After countless hours of hired and volunteer workers, the Sacred Heart Retreat Center was able to make leaps and bounds towards being a functioning retreat center. For those who follow us on Facebook, you have seen that the 2024 US Provincial Priest Retreat was hosted here with great success. This would not have been possible without the many people who spent hours cleaning the interior from top to bottom, redoing some of the garden beds, and cleaning the trails. With the donations and purchases of beds, shelves, tables, and many other room-related items, our once empty rooms swiftly filled up giving new life to the retreat center. This gave the 33 canons in attendance a real atmosphere of peace and prayer necessary for this silent retreat. At the conclusion of the retreat, the smiles and laughter from the canons was the greatest testament to the success of the generosity of those who helped.
Two other major events this summer were made possible by the same efforts along with a provincial wide group of volunteers. The Society of the Sacred Heart's annual retreat concluded at the Sacred Heart Retreat Center. Nearly 250 adults came to discover their new spiritual home in Burlington. With talks, food, tours, and adoration, this day gave a tangible excitement and hope to those who came for returning to receive even more grace on guided retreats once the renovations are completed. Secondly, the US provincial youth summer camps met great success at their new location. The 105 acres of open fields and woods provided the perfect space for the diverse activities for the 400 youth in attendance. Both of these events required many people from across the country united under the banner of Christ our King. What a beautiful witness to the spreading of the reign of Christ the King taking place in all of our apostolates.
With the summer's events coming to a conclusion the Sacred Heart Retreat Center is once again setting its sights on Phase 1 of renovations. Weekly meetings with our project manager have ensured the constant movement towards opening the retreat center. While we wait for the execution of this contract, we are completing several other smaller but necessary projects. Continue to check on our website and Facebook for updates as we work on the outdoor bathhouse, front gate, church hall, and more!
We are indebted to the generosity of you and many others who desire the completion of this fountain of grace for generations to come. If you know others who are interested in donating to this worthy cause and one day receiving the graces that come from spiritual retreats, please forward the link to our webpage, so they too can move us closer to opening our doors and feeding your souls. Thank you for your continued prayers, and know of our prayers for you.