Catholic retreat on Shelter Island in danger of closing

That's just great. I'm sure SI needs a new Wall-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, Costco,.............

What a shame, but I guess it inevitable.

Looking forward to more ugly and tasteless McMansions! Yeah! I wish we could just close the bridges from Memorial Day to Labor Day to keep the city people from ruining any more of the East End. A lot of Nassau people are getting on that band wagon too. Closing the Nassau/Suffolk border wouldnt be a bad idea either.

ricky wrote:

That's just great. I'm sure SI needs a new Wall-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, Costco,.........

Are you saying the Romans sold this to put up a Walmart?

Nah, they own Kroger...

Wow. A lot of angry, sarcastic responses.

St. gabe's on shelter island is my favorite place in the world! my youth group has been going there every year for 24 years and it would be a terrible thing if it shut down. This place truly is a place where the lives of teenagers are altered for the better. The lives of so many young people have been touched by the staff and Father Chris Cleary. I understand that the remarks you are making are probably true to what will happen if St. Gabe's closes down, but it is an amazing place where lives are changed and the holy spirit truely is present, so to think that such sarcastic remarks would be made is actually a bit disrespectful. St. Gabe's we're all praying for you!!!<3

I hope the victims of 'abuse' who's lawsuites led to the liquidation of the Catholic Church's bank accounts are recovering from the pain an suffering with the millions of dollars they and their lawyers made by pursuing their lawsuits against this religious institution.

I hope so too. It's too bad it took the church this long to realize they weren't doing god's work by abusing children. Any money the church lost is their fault - no one else's.

GregNewYork wrote:

I hope the victims of 'abuse' who's lawsuites led to the liquidation of the Catholic Church's bank accounts are recovering from the pain an suffering with the millions of dollars they and their lawyers made by pursuing their lawsuits against this religious institution.

The history and meaning that place has for me can never be explained in words. Some of the best moments of my life have happened on that property. The place, the people and experience change the lives of the youth today and give them one safe place to grow spiritually in this far from spiritual world. St. Gabes closing is going to be one sad day for hundreds of thousands of kids!

Bishop Murphy is lying. The Catholic Church has all the money and resources it needs to keep St. Gabes open.

it pains me to see a place as wonderful as St. Gabe's close down. i have been enjoying the "mass in the grass" for years, before i could even form a memory really. F. Chris is one of the kindest and most gentle people on this earth. I wish ther was something more to be done for them....

Today is Father Chris' farewell mass at St. Gabriel's, and after many years of attending summer mass outside in the meadow with Father Chris and Father Vincent, there is a profound sense of loss and gratitude for what the Passionists have done on Shelter Island for the youth of NYC and LI.

Ignoring the hateful comments posted here by those who have likely never visited Shelter Island or St. Gabriel's, under Father Chris Cleary's stewardship and faithfulness to God, thousands of lives were touched.

We will miss the corny jokes, the sincere gentleness with which Father Chris extends to anyone he encounters, and most of the wonderful place St. Gabriel's is. It is surely hallowed ground, and we hope the diocese is able to purchase this beautiful place and keep it running. It is truly a gem for all Catholics of the RVC and Brooklyn diocese.

Thank you Father Chris and Father Vincent. You have been a path to Christ.

All you people just stop and think. Think of something you love. Now picture your life without it. For me, thats what life without St. Gabes. Please help save gabe!!!

I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
ST. GABRIELS IS A MIRACLE
OVER 100,000 teens have made
a retreat there.
many lives have been changed
for the better.
recently i was in Hong Kong and
started talking about Shelter Island
a businessman came up to me and told
me he made a retreat there and
it changed his life..
Please help save St. Gabriels
Send prayers and an offering to help
St Gabriels, shelter island 11965

Sunday 19, 2009
My first visit here and to observe the enthusiasm of over 40 young teen agers coming together to pray and play, an inspiration in this day of "Doubt" and indecision. Hopefully, this ministry continues for others to gain in insights of their own lives, the lives they will be living as adults in our society and as part of God's creation.

NIMBY Island wrote:

Bishop Murphy is lying. The Catholic Church has all the money and resources it needs to keep St. Gabes open.

Will you back up your comment with something more trustworthy than your opinion?

this is unreal, it really is. this place was life changing, and its closing. they just dont understand how sad this is for everyone.

st gabriels is a very special place and has
had a profound effect on over 100,000 teens
who have made retreat programs there
is it possible for someone to help save this
very very important youth ministry for the
diocese of rockville centre and brooklyn new york
these are difficult times, money is short
for many religious communities, we need to help
the passionists with this important ministry

pray for all teens

thanks

The Passionists are selling St. Gabe's because they are sitting on $10 million or so form a pending sale that would help their shrinking priests in retirement. It has nothing to do with operating costs, as benefactors have been generous to St. Gabe's over the years.

Bishops DiMarzio and Murphy should kick in 50% each to jointly own St. Gabes for both dioceses. It is a special place, and both dioceses have derived benefit from the Passionist retreats there. I believe the Passionists would extend below market terms to keep this property in the church.