Casa Veterans Ministry - Franciscan Renewal Center

Connecting. Serving. Healing.

The Casa Veterans Ministry provides a safe place where service members, veterans and their families join in community to find healing from their wounds of service.

Upcoming Events

Presentation of the Veteran Court on October 15, 2019

Veterans Picnic on Saturday, November 2, 2019

Healing of Memories Workshop on November 15-17, 2019

More events coming later in the year.

Contact Us

For information on upcoming events or the next ministry meeting, email casaveteransministry@thecasa.org

Other Veteran Resources

Casa Veterans Ministry

Purpose: The purpose of the Casa Veterans Ministry is to respond to the spiritual and emotional needs of service members, veterans and their families offering a welcoming and compassionate environment.

Mission Statement: The mission of the Casa Veterans Ministry is to take concrete actions to assist service members, veterans and their families with healing and education programs, and with events and services designed to support their spiritual and emotional needs.

Project Areas

Fr. Michael Lapsley meets Pope Francis.

1. Healing of Memories: We offer Healing of Memories Workshops for veterans and service members. Upcoming workshop dates are: November 15-17, 2019 and May 15-17, 2020. We partner with the Institute for Healing of Memories to bring these to Arizona. Click here to read more.

2. St. Francis Retreats: We offer St. Francis Retreats, which are designed to offer healing insights from one of the most beloved but misunderstood saints. Click here to read more.

St. Francis: Journey of a Resilient Warrior Retreat- April 17-19, 2020
Resilient Warrior Retreat: The Journey to Mind, Body and Spirit. March 6-8, 2020
Veterans Pilgrimage We also partner with the Franciscan Pilgrimage Office which annually takes veterans on a 9 day healing journey to Assisi and Rome, Italy. Their will be two pilgrimages offered in 2020 from May 21-29 or from June 4-12. These will explore the life of St. Francis of Assisi who was a soldier and a POW affected by combat. If you are interested in supporting a veteran, please contact Dean Pedrotti at casaveteransministry(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)thecasa.org.

3. St. Joseph Baskets for Homeless Veterans: Donations are accepted for the St. Joseph Baskets – a welcome basket that includes kitchen, bedroom and bathroom supplies for recently housed homeless veterans. Click here to read more.

4. Moral Injury Education: We provide educational opportunities for the community to understand moral injury/moral repair. Ministry members have done presentation to several first-responder agencies in the state, health care professional and clergy/ military chaplains, local homeless and housing providers. Click here to read more.

5. Community Engagement: We offer a variety of events to bring veterans together with each other and with our civilian community. This includes Vets Reconnect, Veterans Day Picnic, Memorial Day Rosary and Veterans Day Stations of the Cross. This year’s Veterans Picnic is Saturday, November 2, 2019. Click here to read more.

The Casa Veterans Ministry was featured in an article in in November addition of the St. Anthony Messenger Magazine. Click here to read the article.

Two of our signature retreats, Healing of Memories for Veterans and St. Francis : Journey of a Wounded Warrior, were featured in the August 2017 issues of Combat Stress magazine (stress.org). See pp 25-55. Click here.

Thank you to following organizations who have partnered with or supported our work with veterans.SaveSave

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Events at the Casa View Calendar

Paint from Your Soul
Friday August 16th 2019 - 9:00am
Spiritual Spa Weekend Mother / Daughter
Friday August 23rd 2019 - 6:00pm
Women in Diversity
Sunday August 25th 2019 - 2:00pm
Boundless Compassion
Friday September 6th 2019 - 6:00pm
Mindful Meditation
Saturday September 7th 2019 - 9:00am
Meditation in Movement: Kouk Sun Do
Tuesday September 10th 2019 - 9:00am

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Franciscan Renewal Center

3 days ago

Hermit Preacher Wanderer: Songs and Stories from the RoadFriday, September 137 – 9 pmFr. Cyprian Consiglio in ConcertCome enjoy a beautiful evening at the Casa.Fr. Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam will present a concert evening of songs and stories. Fr. Cyprian is a monk of the Camaldolese Congregation, a musician, composer, author and teacher. Much of his music and his teaching revolve around the Universal Call to Contemplation through spirituality and the arts.He returns to the Casa with new songs and stories along with favorites to share with us. … See MoreSee Less

frc.retreatportal.com

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Franciscan Renewal Center

6 days ago

I Will Always Remember YouIt is with real fondness and regret that I can no longer be with you. I am now retired. Among other things, chronic old age has caught up with me, as was obvious this past year. My eyesight is limited, my balance insecure, my ability to get around is limited, and now my ability to sit for any long period of time is no longer there. I sensed that these new limitations were affecting my effectiveness.I now live at one of our senior residences, St. Fidelis Friary, in Appleton, Wisconsin. My goal now is to live into retirement! It is a whole new experience. As I have often preached, “We take what the Lord gives us to work with.” I will try my hand at writing, a very different form of communication than preaching. I have two great loves: the celebration of Sunday Eucharist and Franciscan theology. And there are always the topics of Straight Talk Theology…With deep and lasting thanks for all of your love and support over these many years, I will always remember you! Keep me in your prayers, as I do you.Peace and all good!Fr. Bill Cieslak, OFM, Cap. … See MoreSee Less

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Words cannot describe how much you meant to us. Thank you.

