An Introduction to Christian Retreat Centers in Alberta

Spiritual retreats provide an opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation. Learn about 5 Albertan Christian retreat centers that welcome people of all faiths.

There are several Christian spiritual retreats in Alberta for those seeking spiritual renewal, counseling and growth. Although rooted in the Christian faith, these facilities are ecumenical

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welcoming people of all walks of life. This is an introduction to 5 Christian retreat centers in the province: The FCJ Christian Life Centre, Martha Retreat Centre, Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre, The Providence Renewal Centre and Sanctum Retreat.

The FCJ Christian Life Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The Faithful Companions of Jesus at Sacred Heart Convent began their ministry in 1885 by running an all-girls’ boarding school. In 1980, after extensive renovations, the FCJ Christian Life Centre opened its retreat and conference centre. In addition to retreats and sabbaticals, the Centre offers ecumenical spiritual counseling, workshops, parish outreach and specialized programs for lay ministry.

The Centre has accommodation for 52 overnight guests with complimentary laundry facilities. There are also 3 conference rooms, 3 dining rooms, a library, seasonal labyrinth, chapel, grotto and a mediation garden.

Visitors can take advantage of the holistic services available, including massage, reflexology, healing touch and Reiki. Membership to the Centre is $10/year, which grants members access to the extensive library. Costs for workshops and retreats are listed on the FCJ Centre’s website.

Martha Retreat Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

The Martha Retreat Centre is operated by the Sisters of St. Martha. The Marthas offer four types of programs: A Time to Pray, A Time to Reflect, A Time to Be Companion on the Journey (spiritual coaching) and Retreats.

There are four opportunities for prayer at the Centre. There is daily prayer, weekly centering prayer, monthly Taize prayer and monthly Eucharistic Adoration.

The Centre offers Oasis Days, workshops on prayer, spirituality, health, wellness and healing. There are two programs dedicated to men’s spirituality.

Three types of retreats are offered at the Martha Retreat Centre: private retreats, weekend retreats tied to the liturgical year and longer retreats (both silent and preached retreats). A list of current prices is available on the Martha Retreat Centre ’s website.

Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada

The Mount was founded in 1949 and is run by the Order of the Franciscans. The facility lies on approximately 500 acres. Retreatants of all faiths can reflect outdoors, following the Stations of the Cross, sit and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Rocky Mountains, pray in the chapel or curl up and read a book from the lending library or bookstore.

The Centre offers three types of spiritual retreats. There are weekend retreats, midweek twilight retreats and individual silent retreats. Each year, the Centre chooses a retreat theme which is reflected in all its programming. For instance, the theme for 2010/11 is “Life’s Spiritual Journey”. Some of weekend retreats are geared towards specific groups, such as women’s retreats, couples retreats, men’s retreats, and clergy retreats.

There are single rooms with a shared bathroom in the main building. In 2009, the former convent was renovated. Renamed “St. Elizabeth Place” after the Sisters who resided there for 50 years, this building contains six bedrooms, a large meeting room and kitchenette.

For those who want a desert or private retreat, guests can book the Friar Paul Surette Hermitage. This log cabin is sparsely furnished with a bed, table, chair and wood-burning stove.

There is no set fee for retreats. However, a list of the Centre’s costs per person is listed on Mount St. Francis’ website. Guests are given a blank envelope to include their contribution. Those who can contribute above the listed cost receive a tax receipt. Their donations help cover the costs for those who cannot afford the full amount.

The Providence Renewal Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The Providence Renewal Centre was founded in 1985. Built on 20 acres of land, retreatants can walk and reflect on the Centres various walkways or meditate in the fountain garden or seasonal labyrinth. Guests can attend day sessions or book a room for longer stays.

The Centre’s programming focuses on Christ-centered spirituality for individuals, groups and organizations. The programs fall into 6 general categories: prayer, liturgical seasons, weekends away, special interest, clubs and health and wellness.

The Centre offers weekly yoga classes and holistic services such as Reiki, therapeutic massage and acupressure. Providence also offers private retreats, sabbaticals and counseling with a spiritual director. There are 21 private suites (with ensuite bathroom) and 30 single rooms (with a shared bathroom).

The Centre requires at least 3 days’ prior notice for private retreat bookings with meals included. Current prices for workshops and retreats are listed on Providence Renewal Centre’s website. Guests can pay by credit card, cheque or cash. Costs for those who are in financial need are subsidized through donations..

