Denver Catholic

6 JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 6, 2015 | DENVER CATHOLIC January 31 Day of Prayer (9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) February 3 Day of Prayer (9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) February 6-8 Weekend Retreat (Men) February 13-15 Weekend Retreat (Couples) February 18 Day of Prayer (9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) February 20-22 Weekend Retreat (Men) 4801 North Highway 67, P.O. Box 185, Sedalia, CO 80135 Phone: 303-688-4198 ext. 122 (information/reservations) Website: www.sacredheartretreat.org PRINCIPAL POSITIONS The Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools system is anticipating principal position openings in PK – 8 schools for the 2015-16 school year. Candidates must: • Be a prac cing Catholic in good standing with the Roman Catholic Church. • Have a strong commitment to the importance of Catholic school ministry in the church. • Possess a Master's Degree with a minimum of 20 graduate hours in supervision, curriculum, instruc on, or other related fields. • Have a minimum of five (5) years teaching or administra ve experience in Catholic schools. • Hold a current, valid administrator's license cer ficate or be able to be cer fied by the State of Colorado as a principal. If you are interested in applying for a principal posi on, please submit a le er of interest and resume to: Archdiocese of Denver, Office of Catholic Schools A en on: Superintendent Richard Thompson 1300 South Steele Street Denver, CO 80210 A principal application packet will be mailed to you for completion and submission as part of the interview process. To learn more visit our website at www.archden.org. G enie and Frank Summers saw themselves as up-and-comers in Abbeville, La., in 1973. They had the right education, lived in the right neighborhood, and worked at the right jobs: Frank was an attorney and Genie a writer. Yet despite "having it all," includ- ing a young son, they were not happy and their 10-year marriage was headed towards divorce. Genie, a fallen away Catholic at the time, decided to spend a weekend away with a cousin who was divorced to get a glimpse of what her future might look like. During the weekend, Frank, raised Catholic but then agnostic, experienced an unexpected conversion that would dramatically change the course of their marriage and family life. Just as Frank was breaking down over the reality of the imminent divorce, a census worker from the Catholic Church knocked on the front door. Among other questions, she asked: If he got involved with the Church what would he like to do? "Help the poor," he responded. Later that night, he was moved to return to confession following a 10-year absence, where the monsignor said: "If you put Jesus at the center of your mar- riage, he will save your marriage." When Genie returned home, he greeted her with a seven-page letter asking for forgiveness. Following an overnight session of talking and crying, she saw a di erent man, she said, and heard God say: "Genie, this is not the end of your marriage, it's the beginning." The couple renewed their vows, took a second honeymoon and within a year, sold everything they owned and responded to God's call to spend their lives serving the poor as missionaries. This year they will celebrate 52 years of marriage. They have seven children, all actively engaged in Church ministries, and are expecting their 21st grandchild. After more than 20 years as a missionary family in places such as the Tonga Islands, Mexico, Colombia and New Orleans, they founded Family Missions Company in 1996. FMC is a lay Catholic missionary apostolate comprised of more than 200 stateside and international missionar- ies, both families and individuals, who address the spiritual and material needs of the poor. The Summers will share their story of conversion from worldliness and o er ways to "Cultivate a Missionary Spirit in the Family" in the next installment of the Archbishop's Lecture Series Feb. 17. The lecture continues the 2014-2015 series' theme that focuses on family at the same time the universal Church is focusing on the family. "Frank and I have what we call the touchstones of our spirituality that we have passed on to our children," Genie told the Denver Catholic in a phone con- versation from Abbeville. The touchstones are: personal, family and community prayer; God's word, the sacraments, community and service. "As parents (we stressed) their daily personal relationship with Jesus Christ," she explained. "That included private prayer, time with Scripture, daily family prayer time, and seeing us in our own pri- vate prayer." The children were always deeply involved in ministry, growing up in a mis- sionary family. "My ambition for my kids was never to have them be superlative in academics, or receive status in society," she said. "Our intention for our kids was to be kingdom builders!" The Summers have extensive family life and biblical training, are master cat- echists commissioned by the Diocese of Lafayette, La., and in 2005 Frank received the bishop's Dedicated Service Medal. Frank holds a master of law degree, and Genie, author of "Go! You Are Sent!" an English degree. Their talk will begin at 7 p.m. in Bonfi ls Hall on the campus of the St. John Paul II Center at 1300 S. Steele St. in Denver. It is free and open to the public. Lecture: Raising 'kingdom builders' BY JULIE FILBY 303-715-3123 | julie.fi lby@archden.org www.twitter.com/DenCathJulie Longtime missionaries Genie and Frank Summers, founders of Family Missions Company, will be the next speakers in the Archbishop's Lecture Series Feb. 17. Photo provided Around the Archdiocese

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