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September 10, 2009, page 5 Diocesan Our Northland Diocese When ground was broken last month for St. Francis Lodge on Lake George, located in the Diocese of Crookston between Park Rapids and Bemidji, a huge part of Sal Di Leo’s journey of faith came full circle. More than 10 years ago, he returned to Joliet, IL to visit the Sisters of St. Francis, an experience that closed one chapter in Sal’s life story and opened another. When Sal was only 8-years-old, the sheriff took him and three of his 11 siblings from their mother and brought them to the Guardian Angel Home, an orphanage run by the Sisters of St. Francis. The sisters cared for Sal physically. Much later he recognized they also nourished his spirit. He made some bad decisions early in life out of a belief that having money would make everything right. It was decades before Sal returned to Joliet, found his “fortune” in confronting his past and replaced his aspirations toward wealth with the values of faith and gratitude. “We are not all fortunate enough to get a chance to thank those who helped us, but I have had the chance to let the nuns know everything they gave was received,” Sal says. One of Sal’s greatest mentors, NFL Hall of Fame Coach Bud Grant, convinced Sal to return to Joliet and find the sisters who had taken care of him. The visit made Sal want to write his story, “maybe for a little redemption or just maybe to help me reconstruct what really happened in my life so I could go on.” Sal’s story is revealed in his book, Did I Ever Thank You, Sis- ter?, self-published in 1999. In the process of writing it, he became de- termined to show his appreciation in a more tangible way, and began the work of creating a retreat on his property on Lake George. Today, a statue of St. Francis greets visitors at the entry, a path winds through the property with woodcarvings of the Stations of the Cross and a grotto and small chapel grace the landscape. Sal asked Bishop Victor Balke, now retired, for permission to build the chapel and related his plans to also build a sisters’ retreat at the site. The bishop asked how Sal knew he would get sisters to come. “I told him I lived with them and I know the only time they got a break was when we went to camp.” Bishop Balke wrote back with his blessings and a personal donation.” The chapel was built and dedicated May 20, 2006. A year ago, two of the sisters from Joliet, Sisters Albert Marie Papish and David Ann Hoy, camped in a trailer where the lodge is being built and affirmed the need and Sal’s vision of the lake retreat as a perfect place for respite. “A retreat is part of who we are,” Sister Albert Marie said. She explained that, for decades, a part of their congregation has attended an annual summer retreat. The retreats traditionally were structured, but provided the Sisters of St. Francis a time to refresh and go back to continue their ministry. The two sisters found the setting on Lake George to be peaceful with “God’s nature surrounding us… The sunset in the evening is a prayer in itself,” Sister Albert Marie said. When the lodge opens, Sal and his wife, Beth, will invite the Sisters of St. Francis and the Dominicans of Springfield, IL, who also shared in some of Sal’s childhood. Because of his book, they have received inquiries from sisters in South America, Brazil and France. Sal expects St. Francis Lodge to be completed by mid-October and open as a retreat next spring. The two-story log lodge will be small and energy efficient with rooms for two guests at a time, a small kitchen and laundry facilities. Those who come will need to arrange their own transportation and provide their own food, but the quarters will be free and open from May through October. When construction is finished, Sal is planning a dedication and hopes the Sisters of St. Francis will attend. Also at the top of his guest list is Father Duane Pribula of Our Lady of the Pines, Nevis and St. Theodore Parish, Laporte. “He adopted us and we adopted him back,” Sal says. Father Duane said Sal’s vision for a retreat is well suited to the lakes and pines area of his parishes. Camp Courage North, located just across the bay from Sal’s property, serves those with physical disabilities and in the off-season rents facilities to others. Camp Wilderness for Boy Scouts also is located nearby. In planning for the dedication, Sal also has decided to name the lodge after Jack Weinmann, who built the chapel, the alter and fur- niture for the lodge. Many people, like Jack Wein- mann and his family, neighbors at Lake George and others. have helped along the way. Others have asked what they can do to help and Sal has a ready answer. Proceeds from his book Did I Ever Thank You, Sister?, now available online from Barnes and Noble at www.bn.com or at www. salsbook.net will help pay for the lodge. Or, Sal said, “pray for us and our challenges or come to Lake George to understand what we’re about.” Appointments will be necessary during construction so please call ahead at 612-382-3582. Visitor, who have left notes in a guestbook in the chapel or contacted Sal after reading his book, have told him they, too, have stories of healing from contacting people who were meaningful to their lives and have come to the same conclusion Sal has: “Appreciating the importance of what you have instead of what life could have been like.” Retreat center will open on Lake George By LuAnn Hurd-Lof Special to Out Northland Diocese
