Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre

Manresa Renewal Centre
Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre

Entrance to the centre
Manresa Renewal Centre

Location near the Greater Toronto Area

Coordinates: 43°51′18″N 79°05′58″W / 43.854895°N 79.099385°W
Location Pickering, Ontario
Country Canada
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website Manresa-Canada.ca
History
Founded 1924
Founder(s) Frank Patrick O'Connor
Dedication Manresa
Architecture
Status Active
Functional status Retreat centre
Completed 1948
Administration
Parish St. Isaac Jogues[1]
Deanery Durham[2]
Archdiocese Toronto
Province Toronto

Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre is a centre for Ignatian spirituality run by the Society of Jesus in Pickering, Ontario. It was founded in 1924 and was built in 1945. It is situated next to Pine Ridge Secondary School just off Finch Avenue in north Pickering.

History

In 1924, an advert was placed in a newspaper for the start of a lay Ignatian spirituality retreat. This was followed by a retreat in early September 1925 by thirteen men at St. Augustine's Seminary in Toronto. The organizer was Senator Frank O'Connor and Fr. John M. Filion SJ and Fr. Joseph Fallon SJ were the directors. This was followed by others retreats at the seminary, at Martyrs' Shrine in Midland and at Regis College when it was on Wellington Street.[3]

In 1940, one wing of Regis College was converted so that retreats could be held also during the winter months.[4] Members of the Sodality of Our Lady of the Way (which became the Christian Life Community) went on retreats at the college.[3]

By 1945, Fr. James Fleming SJ became the director and with the number of retreatants growing decided to establish a permanent centre. A building was bought in Erindale, Mississauga. It was named the Manresa Retreat House Centre, after Manresa in Spain, where the founder of the Jesuits, Ignatius of Loyola stayed in solitude for a year. It opened in November 1946 and had accommodation for eighteen retreatants.[3]

As soon as it opened, demand for retreats was more numerous that the centre could accommodate. Three years later the final retreat was held at Erindale. Manresa in Pickering opened its doors several days later with nineteen men on a retreat directed by Fr. Joe Clarke SJ. As there was no fixed fee, each retreatant making an offering according to his/her means. In 1990, a development committee was formed to raise funds. Over the next decade major improvements were made at the Main House and the Retreat House parts of the centre as well as a new St. Ignatius Chapel and prayer centre were built.[3]

Overview

The centre is located in north Pickering beside other Jesuit centres such as the La Storta community house and the Rene Goupil House retirement community.[5] It has numerous buildings such as the Retreat House where the accommodation is located and the Main House where meals are prepared. The centre hosts retreats based on the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola.[6]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Pickering retrieved 1 August 2014
  2. ↑ Regions from Archdiocese of Toronto retrieved 1 April 2014
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 History from Manresa Canada, retrieved 1 April 2014
  4. ↑ History from Regis College, Toronto retrieved 1 April 2014
  5. ↑ Rene Goupil House retrieved 1 April 2014
  6. ↑ Manresa-Canada.ca retrieved 1 April 2014

External links

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