Our Lady of the Pines Gift Shop to reopen

FREMONT — If cleanliness is next to godliness, what better place to sell soaps and other skin care products — especially ones made by religious sisters — than a gift shop at a religious retreat center? Our Lady of the Pines Gift Shop, located in the entry hallway of the Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center at 1250 Tiffin St. in Fremont, will celebrate its grand reopening from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and will keep the celebration alive through April with weekly specials on various items throughout the store. "We are excited to re-open our shop," said executive director Sara McCoy. "We worked hard to diversify our product base to carry not only typical items for a religious gift shop, but also listened to what our retreatants and the community are looking for."Some of the new products include Holy Aromas® skincare made by the Sylvania Franciscan Sisters, sacramental gifts, home décor, books and scarves. With each purchase made March 18-24, customers will receive one free Pines chip clip, one free Pines magnet and a 1-ounce Holy Aromas® soap.Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. The gift shop is open 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Customers can call 419-332-6522 for weekend hours.