History: "Jesuits in Oregon",Loyola Retreat House, Portland, 1947 ************************************************************************ ********************************************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE: ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ********************************************************************************* Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: W. David Samuelsen - April 2002 ************************************************************************ "Jesuits in Oregon" 1844-1959, Rev. Wilfred P. Schoenberg, S.J., published June 1959 by the The Oregon-Jesuit to commemorate the Centennial Year in Oregon. No copyright, not registered. Loyola Retreat House, Portland, 1947 The Laymen Retreat movement in the United States was begun more than three centuries ago. In the "Annual Letters" for 1637-38, the early Jesuit fathers of Maryland reported that "several of the chief men have, through the use of the Spiritual Exercises, been formed by us to piety, a fruit, by no means, to be despised." This reference was made to a Retreat for laymen, conducted in Maryland in 1637, ninety-five years before George Washington, the "Father of our Country," was born. Wherever Jesuit missionaries established themselves throughout the world, they conducted Retreats for laymen, principally to develop a spirit of Christian leadership among them and bring them to a more intimate union with God. It was Catholic Action several centuries before Pope Pius XI made the term famous. Early Retreats Thus it happened that in Mexico, Retreats were given by Jesuits immediately after their arrival in 1672. As early as 1633, a Mexican Jesuit published a book on Retreats, and 32 years later an edition of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius was printed in Mexico. In Canada, a Jesuit conducted an 8-day Retreat for an Indian at Sainte Marie on the shores of Midland Bay as early as 1639. The first Retreat recorded for the old Oregon County was given by a Jesuit priest, Fr. Nobili, in the summer of 1846. This took place at Fort Vancouver on the Columbia a very proper place for it because it was the "capital" of the great Northwest wilderness. Retreat Houses The establishment of "Retreat Houses," buildings designed exclusively for those making closed Retreats, is also an ancient practice of Jesuits in America. The first recorded Retreat house in North America was established in 1726, in Puebla, Mexico. Here, Fr. Ignatius Zorilla erected a monastic type house adjoining the college, and this was used exclusively for laymen making Retreats. A short time later, in 1751, another was built next to the College of San Andreas, and certain wealthy men endowed it to the amount of $150,000 so that all who desired to make a closed Retreat could do so without cost. This Retreat house, a 2-story structure in stone, had 34 rooms for retreatants in addition to dining facilities, patios, balconies, and 2 chapels, elaborately ornamented in silver and gold. Canada s first Retreat house came much later, in September, 1891. It was founded by Fr. Desy, S.J., and was situated near Quebec on a wooded eminence commanding a glorious view of the plains below called Abraham s Plains. The first in the United States was opened at Mt. Manresa on Staten Island, New York, Sept. 8, 1911. Compared to foundations in Mexico, it was a "Johnny-come- lately," but the year was 2 generations ago certainly "old" by most American standards. Though the first recorded Retreat in the west for laymen was given at Los Angeles as early as 1903, the first Retreat house did not come till 1925. In April of that year, Fr. Piet, Provincial of the West Coast Jesuits, established El Retiro, near Los Altos, California. It has since become very famous as a kind of model for what laymen s Retreat houses should be. In contrast with all these venerable establishments, the Loyola Retreat House, 3220 S.E. 43rd Ave.,Portland, Ore., is as bright and new as a rocket. It was not begun until June, 1947, a scant 12 years ago. The 3-story brick building, erected in 1909 on Jesuit property adjoining St. Ignatius, served as a central headquarters for the Jesuit Provincial and his staff and as a residence for the priests of the parish. In 1946, a new headquarters, Campion Hall, was acquired for the Provincial, and four years later the parish purchased the old Van Hoomissen home as a residence for the parish priests. These changes made it possible for Fr. Leo Robinson, S.J., the Provincial, to designate the old building for laymen Retreat work. Accordingly, Fr. Robinson appointed Fr. Joseph Grady, S.J., as the first director of the newly organized Retreat house. Fr. Grady arrived on June 4, 1947. On the same day, Bro. James Wood, S.J., joined him to begin renovations in the old building to adapt it for