The Centre has conference facilities for conventions, team building and special functions. Their meeting rooms and auditorium can accommodate groups from 6 to 325 people

Sanctum Retreat Centre in Caroline, Alberta, Canada

Founded by Catholic lay theologians Mariette and Kristoph Dobrowlski, the Sanctum Retreat Centre opened its doors in 2004. Although rooted in Catholic Christianity, people of all faiths are welcome.

They offer three types of retreats: silent spiritual retreats, silent weekend retreats and midweek retreats. Like Mount St. Francis, there are specialized retreats for specific groups, including couples, clergy, men and women.

Sanctum lies on 100 acres of land. Retreatants can borrow items from the lending library, relax in the outdoor spa, pray in the chapel or go hiking or fishing. The Stations of the Cross wind up the hill, while a series of four loops forge an outdoor Rosary path.

The facility has 33 private bedrooms with an en suite bath and three hermitage cabins. There is a solarium dining room as well as a common kitchen area.

Sanctum also has conference facilities and can be booked for team building and leadership workshops, professional development and lay ministry and formation meetings.

Like Mount St. Francis, there is no set fee for retreats at the Sanctum Retreat Centre. Donations above the basic cost go towards covering the cost of a retreatant who is in financial need.

For people who are seeking spiritual renewal and growth, spiritual retreats provide an opportunity for them to reflect and pray, seek spiritual direction and fill up their spiritual “gas tanks”. These Christian retreat centers highlighted are just a sampling of what is available for people of all faiths. From retreats to workshops, from massage to spiritual coaching and from conference facilities to walking paths, there is something for everyone who seeks to rest and recharge their body, mind and soul.

Originally published November 18, 2010 on Suite101.com. Updated on March 23, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Interview with Dave Marshall and Brad Stanton of THWOMP

In Part One of this exclusive interview that I originally did for Suite101, Brad Stanton and Dave Marshall of the Nintendo® cover band THWOMP discuss the band's roots.

Drawn together by their passion for music and classic Nintendo® games, THWOMP has performed throughout Alberta, playing at everything from bar mitzvahs to comic-cons.

The year 2010 is an exciting one for the band, with gigs at the Calgary Comic Convention, Otafest and Animethon 17, as well as their upcoming CD release party in the fall. Suite 101 sat down with Brad Stanton and Dave Marshall before a rehearsal to chat. In this segment, they share how the band came together.

The Origin of THWOMP, a Nintendo® Cover Band

THWOMP is a six-piece progressive "prog" rock band based in Calgary, Alberta. It is comprised of Brad Stanton (lead guitar), Colin Mitchel (lead guitar), Scott Munro (bass), Scott Moffat (drums), David Marshall (keyboards/percussion) and Kirk McVean (keyboards).

Band mates Brad Stanton and Scott Munro met in 2001 while they were attending Mount Royal University (then a College). Brad recounted the first time he and Scott jammed on video game music, "I walked by his room one day and heard him playing the battle music from “Final Fantasy VI” and it was like, “That’s frickin’ awesome! Teach me how to play that.”

Writing down what he learned was the natural next step for Brad. "I went home and started transcribing for real, writing it out in three parts, for bass and two guitars. Then, I just did more and more and more tunes from that game." Eventually, Brad amassed enough transcriptions to begin jamming on the music. He called on Colin Mitchel and Scott Moffat, two buddies who play with Scott Munro in Günther, a three-piece progressive rock trio.

Classical Nintendo® games were ideal for the new band. "You can separate out the audio and it comes down to four tracks," Brad explained. "The original Nintendo® pieces work so perfectly for a four-piece band because you just transcribe every note and it sounds perfect."

However, the advent of Super Nintendo® posed some challenges for the group. "Well we wanted to do more Super Nintendo® games and they have 16 channels," said Brad. "That’s eight tracks of audio. I had to make decisions between what tracks I could do and what tracks I couldn’t do. I had to cut out stuff and give Colin a lead and me a harmony and miss this other string patch or something like that."

Dave Marshall Joins THWOMP

The group played at house parties, shows and bars around town for approximately two years. They met David Marshall at Broken City. At the time, the club hosted the Ramp Show on the first Thursday of each month to showcase new music or bands.

