The 2021 Annual Report & Honor Roll of Donors recaps the generous giving of the MBCE-MHVC’s donors and volunteers, how we’ve addressed the pandemic and continued our programming, and highlights our capital improvements on the property, and more.

August 16, 2021

Dear Members of the Esopus Family,

Summer Blessings and hopes that you are all well. Much joy and many happy days have returned to Esopus with the re-opening of our MHV Camps. Many familiar sights and sounds such as laughter, campfires, dances, and kids enjoying good times at the pool have once again been the norm most days this summer. Deep gratitude to Mr. Jim Sheldon for his incredible leadership as our summer Director. We are also grateful the MBCE Staff, Camp Directors and all our summer volunteers who continue to work many long and hard hours to make our Camps a lived reality once again. Special thanks, as well, to our MBCE Board who worked closely with the MBCE Staff and Camp Directors most of this past spring to create the necessary Covid-19 safety protocols to keep our Camps safe.

As you know, Mr. Jim Raimo retired as Executive Director of the MBCE on June 1^st. The MBCE Search Committee for the next Executive Director did an outstanding job in conducting the recent search, interviewing the candidates, and making a final recommendation to me for our next Executive Director. Sincere appreciation to our Search Committee of Bryan Doran, Kerry McCormick, Barry Donnelly, Br. Owen Ormsby and Br. Hank Hammer for their work and all the time they invested in this important process.

We are very pleased to announce that Mr. Tomas O’Riordan has accepted the position as our next Executive Director. He will assume this new role on September 1st. Tomas most recently served as the Director of Facilities & Capital Projects for the MBCE. He had also previously volunteered with the Marist Brothers both in Esopus, as well as in Texas. We offer Tomas our full support and confidence as he takes on this new leadership role at the MBCE.

On behalf of the Marist Brothers, the MBCE Board and all connected to Esopus, we wish Tomas and all members of the MBCE Team every blessing and success as they work to ensure the Mission of the MBCE in the years ahead.

Let us pray for the continued success and safety of our remaining Camps and for the many young people in our schools who will soon return to the MBCE for retreat programs this fall.

With Gratitude,

Please join us as we celebrate and honor the outstanding impact of the following inductees of the MBCE-MHVC’s first ever

Hall of Fame event!

Event Program

4:30-5:00 PM    Prayer

5:00-6:00 PM    Cocktail Hour

6:00-8:00 PM    Awards Ceremony & Dinner

Show your support of our honorees through our event ad journal:

For questions or more information on the MBCE-MHVC Hall of Fame, please reach out via email to: HOF@maristbrotherscenter.org

May 18, 2021

Dear Marists of Champagnat,

Blessings to each of you. I just wanted to give you a few updates in regard to our Marist Brothers Center in Esopus.

First, and foremost, I want to make you aware that the MBCE has begun to slowly open up again for Retreat Programs. This is a great blessing, not only for our province and the MBCE, but also for all those who have the opportunity to benefit from the programs held at our province center. Likewise, the Mid-Hudson Valley Camps will open this summer in a scaled down format due to the ongoing restrictions of Covid-19. Our hope is that the MBCE will continue to play a vital role in the province’s mission of evangelization and that all our ministries will continue to utilize and enjoy the beautiful gift of this property. The Esopus property has always been dedicated to young people and we remain steadfast in our desire for this to continue.

Secondly, as you may know, Mr. Jim Raimo will soon be retiring as the Executive Director of the MBCE. We are grateful for his contributions over the past two years and wish him only the best in his retirement. A Search Committee has been established composed of Bryan Doran, Kerry McCormack, Barry Donnelly, Br. Hank Hammer and Br. Owen Ormsby. Chaired by Bryan Doran, the committee will soon begin the process of securing future leadership for the MBCE.

In the interim, Mr. Jim Sheldon will serve as the Director of the Mid-Hudson Valley Camp for the upcoming summer season. We are incredibly thankful to Jim for his willingness to take on this extra responsibility as Director. We know he will do a phenomenal job. Steeped in our Marist charism, Jim knows every aspect of the job from his experience of working and assisting the Camps each summer for many years.

We wish Jim Sheldon and all the Camp Directors, Staff and volunteers our sincere prayers and best wishes. We are most grateful for the dedicated work they will perform this upcoming summer. We are secure in our belief that their work will impact the lives of the many campers who enjoy the Mid- Hudson Valley Camps.

Sincerely,