Dear CRC Customers,
 
The Christian Renewal Center has been ministering to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston for over 50 years. For the past ten years, after the Oblate left, a lay non-profit group, CRC Retreat Partners, Inc has been managing and keeping the CRC open. In 2013 the Scanlan Foundation purchased the property from the Oblates and gifted it to the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese owns the property and has the CRC Retreat Partners Inc manage the property. The non-profit is responsible for all operations including repairing the facility. The Archdiocese does not subsidize the CRC.
 
As a ministry, we want to be able to continue serving the people but to do this, we must be good stewards of our resources and have a business model. We recognize that most of our groups are churches and non-profits and our goal is to keep the retreat center affordable as well as open for everyone. To operate on budget and keep the CRC open, we need about 133 people making a retreat every single weekend. This allows us to cover our operational expenses (utilities, staff, supplies, repairs, etc.).  For this reason, we have moved to a charge per use structure verse a per person charge. This will help us meet our operational cost. The previous per person structure was based on 16 people per lodge and two people per room. When groups spread out, it cost the CRC more in operational cost (utilities, staff for cleaning, etc.). Our goal is to keep the CRC open for everyone to be able to use.
 
Example Pricing Model:
- ACTS Retreat: Rooms w/ Linens w/ Eugene Hall & Marian Hall: 80 People: 3 Nights: 6 Meals                                                2019 Price $19,060 vs. 2020 Price $17,518.75
- ACTS Retreat: Rooms w/ Linens w/ Eugene Hall & Marian Hall: 50 People: 3 Nights: 6 Meals                                                      2019 Price $12,100 vs. 2020 Price $11,967.50
- ACTS Retreat: Lodges w/ Oblate Hall & Gerard Rooms: 80 People: 3 Nights: 6 Meals                                                         2019 Price $13,840 vs. 2020 Price $13,845
- ACTS Retreat: Lodges w/ Oblate Hall & Gerard Room for Saturday Night: 50 People: 3 Nights: 6 Meals                           2019 Price $8,900 vs. 2020 Price $10,945
- 2-Night Adult Retreat: Rooms w/ Linens w/ Eugene Hall: 100 People: 2 Nights: 6 Meals                                                   2019 Price $20,000 vs. 2020 Price $18,900
- 2-Night Youth Retreat: Lodges w/ Oblate Hall: 100 People: 2 Nights: 6 Meals                                                                       2019 Price $15,600 vs. 2020 Price $14,242.50
*The cost gets lower per person based on the more people you have!
 
The lodge side is designed with seven lodges, sleeping 16 people each for a total population of 112 people. When a smaller size group rents the lodges and uses Oblate Hall, it prevents other groups from using the recreation space as well as prevents us from filling the other lodges.  If your group does not want to sleep in bunk beds, you could rent the additional lodges, but financially it would be beneficial to use the rooms instead. The rental of Oblate Hall is more expensive than Eugene Hall because with Oblate Hall comes the swimming pool, sports pavilion, and grounds.
 
In 2019, the CRC lost about $130,000 in expected revenue from groups reserving space and then canceling their retreats. Therefore, we are enforcing the contract and deposit policy to prevent cancellations.
 
In addition, following Archdiocesan policy we desire to keep our Chapels as a place for Catholic Liturgy and prayer and not used as multipurpose space. We recognize the need for groups to have additional meeting space as well as to accommodate smaller size retreats, so we are currently renovating a building to create another small size conference space about the size of the Gerard Room as well as adding seven more rooms. Our new policy allows for pay for what you use model which removes a minimum fee policy if your retreat does not meet their expected numbers. We have also removed the one free clergy space and now offer all approved Catholic ministries of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston 5% off their meeting space and lodging.
 
To better serve groups and allow them to set their retreat schedule, we are moving to a first come model when reserving meal and Chapel times. Once your deposit and contract are on file, your group can book their meal times and Mass times. For the use of the Chapel, priority will always be given for the celebration of the Mass.
 
At the same time, we are working hard to raise funds to improve all the CRC facilities. During the time of the Oblates, they would raise $250,000 - $400,000 a year to keep the CRC going. Unfortunately, once the Oblates left so did their funding. In January 2018 we only had two monthly donors, as of January 2019 we have 12 monthly donors. In all of 2018, only 16 people donated $250 or more to the CRC. For the last three years, the CRC has invested about $300,000 a year into our facilities and grounds for drainage. We are currently working to raise funds to make improvements to the facilities and expect to spend about $300,000 or more a year over the next 5-years to the CRC facilities.
 
As you can see, we have great financial need, and we are working to make changes. We have looked at our bills and evaluated staff hours to ensure we are not wasting money. We promise to be a good steward of the resources God has entrusted to our care and thank you for trusting us with your retreats.
 
God Bless,
 
Kim Brown
CRC Director