As construction progresses at Broom Tree Farm, one diocesan family has stepped in to boost development of the new diocesan retreat center near Irene.
The Gene and Audrey Jones family of Sioux Falls, recently made a gift for construction of one of the ten proposed youth/family cabins at Broom Tree Farm.
Gene Jones, Jr., and his brothers made the gift in honor of their parents.
“I’ve seen the drawings and been shown a lot of what the project’s about,” said Gene Jones, Jr. “As Catholics, we’re going to feel good about it and support it more. I’m excited to go down there and spend family time with my whole family, my mom, my brothers and their families and spend a weekend down there.”
Bishop Robert J. Carlson hopes to have a priest in place by next year to schedule and offer retreats on the property.
Currently construction is continuing on the main retreat facility at Broom Tree, thanks, in part, to the donation of time, labor and materials by diocesan contractors, vendors and parishioner volunteers.
Jones has been impressed by the amount of time, talent and treasure that’s been donated to the success of Broom Tree Farm’s development. “The fact that people can lend of their time, and other efforts in developing this facility is...important,” he said. “Without faith-filled people and all the efforts that are going to be behind the scenes with this facility, it doesn’t work.”
The diocese took title to the land and existing facilities thanks to an anonymous donor who purchased the facility and donated it to the diocese.
“It has become clear that this is meant to be and God, by using generous people...will help provide for the needs which still remain,” said Bishop Carlson.
Along with the gift of the Jones family, the diocese has money to construct four cabins. It hopes others across the diocese will donate construction/sponsorship funds for the remaining ten cabins or even funds to sponsor rooms at the Broom Tree Farm Conference Center.
Room sponsors would see a door plate honoring the donor or someone the donor designates that would read, “This room has been built in memory of (or in honor of) John and Sally Smith (by their son, Steve Smith). Please remember them in your prayers.”
The gift of the cabin to the diocese by their children was important for Gene and Audrey Jones. “I think it showed to them that their mentoring of us was shining,” said Gene, Jr. “It solidified the fact that what they worked hard to instill in us, is, in fact, working.”
Jones and his brothers believe their gift will make a difference. “There is a huge comfort level that other people, other families, other children are going to be able to enjoy the facility and the fact that we were a small part of it,,” he said.
Jones called that “a significant bonus” on top of the fact that it was a gift by he and his brothers in honor of his dad, who passed away two months after the gift was made, and his mom.
He is looking forward to the day he can visit the completed retreat center and see the gift his family made in honor of their parents standing as a testament to their work as parents. “It will be extremely emotional,” he said. “We’ve already talked about it. We want to all go down together and spend some special time there...and reminisce about dad...and we’ll pray together.”
The completion of Broom Tree Farm will put a retreat center within easy access for almost the entire diocese. “With Blue Cloud Abbey in the north and Broom Tree in the south, 90% of the people of the diocese would be able to be served by one retreat center or the other,” said the bishop.
“I think the facility will be a blast.” Jones said. “I am looking forward to utilizing it. I think there will be some neat spousal retreats.”
Jones believes Broom Tree Farm will give the people of the diocese and of eastern South Dakota plenty. “There will be the serenity and the surroundings and the quietness. You are out and away from everything,” he said. “That is going to bring a ton of value to what is going on in the diocese.”
He is also looking forward to spending some time with his children investing some “sweat equity” at the retreat center, to do some of the mentoring his parents did with him and his brothers while they were growing up.
You can find out more about making a gift to Broom Tree Farm or other diocesan or parish ministries by contacting The Catholic Foundation for Eastern South Dakota, 523 North Duluth Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, at 605-988-3788 or at www.sfcatholic.org.