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Thursday 28 March |
Holy Thursday of the Supper of the Lord
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Visiting Santa Cruz

Deacon Greg Kandra - published on 08/15/15

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Soon after I landed in San Francisco on Friday—in the city named for the saint of peace—I felt I was in the right place.

Who should I see waiting for someone at the gate, but these gals?

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Deacon Bill Ditewig and his lovely wife Diann met me outside my baggage claim area, and we were off to scenic Santa Cruz, where I’m leading a retreat for deacons and wives from the Diocese of Monterey. I gotta say: everyone here has been friendly and welcoming, and the diaconate community is making this New Yorker feel right at home.

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The Villa Maria del Mar Retreat Center, run by the Sisters of the Holy Names, is lovely: homey, warm, comfortable. It has the quiet charm of a bed-and-breakfast.

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The vistas of Monterey Bay and the Pacific are nothing less than spectacular. The view from my room? Stunning.

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This is a wonderful place to spend time apart.

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And I have to say: you don’t see views like this very much in Brooklyn.

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The beach beckons. I hope to post more pictures later, including images from the chapel and—yes!—dinner.

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