The Challenge
In 2009, the Oblates officially opened St. Joseph Retreat House in Milton, MA as a retreat house dedicated to giving the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Since that time, it has gained a national reputation and has served more than four thousand people from thirty-five states. Each has come to St. Joseph to make a directed retreat, receive spiritual direction, and find solace in the midst of a noisy world. St. Joseph Retreat House also coordinates many retreats and parish missions given by Oblates throughout the United States.
Hiring sufficient support staff, developing a program for the training of spiritual directors, developing materials and resources for a spiritual formation program, managing grounds and facilities, and covering the operational costs of the retreat house are all obligations requiring an investment of resources. Because it remains a primary objective to ensure an affordable and accessible retreat experience for clergy, religious, and lay alike, fees have been kept at reasonable rates to ensure affordability. As such, to operate the retreat house requires continued supplemental support.