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Jesus Our Hope Retreat Center to mark 20 years with open house
By Denver Catholic Register
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Open House Event When: 4 p.m., Sunday, June 26 Event begins with a 12 p.m. Mass at Holy Family Shrine and then moves to St. Francis House for lunch and tours. For directions and to RSVP (deadline is Monday, June 20), call 303-697-7539 or email JesusOurHopeInfo@ymail.com
Photos of Retreat House |
For 20 years, Jesus Our Hope Retreat Center in Littleton has been helping those in need of spiritual encouragement and peace. To mark the milestone, the public is invited to attend an anniversary Mass and open house at the retreat center from noon to 4 p.m. on June 26.
Jesus Our Hope was founded as a charitable organization in 1981 by the late Father Roger Mollison for individuals, married couples and families to spend time in silence with God. It started with a 20-acre parcel of mountainous forest land in the foothills of Jefferson County. Eventually, the 20 acres were sold to a religious order but two nearby houses and 60 acres of land were purchased to continue the retreat house work.
Today, Father Mollison’s adopted brother, Father Don Brownstein of the Colorado Springs Diocese, and Archdiocese of Denver priest Father John Nepil, help operate the retreat house facilities, which are located at 10523 S. Deer Creek Road in Littleton.
The two retreat houses—St. Francis House, which is for laypeople, and St. Clare House, which is for priests and religious—are stocked with linens and fully equipped kitchens. The facilities are available for a good will offering. Suggested donation is $50 per night, administrators said.
“We only book the houses for one group at a time,” said Theresa Donohoe, director of operations. “They are wonderful for day retreats by parish staff groups, ministry organizations and even businesses that want to include God in their important business decisions.”
Donohoe’s husband, Deacon Joe Donohoe, director for deacons for the Denver Archdiocese, said the retreat center offers tranquility.
“When you leave the paved road and turn on to the single lane dirt road leading to Jesus Our Hope, you get the feeling that all your troubles and problems are behind you,” he said. “As you settle into the grounds, you are able to experience a peace that belongs uniquely to God. … It doesn’t necessarily mean that your problems go away, but the silence encourages genuine prayer, allowing one to discover that God is there to help you.”
He added that the theme of the retreat grounds is from Psalm 46, “Be still and know that I am God.”
Jesus Our Hope is supported by guests and by donations from the Knights of Columbus councils at Light of the World and St. Frances Cabrini parishes.
The anniversary celebration will begin with a noon Mass at Holy Family Shrine and then move to St. Francis House for lunch and tours. For directions and to RSVP (deadline is June 20), call 303-697-7539 or email JesusOurHopeInfo@ymail.com
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