by Marietha Góngora V.  

 Through a Knights of Columbus pastoral initiative, a new space for prayer and spiritual renewal officially opened its doors in the nation’s capital.

The Saint John Paul II Retreat House, located next to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, held its grand opening on Aug. 26 and was blessed during a Mass celebrated by the Knights’ Supreme Chaplain, Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore. 

“We recognize that those who enter this retreat house will be truly blessed by the prayers of St. John Paul II, by his luminous life and example, and surrounded by the prayers of the saints, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and thus led closer to Christ, from whom all gifts, everything that is true and good and beautiful flows,” Archbishop Lori told The Tablet after Mass, adding that the space will provide people with a “renewed sense of mission, bearing eloquent witness to the Gospel.”

Director Stephen White said the retreat house is meant to complement the mission of the national shrine by helping people learn about St. John Paul II and deepen their own spiritual lives. 

The retreat house, which was unveiled on the feast day of Our Lady of Częstochowa — a sacred icon of the Blessed Mother from Saint John Paul II’s native Poland — has 40 rooms, an adoration chapel, a library, and space for meetings, group discussions, and lectures, according to White.  

“We offer something unique,” he said, “which is to come to this neighborhood — this ‘Little Rome’ — and to make a retreat that lasts several days in a relatively quiet neighborhood.”

RELATED: John Paul II and America

White added that they welcome parish and diocesan groups, adults, priests, and young Catholics. “We are really excited to get it up and running and to start welcoming more pilgrims and visitors.” 

Following the blessing of the retreat house by Archbishop Lori, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly highlighted that “men, women, families, and groups will come here to step away from their daily cares and turn to Christ to help restore their bonds of friendship and familial love.” 

“In this way, the retreat house will honor the legacy of both (St. Pope John Paul II) and (Blessed Father Michael McGivney),” he said. “It will extend their legacies and carry forward their impact on the Church and society.” 

MORE INFO
To learn more about the Saint John Paul II Retreat House visit:
retreat.jp2shrine.org/