Retreat work. After 23 days of Bro. Wood s whirlwind operations, on June 27, Fr. John McAstocker, S.J., arrived to direct the first Retreat, which began on that day at 6:30 p.m. Twelve men attended this first 3-day Retreat. Since several months time was required even for dynamic Bro. Wood to provide more rooms for retreatants, no other Retreat was given at Loyola during that summer. On Sept. 26, the second Retreat was begun with 7 men. After it was concluded 3 days later, another gap in the Retreat schedule occurred because Fr. Grady was required to direct the parish during the illness of its pastor, Fr. John Keep, S.J. Finally, in November, details were sufficiently worked out so that a regular schedule of weekly Retreats could be maintained. This regularity has been continued until the present. According to the arrangements made, Fr. Grady supervised the operations. He lined up Retreats, handled the finances, secured supplies, etc. Fr. McAstocker conducted the Retreats, and Bro. Wood took charge of the remodeling and repair work. In December, 2 novices were summoned from the novitiate at Sheridan to prepare rooms and to wait upon the needs of retreatants at table. Since then, this has been a regular practice. Novices have taken turns in the weekly "experiment" of assisting in Retreat work. In the first full year of Retreats, 1948-49, twenty Retreats were conducted at Loyola, with an average attendance of 8 retreatants. If this appears to be a small beginning, it must be remembered that in Retreats, large numbers are not so important as the intense effect produced in those who make them. The large numbers would come, also, assoon as the good word was spread by retreatants, themselves. In the following year, for example, 39 Retreats were given, with an average attendance of 21 men an over-all increase of 500 per cent. This was, in some measure, maturity Recognizing it, the Provincial during the second year, assigned Fr. Thomas O Brien, S.J., to assist Fr. McAstocker. In the summer of 1961, another change of personnel was made: Fr. Grady was transferred to Spokane to prepare 'the way for another Retreat house, and Fr Joseph McDonnell, S.J., of Gonzaga University, was appointed to take his place as director of Loyola. During Fr. McDonnell s first year 1961- 62, forty-two Retreats were given, with an average attendance of 26 men. While these developments were taking place, Bro. Wood was responsible for many others. Almost alone, he remodeled the old 3-story building until he had devised use for every inch of space containedwithin it. Yet, there was still not enough to accommodate the always increasing numbers of retreatants. On Oct. 25, 1962, when Fr. Thomas O Brien, S.J., was director of Loyola, the first unit of additions to the house was begun. Retreatants occupied these new quarters for the first time on Jan. 16, 1953. At this time, the plant contained accommodations for 45 retreatants. A second venture in new buildings brought capacity up to 65. These are the dry facts, the bones of history for the Loyola Retreat House. They do not reveal the human warmth, the flesh. Retreat houses, like monasteries, shelter within them the deepest of human experiences, the experiences of earnest men groping for God. Not all at retreatants at Loyola are Catholics.In fact, many are not, but all have this in common: They are there because they feel a deep need for a more intimate knowledge and love of God. Many go through spiritual crises which are, at the same time, the most painful and the most consoling of human experiences. Hidden away in lovely wooded isolation, just a hundred yards from Portland s busy streets, these men in their silence come to grips with the basic problems of life. They pray, they hear the eternal principles expounded, they seek wise counsel, some weep. After the third day, they leave renewed spiritually, refreshed. Only the Retreat master can know how much has changed in 3 days. Retreats at Loyola have been conducted for special groups, sometimes parish groups, sometimes doctors or policemen or teenagers. In this way, those with common problems have had an opportunity to share in a Retreat designed to find spiritual help for those problems. When an Alcoholics Anonymous group made a Retreat under the famous Fr. Ralph Pfau of Philadelphia, it was so effective that Fr. Pfau has given this Retreat every year. Thus, without trumpets or ballyhoo, the influence of Loyola has seeped into the many fields of professional life in Portland and far beyond. This influence, produced in this most characteristically Jesuit of all priestly occupations, has been as incalculable as it has been hidden. We may be sure that it will outlast the building on SE. 43rd Avenue, just as the Retreat movement of the past has outlasted the Retreat buildings in Mexico, Canada, and Staten Island, New York.