"We played the very first one as Günther’s side project and absolutely tore it up," recalled Brad. "The place was packed and everybody loved it. I remember you [Dave] being there and…the shit-eating grin on your face when we played Final Fantasy."

Hearing the band for the first time was a special moment for Dave. "I played that game in particular so much that as soon I heard it, I knew every note. I think that’s part of the appeal of the band too; there are lots of people who have that same experience when they hear us play. It took me a year to convince them that I was supposed to be in the band too."

Thanks to a cold snap during the winter, Dave was given a chance to play with the group. "It was about 35 below outside. It was ridiculous," said Brad. The rehearsal space didn't have heating, so Dave invited the band to rehearse in his home nearby. After jamming with the group, the decision was unanimous: "We decided that Dave needed to be in the band." The addition of Dave's keyboard and percussion skills meant that the group could explore music from Super Nintendo® games without compromising voicings.

THWOMP is a Nintendo® band that took root during an impromptu jam session between founding members Brad Stanton and Scott Munro on Final Fantasy tunes. The four-piece band became a quintet with the addition of keyboardist and percussionist Dave Marshall.

For more information about THWOMP, the band or to listen to audio clips, visit their website, BandCamp and Myspace page.

The full interview series:

Full interview series: Part 1 – THWOMP’s Origins | Part 2 – Band Names & Niches | Part 3 – Songwriting | Part 4 - Hey! Listen! CD Release | Part 5 - On Gigs | Part 6 - Convention Gigs | Part 7 - Video Games | Part 8 - Fun & Food

Hey! Listen! Album Review

Originally published on Suite101.com on July 27, 2010. Updated on March 22, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Popular Japanese Study Books

Some of my classmates have been using other Japanese language workbooks to supplement their Japanese studies. Our きょうかしょ is jam-packed with information. However, the print is tiny and it's all in Japanese. It would be nice to have some explanations in English.

I'll be ordering my messenger bag soon, so I thought I would do a quick search

to find some of the popular Japanese workbooks on the market and add one or two to my order. Here are 10 of the most popular Japanese text books and workbooks that I found. どうぞ!

1. Japanese DeMYSTiFieD with Audio CD, 2nd Edition

2. Japanese For Dummies

3. Japanese for Young People III: Student Book

4. Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication: A Self-Study Course and Reference

5. Japanese for Busy People I: Romanized Version 1 CD attached

6. Japanese For Young People I: Kana Workbook

7. Japanese the Manga Way: An Illustrated Guide to Grammar and Structure

8. Japanese For Young People I: Student Book

9. Japanese for Busy People: Kana Workbook (Vol 1)

10. Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Workbook I [Second Edition] (Japanese Edition)

These books are also popular on J-List.com. Click on the link below to shop there:

Why Do Music Students Hate Counting?

This is something that I've been grappling with every year. Some students, no matter how hard I try, refuse to count their beats. They are usually the ones who really need to because they are struggling and need help with the rhythm or the tempo.

As far as I can tell, my students fall into five general groups. Perhaps you're in one of them:

1. Students who hope that their rhythmic instability isn't so obvious if they don't count,

2. Students who are self-conscious and don't like to hear their voice,

3. Students who just don't care about whether they are playing the rhythm correctly, and

4. Students who aren't sure how to count beats in their music.

Well students, regardless of whether you count, we music teachers can tell when the timing is off.

For my students who are self-conscious, sometimes, I count out loud with them or bang out the beat on my cajón. You could ask a family member to count with you at home (just ask them to be steady like a clock and then set the metronome to what the tick-tocks should be).

For the students who are apathetic about rhythm, there isn't much that me or your music teacher can do to help you. You've probably heard it before, you just can't help someone who doesn't want help in the first place.

Now for those of you who need a refresher on how to count, I have found these articles and video tutorials:

• Understanding the Basics of Counting Rhythms

• How to Count Rhythms

• How to Count Beats in a Song

Grain Free Hamburger Recipe for Dogs

A flavorful meal for dogs made with whole foods, this homemade dog food recipe can be prepared quickly and easily.

Whether your dog has food allergies or sensitivities or you are searching for better food for dogs, this is a viable alternative to expensive premium dog food. Maestro’s Grain Free Burgers is an easy dog food recipe to make. Serving portions and ingredients can be varied to give your dog a balanced diet, thereby ensuring your pet’s health.

