Ready to Retire?

Decision Making, Preserving and Sustaining Vitality into Retirement

with Bishop Donald W. Trautman

facilitating discussions are Terry and Jan Butcheri,

and Elizabeth A. Burkett, Esq. and Susan A. Burkett, Esq.­­­­

October 19-21, 2010

This retreat begins with lunch at noon on Tuesday, & continues through lunch on Thursday.

It is important to start making decisions regarding retirement before they are needed.  Looking at several aspects of retiring gracefully, this retreat provides time to think about the spiritual and the practical elements that factor into this important decision.

As he is thinking about his own preparation for retirement, Bishop Donald W. Trautman, S.T.D., S.S.L. of the Diocese of Erie, is in a timely position to address the spiritual aspects of retirement.  He will be discussing “The Spirituality of Letting Go.”  Originally from Buffalo, NY, Bishop Trautman’s work has taken him to many parts of the world.  He studied at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and the Pontifical Biblican Institute in Rome, Italy.  Bishop Trautman has taught as a professor and dean of students at St. John Vianney Seminary.  He has served on various committees including the US Catholic Conference Committee of Communications and the Doctrine Committee.  He received national and international attention when he was appointed Chairman of the Bishops’ Liturgy Committee, meeting with other scholars and officials in the Vatican. During his time in the Erie Diocese Bishop Trautman has been committed to ecumenical outreach, and to meeting the needs of all areas of the Diocese, from the inner city to rural mountain towns.

Acting as facilitators for this event are Jan and Terry Butcheri of North Tonawanda NY, who are both retiring this year.  They are both graduates of Grove City College and are currently members of the North Tonawanda United Methodist Church.  Jan is retiring from her teaching career in the Lockport, NY School District and Terry is retiring as the Director of the Western New York Teacher Center. 

On the second day of this retreat some time will be spent looking at some practical concerns regarding the decision to retire.  Attorneys and sisters Susan Burkett and Elizabeth Burkett of Burkett Law Offices, LLC, in Monroeville, Pennsylvania focus their law practice on estate planning, estate administration and elder law.  Their interactive presentation will address topics such as estate planning for life and death (wills, trusts, powers of attorney and living wills); long-term care planning, options and costs; considerations unique to family care giving; estate and probate matters; and ethical wills.   

This retreat will provide valuable information that is geared towards anyone at this time in their life, both lay people and clergy, who want to consider the spiritual and practical aspects of retirement.