TYME OUT Blogs!

TYME OUT has been so lucky to have a resident artist for the last 14 years who also has been our Maintenance Engineer.  Keith Bartley works at making TYME OUT look good, run smoothly, and stay warm.  However, in his free time he creates art that not only looks good but is creative and innovative.  Here is a taste of what Keith has been working on both here at TYME OUT and in his art studio.

TYME OUT has greatly needed a repair to the roof in our front entrance.  The flat roof allowed water to leak in during any thaws in the winter and make a mess, as this picture indicates.

Well, Keith sought out contractors’ bids to fix this problem, and thanks to the generosity of a foundation grant we were able to make it a reality.  The first thing they did was fix the flat roof problem. 

Then Keith himself made sure the entrance way looked so much better than it had.  He put in new ceiling tiles in the entrance way which was a total reversal of how it looked before.  A job well done!

Since removing the boilers for heating our building and replacing them with harting units, our hallways are a bit cool in the winter and warm in the summer.  The warm in the summer is definitely livable, but the cool in the winter needed attention.  Through Keith’s diligence, we now have heat in our entrance hallway.  The heat duct in that hall, now spews heat to a constant temperature of 68 degrees.  We are all much happier with that.

Keith’s personal art is much more eclectic!  The following examples are proof of that.

These pictures show Keith’s more practical artistic side and his very creative side.  The first 2 pictures show ceramic tiles that decorate his kitchen which is 10 feet long and includes over 50 tiles with actual leaves imbedded within.  The leaves in the next 2 pictures are made using ceramic raku style.  The leaves are pressed out of mold, but have a distinctive face on each one.  These leaves show Keith’s true creative genius.

Keith has always enjoyed working on stained glass as is evident from this picture.  This beautiful flower stained glass window was made by Keith.  The winter scene outside the window was made by God.  The giant head once again shows Keith’s creativity.  It is ceramic which has been fired and glazed.    It kind of reminds me of the great cartoons Keith comes up with.  Maybe we can have him draw one for our blog soon. 

We will get to see more of Keith’s handiwork in the coming months.  Around TYME OUT there is always painting and other little projects around the building.  He is also working on a design plan for TYME OUT with our building and grounds committee.  His art also has him going in a different direction.  He is working on fusing glass - melting glass in a kiln and adding a wildlife scene.  He is also working on Celtic knots which goes along with his heritage and trip to Ireland.  while in Ireland he was able to visit Trinity College in Dublin where the Book of the Kells is located and study the Celtic knots in person.  Watch for more of Keith’s work in upcoming blogs.

Keith Bartley, with Margie

I do not often get the opportunity to be on a two night confirmation retreat.  I have this job of Program Administrator that keeps me from working the weekends also.  But once in a great while, I get the opportunity to do a 2 night Confirmation retreat, and that “great while” occurred January 22-24, when Queen of Apostles parish from Pewaukee brought their Confirmation candidates to TYME OUT.

The first good thing that happened was that I got to work with Becca, our new retreat director.  It usually takes a couple of months for a new retreat director to learn all the ins and outs of TYME OUT’s retreats.  Becca was no exception.  Since she started in October, she has watched and learned the processes of a TYME OUT retreat.  Starting in January, I made her the A on retreats, which means she is the person who makes contact with the parish and finds out any significant information which could impact the retreat.  Queen of Apostles retreat would be Becca’s first time as an A on a Confirmation retreat.  It was great working with Becca.  She brings enthusiasm, energy, and a love of God which is so evident to everyone on retreat. 

The second good thing that happened was that I got to work with one of our 1st year interns.  Andrew Schueller is a senior at Marquette University and is a wonderful faith-filled young man.  He brings many of the experiences from the retreats he has been on at Marquette and his own parish.  He too has many great ideas that reach the young people and makes them listen to his God-filled experiences.  Andrew will graduate in May and wherever he ministers after that, will be very fortunate to have him.

The third good thing that happened on this retreat was I was able to spend the weekend with an old friend of TYME OUT’s, Bill Eder.  Bill may have been the most senior member of the group here that weekend, but you would never have known that by watching him.  He truly loves what he does and he shares his love of God with the youth.  Bill has been the youth minister at Queen of Apostles for a long time, and I hope he will remain there for a long time to come.                               

The final good thing that happened and the most important good thing was the youth who came to discern their decision about Confirmation.  They were a very open group, willing to share, willing to listen.  They were very accepting.  There were 2 youth from St. Mary’s Waukesha, who joined them on this retreat and they warmly welcomed them into the group.  In fact, one of the Individual Retreatants commented at the end of the retreat that he thought he couldn’t have had a better time on his own parishes retreat.  A true testament to all the participants. 

God was truly present on this retreat.  Actually, I know God is present on every retreat.  I was just fortunate enough to be a part of this experience.  Thank you Becca and Andrew.  Thank you Queen of Apostles Confirmation candidates, adults and Bill.  (Not to say that Bill isn’t an adult!)  I feel truly blessed to have been a part of your weekend.

God’s Peace,

Margie Lang

When I looked up the definition for this word the dictionary referred to such things as “blood relation”, “linked by common interests”, and even “staff of an office” among many others.

