Pastoral Center residence becomes retreat house

by Mark Kemmeter

A new retreat facility will be available this month for parishes and groups at the diocesan Pastoral Center, in New Ulm. The thirty room Bishop's residence has been converted into a retreat house with accommodations for as many as sixteen retreatants or for conferences as large as twenty-four participants. The space became available for use when Bishop Nienstedt moved into the new bishop's residence and the community which lived in the residence with Bishop Lucker moved to other locations.

The facility will be called the St. Alphonsus Retreat House in honor of all three bishops of New Ulm. There is a common link with the name "Alphonsus" - Bishop Schladweiler's first name was Alphonse; Bishop Lucker's middle name was Alphonse, coming from the first name of his father; and Bishop Nienstedt received his Licentiate and Doctorate from the Pontifical Institute of St. Alphonsus, in Rome.

The retreat house is air conditioned and all the meeting areas are located on the ground floor. Two bedrooms are also available on the ground floor. There is a large conference room with views of the twenty plus acre, wooded grounds. Two lounges are located in the facility which can also be used as small discussion areas. Prayer and liturgy space is available in St. Michael's Chapel, which was named after Bishop Schladweiler's father. Meal service will be provided by any one of three local caterers. Parishes and groups will provide their own retreat or conference programs.

The grounds of the retreat house include the historic Way of the Cross and the proposed Fr. Alexander Berghold Memorial. There are outdoor hiking and cross country paths in nearby Flandrau State Park and indoor recreational facilities at Vogel Arena.

The St. Alphonsus Retreat House is now accepting reservations from parishes and groups. Rental costs are similar to those charged at the former Center for Spiritual Development.

To reserve dates and for further information, please contact Mark Kemmeter, Coordinator of Staff; or Sheri Johnson at the Pastoral Center, (507) 359-2966.