You will be missed and The Casa won’t be the same without you! I will miss your monthly visit and Straight Talk Theology. I looked forward to them because you always had such relevant and current topics with wonderful messages and thought provoking ideas! I missed you at the Holy Week Retreat this year. I have learned so much from you over the years and you have been an inspiration and a guiding light in my spirituality growth. I truly believe my relationship with the Casa changed my life and you were part of that process.
Thank you for your service and love of the Franciscan faith and your wonderful ability to relate that to others!
Be well my friend and enjoy your well earned retirement.
I look forward to your next project. I am sure you will have much to tell us.
God’s Peace and Friendship.
Marilyn Kruzich

💙🙏🏻 Oh Fr Bill I will miss you greatly and am sorry you are feeling these limitations. You deserve to rest ❤️You will be in my thoughts and prayers and I look forward to reading your book 😉

I am going to miss Father Bill. He always had a friendly smile for everyone. When he baptized babies he was radiant. His homilies were relevant and reflected the times we live in. He is a true reflection of St. Francis. Have a happy time exploring your new life in retirement.

My entire family considered him "Our Guy" and we are going to miss him dearly! I can't think of a person who has had more impact on my spiritual journey and I look forward to following his writing in the future. May God continue to bless you, Fr Bill with His mercy and His grace! 💖💖

We are definitely going to miss you Farther Bill, I have enjoyed your sermons and your teachings. Live well my friend

Sending you much love and admiration on how you inspire us. May the beauty of Wisconsin bring you enjoyment! We will miss your wisdom,and inspiration. We will always remember your Straight Talk Theology, Father, which would be an outstanding book!

Do enjoy your well-earned respite Father. Thank you for your sacrifice and service to Our Lord and his People.

Your Wisdom and Friar Love lives on and will forever be

He was the main draw for me at the Casa. I loved listening to his wisdom and kindness. Wishing you the best Fr. Bill. ❤️🙏

Love to you Fr. Bill. Love that I know will come back to me a million times over. Thank you for all you shared and gave to us. Your presence is already missed ❤❤❤

You will be greatly missed! Easter Mass without your famous Alleluia “wave” just won’t be the same. Nor will Mass beginning with an occasional chorus of “Oh What A Beautiful Morning.” But most of all, your joyous smile, sense of humor and magnificent understanding of the readings & your ability to help us relate them to our daily lives. Bless you Father & can’t wait for you to share your future writings.

god bless you

You will be greatly missed, but your spirit remains strong and intact here! You have left your mark upon this community and upon our hearts. Enjoy some well deserved "slower paced days"…I am sure the writing will flow from your fingertips once you start and be yet another gift to so many.
You will ALWAYS have gifts to share. God puts us where we need to be for many often unforeseen reasons. I have no doubt there are MANY more lives who will still be inspired by your words and actions. GOD's PEACE!❤

You have been a major force at the Casa and we will miss you deeply. May God bless your retirement years in the same you have you have blessed and graced ours…❤️🙏

I wish you many blessings in your new journey. You will be missed. I love the Franciscans. I ×as so blessed a few years ago to go on a journey in the footsteps of Sts. Francis & Clare. My oldest son is Francis. When he was in kdg the teacher told me during role call he didn't answer so she asked him if he was Francis. He replied,"my mother & my grdmother call me Francis you can call me Frank!" 😂 Wishing you the best!!

I will miss your wise teaching so much. Enjoy your retirement — it is well-deserved. I look forward to seeing your writings. God bless you Fr. Bill.

You will be so missed at the Casa and at Capuchin in Detroit. You really left an impression on John when we stayed at the Casa for the Easter retreat. You brought him the closest in years to our beloved Catholic faith that we missed as kids. Thank You. Our love, thoughts and prayers for you as you retire. Remember to have fun and be your inspirational fun self. It's contagious.

Thank you Father Bill. Many blessings for all things good. 🙏🙏🎉🎉❤❤

You will be missed. Hope retirement brings you easy days, joy, peace, health and time to do what you love to do. Peace & blessings 💕

Only two things could make us drive the 50 minutes each Sunday: The Casa, of course, our “home” for almost 20 years, and those special Sundays when you’d start off with “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning”. I pray all your mornings are beautiful. God Bless!

Thank you for all you did for us. Love and peace as you enjoy retirement. And please let us know about anything you write. ♥

Sincere best wishes in retirement Father Bill!
I love you so much. You are awesome!!!

Love and peace in your retirement 🙏✝️

Fr. Bill, you will forever be in my heart for introducing me to Franciscan theology. Because of your inspiration I have converted and started the process of becoming a third order. This has brought amazing peace and joy to my heart. Thank you. May God journey with you!!!

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Franciscan Renewal Center

1 week ago

Family Faith Formation – Aug. 11 – The Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary TimeREFLECTION: Waiting, waiting, waiting. In line at the grocery store, on the phone, for a package to arrive or an appointment to show up. We find ourselves in this space quite often if we think about it. How do we deal with waiting? In this society of instant gratification, I would dare say that most of the time, we get anxious and even angry at times. Today, Jesus promises that He will return, but doesn’t tell us when. Instead, we are to always be ready no matter the day or time. Are we to live in anxious expectation? No, we are called to live lives of discipleship and faithful stewardship. It is our responsibility to respond to the life that Jesus calls us to — living simply, with integrity, detached from possessions, alert, ready and attentive to what discipleship calls us to. In living this way, we are always ready for Jesus to come, whether it is the second coming or in the people and events around us. Let us ask God for the courage to live out this Gospel “lifestyle.”CONVERSATION: If Jesus was coming to your house, how would you prepare?PROCLAMATION/DISCUSSION:LUKE 12:35-40How does Jesus tells His disciple to wait?When is Jesus coming?Why does Jesus tell His followers to be ready?ACTION: Fire Drill! Have a family fire drill. Go over escape routes, emphasize the need to move quickly and not go back in after they are out. Afterward, talk about the necessity of being prepared. Relate to the Gospel — being prepared to meet God at any moment.CONCLUDING PRAYER:Thank you God for always loving us, for keeping us in your care, for the gifts of Faith, Hope and Love, and for Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen. … See MoreSee Less

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