Ingredients for Maestro’s Grain Free Burgers

The following whole foods form the foundation for this delicious dog food recipe. This can be easily customized to suit your dog’s preferences and nutritional needs, while providing balance through variety.

• 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of ground meat (e.g., veal, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, organ meat)

• 1 – 128 ml jar (4.5 oz.) of organic baby food vegetables (e.g., peas, carrots)

• 1 – 128 ml jar (4.5 oz.) of organic baby food vegetables (sweet potatoes)

• 2 tsp. vegetable oil

• ¼ tsp. rosemary

• ¼ tsp. basil

• 5 shakes of black pepper

• ground/crushed eggshells or bonemeal

Tips on Portion Control When Preparing Homemade Dog Food

Portion sizes should be calculated prior to making Maestro’s Grain Free Burgers. Raw4Dogs has an online calculator to determine portion sizes. The website also has recommended calculation adjustments for puppies, underweight and overweight dogs. The calcium requirements for a dog varies depending upon its weight.

According to David Bastin, Jennifer Ashton and Dr. Grant Nixon, D.V.M., authors of Better Food for Dogs (Toronto: Robert Rose, Inc. 2002), a 5 lb. dog requires a minimum of 274 mg of calcium daily and a 10 lb.dog needs 536 mg of calcium, while a 50 lb. dog requires at least 2,689 mg. The book, which contains numerous dog food recipes, also contains a comprehensive nutritional guide detailing the nutritional requirements of a dog from 5 lbs. up to 150.

First, calculate the amount of calcium required per meal. Better Food for Dogs does list recommended amounts per meal. Next, calculate the number of meal portions that the recipe will yield. This figure will give you the amount of calcium needed for this recipe.

Alternatively, you can add the calcium supplement just prior to feeding. Thoroughly mix the per meal amount with the dog food. Some recipes in Better Food for Dogs suggest adding a pinch of calcium supplement into the food. The balance of the daily required calcium would have to be administered another way (e.g.dog calcium pills, raw bones, milk, yogurt).

Preparing and Cooking Maestro’s Grain Free Burgers

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients.

2. Thoroughly mix together all ingredients.

3. Using a measuring scoop, spoon out a portion equivalent to one meal and shape it into a meatball or hamburger patty. Place on a plate for now.

4. Repeat step #3 until all the ingredients are used up.

Lightly cook the burgers by searing them. You can use either a broiler or a pan-sear them at a high temperature until the outside is brown. According to Dr. Per Schonbeck in his Pet-Nutrition-Advice article, “How is Your Dog Food Damaged by Its Processing,” “lightly broiled meats and steamed vegetables retain most of their nutrients.”

Serving and Storing Maestro’s Grain Free Burgers

As this is a protein-rich dog food recipe, various sides of carbohydrates can be added to balance your dog's meal. According to Bastin, Ashton and Nixon, dogs require 40% protein, 45% carbohydrates and 15% supplemental fat. Examples of fruits and vegetables you can include are chopped carrots, apples and bananas.

For grains, you can add brown rice, cooked oatmeal or cooked pasta. Smaller dogs may need their burgers broken down into bite-sized chunks.

Freeze the remaining burgers for future use. Simply microwave a serving for 45 seconds – 1 minute to defrost and warm up the doggy burgers.

Dogs on a home-prepared diet should take dog supplements such as digestive enzymes, glucosamine for dogs or brewer’s yeast to obtain optimal pet health. They should also take multi-vitamins. However, as many dog vitamins on the market are geared towards dogs on commercial dog food diet, check to make sure the vitamins are sufficient for your dog’s needs.

Vary the Ingredients to Achieve Nutritional Balance Over Time

No single homemade dog food recipe will meet all of a dog’s nutritional requirements. According to Mary Straus in her April 2007 Whole Dog Journal article, "Introduction to Homemade Diets for Dogs", dog owners should strive for nutritional balance over time. Vary the vegetables used as well as type and cut of meat in this hamburger recipe for dogs. However, be sure not to include any foods that are harmful to dogs.

If you are just starting your dog on a home-prepared diet, read "What You Should Know Before You Cook for Your Dog". Explore other dog food recipes and dog food alternatives. You should also consult with a veterinarian to determine your dog’s specific nutritional requirements.