Auriesville shrine sells retreat house

The National Shrine of the North American Martyrs at Auriesville has sold its former retreat house, which closed in 1998 due to decreasing attendance at retreats.

The New York City-based American Sports Committee Inc., which bought the building and a 76-acre parcel of land around it for $600,000, bills itself as a volunteer organization promoting holistic sports and exercise programs.

Rev. Peter Murray, SJ, director of the shrine, told The Evangelist that the agreement was reached after "a rather complicated series of negotiations" with several groups interested in buying the building.

New use

The New York province of the Society of Jesuits, which runs the shrine, had originally hoped to sell the site to a Catholic organization for use as a retreat house, but those plans fell through.

Father Murray believes the American Sports Committee will use the building as "a kind of nutrition and wellness center." The new owners will use the shrine's entrance road for the time being, but plan to build their own entrance in the future.

Father Murray said that the new owners' coordinator Jennie Wong indicated she hopes to open an interfaith chapel on the premises and has invited him to celebrate a Mass. (Ms. Wong was unavailable for comment as The Evangelist went to press.)

"I foresee friendly connections down the road," Father Murray stated.

Improvements

Father Murray said that money from the sale will be used for upkeep and improvements to the shrine, including revamping its museum as a children's museum and library.

"I'm sorry we lost the retreat house connection, but I believe the retreat house movement in the U.S. is alive and well," he stated.

Regarding the shrine itself, he added: "I hope we will stay open for the foreseeable future, and the [Jesuit] province is committed to it."

(The Martyrs' Shrine is the birthplace of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, as well as the site where Ss. Isaac Jogues, Rene Goupil and John Lalande were martyred in the 17th century. When the retreat house closed, relics were removed from its chapel and distributed to various Catholic groups. Thus, it was no longer considered a place of worship and did not have to be "desacralized" when sold. The shrine still holds monthly mini-retreats; the next one, Feb. 25, will focus on "reverence for life." A March 25 retreat on the saints is planned, and an Easter-egg hunt will be held April 15. Contact the shrine at 853-3033 or go to www.martyrshrine.org.)

(2/16/06) [[In-content Ad]]