer teams.
The average number of attendees is now around 120, which increases from time to time to as many as 200.
We were the only overnight retreat to continue during COVID with the blessings from the Archdiocese and special arrangements from the Fort Worden personal. Fort Worden closed in January 2025 and the retreat that year was moved to the Art Building at Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Port Townsend. That retreat had four priests and a Deacon attending to help with Mass, talks, Confession and healing prayer.
They met in the convent at Port Angeles for several years, then at some of the homes of those interested in helping out with the leadership with the healing ministry. After a while they met at the various Church halls in Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend. Art and Lucetta Halls became involved through helping out at Sequim. They attended the retreat with their autistic daughter who could not read. After prayer for her by the Sisters, she was able to read and understand what she read. Lucetta, who came to the retreat requiring oxygen, soon realized that she no longer needed oxygen. After these two miracles, the Halls decided to have the retreat as their ministry, in thanksgiving. They took over the retreat in 1982.
The retreat was held a few times at Fort Ludlow, Port Townsend. It was also held at Doctor Don Bettger's place a few times, and at Bremerton. Dan Zimpson attended the second retreat. It was also held at North Shore Campgrounds at Lake Crescent where they stayed in little cabins. Then they moved to Camp David, and were there in 1983, on the west end of Lake Crescent, until it got too small.
They held the retreat at Spokane for a few years. They met at one fort that was not too satisfactory, and then settled on Fort Worden in 1990. Art and Lucetta took over the management of the retreat until 2011 when Art stepped down at the age of 90 and Kathy Moore took over. Kathy had joined Sister Mary Matthew in her healing/ prayer ministry in 1997. She attended many retreats with Sister Matthew, as it was a requirement of Sister's order, The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. She realized this retreat was special and she did not want to see it end. So, in 2011 she offered to take it over from Art. This is truly a family retreat, it honors Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and people can receive deep inner healing through the prayers of the prayer teams.
The average number of attendees is now around 120, which increases from time to time to as many as 200.
We were the only overnight retreat to continue during COVID with the blessings from the Archdiocese and special arrangements from the Fort Worden personal. Fort Worden closed in January 2025 and the retreat that year was moved to the Art Building at Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Port Townsend. That retreat had four priests and a Deacon attending to help with Mass, talks, Confession and healing prayer.
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