Ignatian Spirituality Centre of Montreal - Villa Saint-Martin is a centre in Ignatian spirituality run by the

Society of Jesus , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was the first residential spirituality centre in Canada. It was founded in 1913 and opened by the

Archbishop of Montreal The Archdiocese of Montréal ( la, Archdioecesis Marianopolitana) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Canada. A metropolitan see, its archepiscopal see is the Montreal, Quebec. It includes Montreal ...

Paul Bruchési Louis Joseph Napoléon Paul Bruchési (October 29, 1855 – September 20, 1939) was a Canadian prelate, the second Archbishop of Montreal. In 1910 he directed the 21st International Eucharistic Congress held in Montreal. Life Louis-Joseph-Pa ...

. The new Villa St-Martin is located on the lac des Deux Montagnes at the western end of the island of Montreal. It is set in a serene setting neighbouring the Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques, Montréal’s largest park.

History

Foundation

The first residential retreat in Canada happened in 1910 in

Boucherville Boucherville is a city in the Montérégie region in Quebec, Canada. It is a suburb of Montreal on the South Shore (Montreal), South shore of the Saint Lawrence River. Boucherville is part of both the urban agglomeration of Longueuil and Greate ...

and was organized by Fr. Joseph Archambeault. Three years later a retreat house was purchased in L'Abord-à-Plouffe. It was within the parish of Saint-Martin in Laval, Quebec, which is why the centre became dedicated to Saint Martin. On 2 November 1913, the Villa Saint Martin was opened by the

. Following the opening, the first retreat at the centre was led by Fr. Ruhlmann SJ and accompanied by the Archbishop of Winnipeg, Arthur Alfred Sinnott and the Apostolic Delegate to Canada, Peregrine Stagni.
from ignatiancentremtl.org, retrieved 2 April 2014 The number of retreatants at the centre increased every year until

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. After the end of the war, the house's main benefactor, who paid for its construction, Mr. Édouard Gohier financially struggled in the post-war economic collapse.

New site

In 1951, the current building for the centre was bought. It was originally built in 1900. The house was officially opened as a retreat house on 21 June 1953 by the

, Paul-Émile Léger. In the 1960s and 1970s the program of activities at the centre was expanded. The centre moved away from traditional weekend retreats for parish groups. More activity was focussed on married couples, and evening sessions were introduced. In the 1970s

Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international mutual aid fellowship of alcoholics dedicated to abstinence-based recovery from alcoholism through its spiritually-inclined Twelve Step program. Following its Twelve Traditions, AA is non-professi ...

groups started at the centre. In 1995, six- and eight-day retreats for smaller groups with personal spiritual directors were started. In 2001, more ecumenical projects were launched.

Overview

Retreats at the villa are based on the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. A variety of retreats are offered, 3, 5, and 8 day accompanied retreats to ones based on art, themed retreats, and retreats in daily life.
from the retreat page/, retrieved 3 April 2014

Exterior and grounds

References

External links

* {{Jesuits in Canada Buildings and structures in Montreal Ignatian spirituality Spiritual retreats