OPEN HOUSE: Meet the Neighbors
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December 4, 2024The narrow entryway to the Perpetual Help Retreat Center offers visitors and guests a preview of what is ahead. The tree-lined road winds through beautiful terrain, which is inviting even in winter when its full beauty cannot be appreciated. At the end of Timber Trail Lane, located on the shoreline of Crooked Lake, is this place of peace and quiet in a fast-paced world.The Redemptorists purchased this property around 1960 when there was very little development in the area. Since then, the lakes, woodlands, and wetlands have become very attractive properties for new homes where families can raise their children amid the beauty and tranquility offered by such an unspoiled landscape.
In an age of online relationships and working remotely, we wondered about the best way to meet the families next door. How do we introduce ourselves and get better acquainted with people living nearby, fostering a sense of community? We wanted our guests to know that our neighbors are more than just people living next door. Maintaining good relationships with our neighbors provides a sense of community and belonging. Strangers become neighbors and neighbors become friends who care for one another.
Our answer was to host an “Open House: Meet the Neighbors.” Late on Sunday afternoon we opened our doors to welcome our guests and provide an opportunity to get acquainted with one another. We were very pleased to see that about thirty people responded to our invitation.The atmosphere was low-key and casual, just a group of people grateful to be invited and enjoying one another’s company. We also hope that our guests know a little more about the Redemptorists and the important work carried out in the retreat programs.