Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Advent Tea at Manresa

Last September while at the Tea and Tour of Cranbrook House and Gardens, I sat at a table with a lady named Rita, who is the Development Director at Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Bloomfield Hills, MI.  She told me about their annual Advent Tea and invited me to attend. 

I used to pass the retreat center, which sits on 39 wooded acres, several times a week, but knew nothing about it.  At yesterday's tea I learned it's a Catholic facility, but is also used by other religious and educational groups.



The grounds are beautiful. 


While driving back to the retreat center we saw a deer looking curiously at us.  ;-)


~ The Retreat Center ~



The property was purchased in 1926, and Manresa will celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2016.

At 1:00 p.m. we gathered in a large room where Mary shared how God taught her the virtue of generosity.


Then the Director of Women's Programs at Manresa gave a devotional about God's Invitation: Our Response.


I especially liked the five-step spiritual exercise to take at the end of every  day.  It's good to review things that occur over 24-hours, and give God praise for His blessings, and seek His help in the areas that hindered our relationship with Him.

At 2:00 p.m. we went into the beautiful dining room for the tea.  The buffet table was filled with a variety of delicious treats, and we selected a tea bag of our choice.  Pump pots were filled with hot water.

[Above photo courtesy of Manresa photographer]


~ Lori and Me ~


Manresa had just been gifted with a huge collection of china teacups, and the teacup below was the one I used.


Lori and I were privileged to sit with two lovely young women - L: Jennifer and R: Charlotte. They met at a women's retreat at Manresa and became friends.  I love seeing young women who like tea, but even more, young women who dedicate themselves to following Christ.


~ The tea was very well attended. ~


~ Manresa was beautifully decorated for Christmas ~


~ Beautiful Christmas tree in the library ~


~ Chapel ~


Thank you so much for telling me about your Advent Tea, Rita.  It was a wonderful way to celebrate the Christmas Season.


5 comments:

  1. What a wonderful tea and facility. I am so glad you shared this with us as there is a similar type facility here in the Rockrimmon area of Colorado Springs called St. Francis.

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  2. That would have been a marvelous event to attend. Wonderful! The facilities are lovely and the tea looks wonderful! Thanks so much for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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  3. It looks like a wonderful tea, one I would enjoy. How special to have tea time at this beautiful retreat center.

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  4. So glad you could join us, Phyllis. Glad you saw Manresa dressed in her finest.

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  5. Looks like it was a lovely and inspiring way to celebrate the Christmas season!

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