Paulist center a hidden side of Lake George

In the history of the Paulist religious order, 624 men have been ordained priests -- and all of them, at one time or another, have lived at St. Mary's on the Lake vacation and retreat center in Lake George.

Now, the center is being opened to laity who would like to make a retreat amid the woods and waters of the Adirondack Mountains.

Rev. Ken McGuire, CSP, director of the center, told The Evangelist that the Paulists have been coming to the Adirondacks since 1868, when Judge Charles O'Connor began allowing the priests to stay on land he owned there. The judge, who also helped to build St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, eventually deeded St. Mary's on the Lake to the Paulists. The original, circa-1877 house still stands on the site.

Passing through

All Paulist Fathers, said Father McGuire, are required to spend at least a few weeks at the center during their priesthood.

While students once spent several months there participating in traditional monastic prayers while re-taking any courses they had struggled with at the seminary, they come now for two weeks each summer instead. (The center is open from May through September.)

About seven years ago, the director got permission to open up St. Mary's on the Lake to priests of other religious orders who wanted to go on retreat there. Previous retreat themes included 12-step addiction/recovery programs and dealing with the clergy abuse crisis in the Church.

Welcome, laity

This year, in another move to make the center available, two retreats have been opened to laypersons: "Let's Watch a Movie -- Spirituality through a Lens," led by Mary Moriarty of the diocesan Family Life Office, was held in June, and "For the Sake of the Church -- Rethinking the Laity/Clergy Relationship," led by theologian Dr. Paul Lakeland, will be held later this month.

Father McGuire has been excited about welcoming laity to St. Mary's on the Lake. "It's going to be interesting: I did not ask permission; if I'm criticized, I'll ask forgiveness!" he remarked.

He noted that priests of his order are known for working with laypersons. It's important, he said, for busy laity to come away in order to think about what God is telling them about how to live their lives.

Theology of laity

The director called Dr. Lakeland, who will lead the retreat on clergy and laity, "the best theologian on laity today."

In the past, he said, the Church looked at clergy as being at the top of a pyramid and laity at the bottom, but Dr. Lakeland believes that pyramid must be turned upside-down.

"The people should run the Church," Father McGuire agreed. Even simple changes like new Mass times, he said, must be made for the convenience of the people, not the priests.

(St. Mary's on the Lake is located on the east shore of Lake George, about 2.5 miles from the village. "For the Sake of the Church" will be held July 12-16. Retreats cost $65/day or $400/week; married couples pay no more than $500/week. Catholics are welcome to attend Sunday Mass at the center. For information, call 796-9197. A pair of summer retreats at the center are for priests only: "Priesthood for the 20th Century" with moral theologian Rev. James Keenan, SJ, and "Models of Discipleship for Priestly Spirituality" with Scripture scholar Rev. Lawrence Boadt, CSP.)

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