Catholic retreat for youth proposed

Benedictine sisters, non-profit work on agreement

By Megan Otto

Appeal tribune

February 9,2005

Catholic youths may have another reason to congregate to Mount Angel soon.

Non-profit group Father Bernard Youth Retreat Center, and the Benedictine Sisters of Mount Angel, are working together for the possible use of Casey Commons as a Catholic youth retreat center. The commons was the old student commons building for what was once Mount Angel College.

 “ The group has a vision to provide a place where youth from Catholic parishes from around the state could come for a retreat,” said Steve Ritchie, executive director of the Benedictine Foundation of Oregon.

 Tony Morris of Mount Angel is the executive director for the retreat center group, which formed about three years ago to find a place where Oregon Catholic youths could spend a few days and revitalize their spirit.

 Since forming, the group has been in the process of becoming a nonprofit and has been searching for funds. They originally wanted to build a center in 12 acres of donated ground in Happy Valley.

 They had started to work on a capital campaign to raise $5 million for construction when inspiration hit Morris one morning while he was out for a jog through Mount Angel.

“ I ran by the sisters (convent) and thought,” Hey, this looks good,” Morris said.

 At this point, the two groups are in the early stages of working out an agreement. Morris said this is the building he’d really like to use for the retreat center, but there are other sites the group could go with.

“ The intent is on that building,” Morris said. “ But we have not totally worked out the lease yet.” Ritchie thought they would be able to announce something within a month or six weeks.

“ Discussions are kind of ongoing,” Ritchie said. The goal is for the center, wherever it ends up, to become a homing beacon for Catholic youths around the state. “ It will be a youth retreat center for the whole archdiocese,” Morris said. Retreats usually involve 40 to 50 young people, Morris said, along with chaperones and youth leaders. They come together for study and discussion of certain idea or principle, ranging from liturgy to social justice.

 Morris said he would like the retreats to be for all young adults, ranging from high school age to35-year-olds. Right now the group is planning retreats for several different groups, including two for soldiers returning from Iraq.

 The building Morris is interested in is Casey Commons, a one-story building that was originally the student commons for the former Mount Angel College. The building is located adjacent to the parking lot west of the Shalom Prayer Center.

 Should that building be used, the group would make some changes to the building. Morris said one major project would be turning the old student lounge into a new chapel for retreaters. “ It will be made to be a real beautiful, sacred space,” Morris said. Hes been working whit young people in Mount Angel and area colleges to find out what they would like to see in the completed center. “ It will be made youth friendly,” Morris said. “ They’ll be able to walk in and the music will be their music , the smells will be their smells.”

 Morris said the commons building was of special interest because of its surroundings.

 “ What’s particularly interesting about this site is where it sits,” Morris said. Its connection to the Monastery, and ties to the Mount Angel Abbey and Mount Angel religious community, make it an ideal spot for the young people to get a spiritual renewal. There are also plenty of spots for youth to exercise the faith they gain while on retreat. Morris said youth would be encouraged to get involved at St. Josephs shelter, the Benedictine Nursing center, and other opportunities for faith-in- action service.

 “ Its not just about improving your praising but to work on praising Gods people,” Morris said. The groups name even has connections to Mount Angel. Father Bernard Sander of the Mount Angel Abbey celebrated 60 years as priest at the abbey in 2004. He received the seminary’s first Lumen Gentium Award in 1988, the highest honor granted by Mount Angel Seminary. His duties at the Abbey have included vice-rector of Mount Angel Seminary, recto of the seminary and rector of the seminary high school. He is best known for his work as guest master and retreat master of Mount Angel Abbey Guest House. As guest master for 13 years, he greatly developed the retreat work of the abbey, according to the Abbey Web site.

“ Father Bernard has worked with young people for many years,” Morris said. “ We’re just carrying on his work, the spirit of the one-on-one contact.” Morris said the monk will be involved in the projects and is looking forward to it. “ He’s done a lot of one-on-one work, not so much big groups,” Morris said. “Its great excitement for an old monk.”