"Gifted to Grow" was the overarching theme as the Order of the Most Holy Mary Theotokos – “The Old Catholic Marianists” assembled in Chapter 11–13 October 2013. We gatherd for our 2013 O.SS.T. Synod / Retreat at the Immaculate Heart Center for Spiritual Renewal located in the foothills of Montecito, (Santa Barbara) CA, as a time for spiritual renewal, connected community, prayerful worship, and engaging dialogue. We considerd what it means to be a spiritually-vibrant religious community within the context of a changing and challenging ecclesiology.

The purpose of the annual Synod / Retreat was to provide our membership the opportunity to gather from across the vast distances of the jurisdiction for worship, theological reflection, fellowship, networking, and spiritual renewal.

What are your Strengths?

We have uniquely been blessed with gifts, some we may wish we didn’t have, others we covet as did the people of Corinth as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12-13, others believe their gift is the coolest.  Paul writes: “Fools, every godly gift is necessary, and nobody has all the gifts! Everybody gets some gift from God; nobody gets them all.”  We all have been blessed with gifts to share. Through the use of story, we will listen, share, and identify your most dependable strengths (gifts). Living from our strengths we are most fulfilled and together we complete the Body of Christ. 

For more pictures of the Immaculate Heart Center for Spiritual Renewal see page 2.

What this religious order stands for is extraordinary.

What it has stood up against is inspiring.