For the first time in over a year, members of the Central Florida Episcopal Schools Association (CFESA) met in person. On April 29, the CFESA held its annual meeting at Canterbury Retreat and Conference Center.
The Rev. Russell Wohlever, president of the CFESA and associate rector at All Saints, Winter Park, organized the event. “It felt wonderful,” Wohlever said. “We had not been together in person for well over a year. It was nice for colleagues to gather together in the same space, take a break from administrative duties for a moment, be refreshed and connect in a personal way.”
The Rt. Rev. Greg Brewer was also pleased with the event. “I was certainly in support of the CFESA meeting in person, but the gathering was Father Wohlever’s vision from start to finish,” he said. “Father Wohlever mixed business with spiritual retreat seamlessly.”
The five-hour event included the CFESA business meeting, a talk on mental health during COVID-19 by Dr. Mari Wohlever, lunch, Stations of the Cross around Lake Gem and Eucharist at St. Augustine Chapel celebrated by Brewer.
Seventeen people attended the meeting. They included directors, heads of school, rectors and chaplains from Episcopal schools within the Diocese of Central Florida. The feedback from those who attended the meeting has been very positive. “My initial impression was overwhelming joy and satisfaction at the broad cross-section of attendees,” Brewer noted. “There were representatives from a majority of our diocesan parochial schools, and I discerned a real commitment among the participants to academic excellence and spiritual formation.”
“I am especially happy that people felt validated,” said Wohlever. “The leaders of the schools have worked non-stop caring for the students and staff.”
During the business meeting, the group discussed how the CFESA could better serve schools. “The schools’ greatest desire was to feel a greater connection with one another and with the diocese,” explained Wohlever. “One of the goals for this year is to help make that happen. We will also focus on the unique needs of the preschools.”
Lake Gem was the setting for the Stations of the Cross. Verses were shared, with each person having a part. “We walked through the Stations of the Cross around the lake at Canterbury, meditating on the fact that Jesus was with us this past year as we went through the COVID pandemic, unrest following the George Floyd murder and the contentious election year,” said Wohlever. “Our school leaders had a year of decision fatigue. The Stations of the Cross was an opportunity for them to grieve but grieve with hope.”
Dr. Kathy Cobb, head of school at Melbourne’s Holy Trinity Academy, echoed Wohlever’s thoughts. “We all have had struggles this year, but in no way do they compare with what our Savior did to give us the grace and freedom to guide our students,” Cobb said. “This meeting was very timely,” she added. “The CFESA is a wonderful organization for heads of school and gives them the opportunity to meet with not only like-minded people, but those who have the same calling, struggles, and achievements.”
Brewer noted that the crowd went into the Eucharistic service in a reflective mood after the Stations of the Cross. In his sermon, Brewer talked about the transformative power of Christ’s death and resurrection during the Eucharistic celebration. “We reflected on how our lives, especially this year, have paschal mystery moments (suffering, death, and resurrection). Through him, we can serve him courageously.”
Sixteen schools make up the Central Florida Episcopal Schools Association. It includes preschools, K-8 parish day schools, K-12 and 6-12 prep classes. The schools are also members of the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES), a membership organization of approximately 1200 pre-collegiate schools and early childhood education programs in the United States.