Purpose
The fruits of this apostolate over the past 25 years can be seen in the steady growth of our youth camps and young adult programs and in the burgeoning membership in the Society of the Sacred Heart, our lay society for adults who live the spirituality of the Institute according to a daily rule of life.
We have now grown to a point where this work of formation requires a permanent home. We have been searching for a property with sufficient land for youth activities, space for prayer and recollection, comfortable lodging, and a large chapel. Such a property will not only meet our current needs but allow us to expand our youth camps and offer retreats to adults throughout the year. The spiritual retreat, founded on silence, Eucharistic adoration, daily instruction, and the sacred liturgy, is essential to the life of clerics and religious. It is also a great means of sanctification which the canons of the Institute are called to offer to laypeople. We need a property where people will immediately find themselves at home, surrounded by images of our holy patrons, and strengthened by the presence of the community to which they are so intimately connected. It will be a place where the community of clerics will offer Holy Mass, be available for confessions, and chant the Divine Office throughout the day, providing a framework for people wishing to retreat from the world for a time. Here our faithful friends and newcomers alike will find a thorough introduction to the devout life as proposed by St. Francis de Sales, a school for the service of the Lord as taught by St. Benedict, and a rich ground for growth in the virtues according to the principles of St. Thomas Aquinas.
History
A Rich History
In the early 20th century, Burlington became home to a friary and seminary for the Franciscans of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1931, St. Francis Friary was built along what is now Browns Lake Drive. The already impressive edifice was greatly expanded by the addition of a north wing in 1952. St. Francis Friary is on the National Register of Historic Places as a “preeminent example of the Spanish Colonial Revival Style in Racine County.” In its heyday, the site was well known and loved by Catholics of the northern Midwest as a popular pilgrimage destination. Given its future use as a universal apostolate of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, considering especially the spiritual needs of our lay society, it is fitting that the property shall be known henceforth as Sacred Heart Retreat Center.
A Path Forward
It has been over ten years since the friary building has been regularly occupied, although standard structural maintenance has continued. Thankfully, a thorough inspection has revealed the property to be in overall good condition. The main building is structurally sound. The roof will not need replacement for another twenty years, and the brickwork, while in need of attention to protect against water damage, can be tuckpointed on our own timetable. The electrical system is mostly up to date and in line with all current codes. The boilers, plumbing and septic system are undergoing minor repairs and updates so they will be fully operational. With some clearing and landscaping, the 100 acres of beautiful grounds can be put to its intended use: sports and games for our youth and quiet meditation and reflection for those who come on retreat.
With a favorable mortgage obtained by our legal and finance teams, we completed the purchase of the property this past May. Thus, the main focus of our fundraising efforts will happily be improvements and furnishings rather than structural repairs, in addition to the cost of paying down the mortgage. If our efforts are successful, this property will be hosting a full regular schedule of activities by the end of 2024.
The Institute has experience operating retreat houses in Germany, France, and Switzerland and has taken the time to study the operational structure of other functioning retreat centers in the United States. Once all initial renovations are completed and the property is running with a full schedule of activities, such as weekly spiritual retreats and young adult weekends, it will take another several years and the development of additional income sources on the property before the apostolate is able to cover its annual operating costs. However, we have a mind to accomplish this task, and we firmly believe that people around the nation will see the great value of this mission. It is with a spirit of courage and trust in Divine Providence that we are moving forward.