New retreat house inspired by St. John Paull II’s spiritual life set for August unveiling
Located on four acres in Washington, D.C., the retreat house will offer groups of pilgrims a quiet setting for prayer and reflection.
The Saint John Paul II Retreat House will be formally unveiled and blessed Aug. 26 beside the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., providing a dedicated space for group prayer and spiritual renewal.
A pastoral initiative of the Knights of Columbus, the retreat house sits on four wooded acres and draws inspiration from the life and ministry of St. John Paul II and his understanding of a “sacred wilderness” as a place removed from daily distractions, according to a July 27 press release.
The dedication event will begin with Mass, followed by a blessing of the house by Baltimore Archbishop William Lori, Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.
As an extension of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, the retreat house is intended to encourage pilgrims to carry the saint’s call to “be not afraid” into their pursuit of holiness.
The retreat house will welcome a range of groups, including parish ministries, campus organizations, Catholic schools, and pilgrims visiting the shrine. It includes 40 single-occupancy bedrooms, a dining hall, conference space, an oratory, and a library.
The neighboring shrine houses a first-class relic of St. John Paul II and a 16,000-square-foot exhibit on his life and holds daily Mass and confessions.
Stephen White, the shrine’s executive director, said in the release that the retreat house reflects the role prayer played in the saint’s life and is intended to encourage guests in their own call to holiness.
“Pope John Paul II’s deep spiritual life was the engine which drove everything else he did,” White said. “Through prayer, he allowed God to make him a saint. The Retreat House is a way to invite guests to enter more deeply into the vocation we all share — answering God’s call to become saints.”
