“Mary set out and traveled to the hill country…” In the month of October, a month traditionally dedicated to Mary, a special blessing has been offered to us in the Diocese of Fargo. Many of you are familiar with Maryvale, the regional motherhouse near Valley City of the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation. I am happy to share with you the news that the Sisters have offered Maryvale, their home, to the good people of our diocese.
Maryvale, which means “Mary’s Valley,” was established as the sisters’ motherhouse in 1965. In addition to serving as their home and their headquarters in the United States, the sisters have hosted numerous retreats and other events, extending hospitality to countless visitors over the years. But as the number of sisters has declined in recent years, they approached me about future uses for Maryvale. While they realized that they no longer need the entire facility, they also hoped that the ministry of hospitality and spiritual development might continue at Maryvale.
So, in a beautiful act of trust and generosity, the sisters have given the Maryvale property to the Diocese of Fargo for continued use by the people of God. And in a further act of generosity, the sisters have also established a substantial trust fund to help support the ongoing operations of Maryvale and its apostolates.
I cannot overstate the significance of this gift. Maryvale has been an important center of spiritual life in the Diocese of Fargo for many decades, hosting retreats for priests, deacons and their spouses, Search retreats for youth, vocation discerners, campus ministry groups, women’s and men’s retreats, and many, many others. With great foresight and love for the Church, the sisters realized the value of maintaining this essential apostolate, and so were willing to make this personal sacrifice of their spiritual home for the benefit of all the faithful.
As an added blessing, the sisters will continue to reside at Maryvale. It will still be their home, even though they are entrusting it now to the care of the Diocese. Meanwhile, they will support the spiritual mission of Maryvale with their prayers, their ample experience, and the witness of their lives. What a gift it is to have the prayerful accompaniment of the sisters for those who participate in retreats and other events at Maryvale.
I see this as a new opportunity for spiritual growth in our diocese. In a beautiful setting on a hillside outside Valley City, Maryvale can be an ideal site for parish retreats and other gatherings of the faithful. Individuals who wish to get away with the Lord can also make their own private retreats or days of recollection in the peaceful surroundings of the Maryvale campus. To his own disciples, Jesus said, “Come away and rest awhile.” We all need occasions of spiritual refreshment, opportunities to step away from the noise and busyness of our daily lives. A retreat, or a simple day of recollection can be an occasion to rest in the Lord, to listen to his word in our hearts, and to be renewed for the responsibilities of our vocation in life.
Needless to say, a facility like Maryvale needs ongoing upkeep and material support. The work of spiritual programming and maintaining a building with its sprawling grounds require adequate staffing and funding. The sisters have made a generous contribution to the operation of Maryvale, but we must do our part as well. I will begin an initiative to match the contribution of the Sisters so that Maryvale can operate on a sound basis and make necessary improvements in the years to come. And to that end, I would encourage you, the faithful of our Diocese, to consider how you might support this important spiritual work of the Church.
This gift of the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation is only the latest sign of their love for Christ and his Church. Since their arrival in the Diocese of Fargo more than a hundred years ago, they have worked zealously in the fields of Catholic education, Catholic health care, spiritual direction, and evangelization. I cannot thank them enough for their apostolic service in our diocese. And this occasion allows me to thank all of the religious sisters and communities who serve or served in the Diocese of Fargo. They continue to inspire us by their witness to love of Christ, their service to the Church, and their lives of prayer and charity. All of our religious sisters have given their lives as Gospel witnesses, and we are richer in faith because of them.
Maryvale now opens a new chapter, and I pray that God will continue to bless those who come to “Mary’s Valley” for spiritual growth and rest. May our Blessed Mother Mary, who set out for the hill country of Judea to visit Elizabeth, meet us on the hillside of Maryvale and walk with us as we encounter Jesus, her Son.