When I first joined the staff of TYME OUT Youth Ministry and Retreat Center in October, I had no idea what lie ahead for me. With the desire of acclimate me with the staff, Ben provided me with an opportunity to interview my colleagues. I had a variety of questions such as, “What do you like to do in your free time?”, “What is zymurgy?” (see Keith for an answer), “How is your spirituality nurtured?”, and “If you could have any one super power what would it be and why?”  Their answers were both helpful and entertaining, but the two questions I got the most enlightening answers came from, “What are you expecting/hoping from me?” and “What do you most enjoy about your job?”  Naturally my expectation was that I would hear statements such as, “Make sure you do your job.” “Pick up after yourself.” “Get this done early.” Instead, I heard statements similar to, “Let me know if you have any questions or how I can help.” I learned an immense and valuable message that day; uniqueness is what they bring to the table. When asking what they enjoyed most about their job I discovered what makes this “job” not a job. The resounding summative quote, “It’s the people I work with and the family we have created”.

My first few days allowed me the chance to curiously observe their personal interactions. I watched Margie and Keith make jokes back and forth that left us rolling on the floor, laughing, or even crying. Noticing how Donna, Brenda, and Margie went together for walks before having lunch. Admiring how when Ben asks, “How are you?” he’s not just asking to make conversation, but stops dead in his tracks to listen to make sure you are not just “ok”. Appreciating how on birthdays someone always gets the birthday person a card, dessert, and a present. Watching Marc’s passion of faith pouring wisdom into the retreatants about the uniqueness of the Catholic Church. How we always get a special update from Jen on the 411 of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw during our staff meetings. Personally having special conversations with Lea and Jen, or even staying up till three in the morning talking about everything from books, relationships, to what comes after life on Earth. Last but not least, who could forget our adopted staff?  The “Tuesday guys” (Jim, Dave, Lou) and Sister Debbie who volunteer their time into helping us with our “hunny do” list; all with a big smile and willing hands.

“The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.  ~Erma Bombeck”

Every family has its moments and that is not to say that we don’t have our own unique attributes…mine being the million and one stories or random facts. Thanks for being patient with meJ When it comes down to it, we really care about one another. My favorite moment thus far on the “job” came in the form of a simple card.Just before Thanksgiving, my boyfriend’s (Jarred) grandma fell and broke her hip. While I was getting ready to drive back down to work after spending Thanksgiving with Jarred’s family, his grandma took a turn for the worse. I was split between having to get stuff done at work and wanting to be there for his family. Ben assured me, like he does so often, that I needed to be in Appleton. After the funeral and some time off, I spent the ride to work thinking about all of the things I needed to accomplish. Arriving at work I went to my mailbox and found a card. The card. The front of the envelope read “Becca and Jarred”. As I opened it all I could think about was, “I wonder who gave me my first Christmas card? Opening it up revealed a message that read, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.” and everyone had signed it! I couldn’t help but start to tear up. I immediately called Jarred and said, “I got a card from everyone at my work for your Grandma. Isn’t that amazing?” He was quiet for a defined moment and while taking it all in and said, “…really … amazing.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       When I said yes to taking this path I thought it was choosing a job, but instead I was gaining a family. I don’t know about you, but I know for sure that this is more than a “job”. I had only been working at Tyme Out for little over a month and words cannot express how much a simple card meant to the two of us. Allowing Jarred and I to slow down and be thankful for all we have. 

You don’t choose your family.  They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.  ~Desmond Tutu

The great gift of family life is to be intimately acquainted with people you might never even introduce yourself to, had life not done it for you.  ~Kendall Hailey, The Day I Became an Autodidact

The informality of family life is a blessed condition that allows us to become our best while looking our worst.  ~Marge Kennedy                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Becca Rauworth (with Jarred’s help)  Retreat Team Member

On Tuesday, January 5^th, our faithful and steadfast Men’s Prayer Breakfast group gathered for our monthly morning of prayer, fellowship and inspirational presentations.  This month we were blessed by guest presenter, Father Thomas DeVries, associate pastor from Christ King Parish in Wauwatosa. 

Having known Father Tom for some years, our own regular prayer breakfast attendee and friend of TYME OUT, Gerry Schaefer agreed to introduce Fr. Tom.  What I didn’t know was that Gerry would not only introduce Father Tom to us, but that he would introduce our community (that morning a group of 62 men!) to Father Tom. 

I found Gerry’s comment to offer an accurate picture of our prayer community and with his permission am sharing them with you here:

“The Men’s Prayer Breakfast at TYME OUT, which meets the first Tuesday every month from September through May, brings together a unique and dedicated group of men.  There is an assembly, 55-60 strong, even in the coldest months of winter, ready to pray at 7:00 a.m. in the morning.

            They sing heartily!

They read scripture thoughtfully!

They read scripture thoughtfully!

           And they support the mission of TYME OUT generously!

          “Religion is not sentiment –Religion is not emotion –Religion is a conviction of the mind motivated by the will!

           This conviction enables a firmness of faith and at the same time belief in redemption and forgiveness.” 

           I believe he spoke the mind of this prayer breakfast audience.  There is no false piety in this room.  This prayer is genuine and heartfelt!”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.  Come join us in February!

Blessings,    

Ben Brzeski 

Aren’t we all looking forward to a better and more promising year compared to last? I get nostalgic at this time of year – not only is it the beginning of a new year but also my birthday month.   I become reflective on what has been and contemplate what will be and of course new resolutions. Here are two, one of which you may be able to help me with!

1.  This year I really have incentive to lose those extra pounds as our son is getting married in May.

2.  I discovered during a recent OutTYME (a half day spent with the rest of the staff spiritually directed by S. Joan Penzenstadler, SSND) that my mantra for 2010 will be ENOUGH.  “God always provides.”  “ There is always enough.”  It will be a hard goal for me as the Development Director whose profession it is to acquire and worry (worry is not in my job description) if we will get enough donations to sustain TYME OUT well into the future. I trust God working through you will provide enough!

Enjoy the New Year, may it hold peace, health, happiness and abundance for you all.

Blessings, 

Kathy Wisnefski

Development Director