Ignatius Jesuit Centre
Our 2010-2011 Program Book is now available!
About Us
Located 2 km north of Guelph, Ontario, the Ignatius Jesuit Centre serves as a place of beauty and sustenance, a place to play in and pray in, where nature may give strength to mind, body and soul. Nurturing growth in its unfurling beauty and rich diversity, the Centre warmly welcomes those of all faith and religious doctrine.
Consisting of a green belt stretching from the Guelph Lake Conservation Area to the Guelph Elora Trail, the estate is home to the internationally–acclaimed Loyola House Retreat Centre, the Orchard Park Office Centre, and the foundation of our Ecology Ministry, Ignatius Farm and Ignatius Community Shared Agriculture. The Centre is also home to the Plant an Old Growth Forest Project
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Gold Books
Check out our new gold book video!
Featured Events
Details
Date:November 17, 2010
Location:Ignatius Jesuit Centre, Guelph
Spirituality in Work Series
Loyola House is delighted to sponsor a new series which will focus on how to connect our deepest held beliefs to everyday life. The lectures and workshops will assist participants in integrating the values they treasure into the fast paced life of today.
The Inaugural event will be an evening lecture followed by an all-day workshop presented by renowned author and lecturer Chris Lowney. Formerly a Jesuit seminarian for seven years, Chris joined J. P. Morgan & Co., a company regularly ranked by Fortune magazine as one of "America's Most Admired Companies". Chris was named a Managing Director in this company while still in his thirties. He accumulated multinational experiences while working for that company. Chris now writes and travels internationally to share his vision of life with others.
In his lecture, 'Heroic Living', Chris will guide the participants to a deeper realization of how they can integrate the values they treasure while living in the ordinary homes and work places of our world. The all-day workshop will focus on the vital skills that can lead to integration of life at home and at work with beliefs, values, and actions. Chris will provide some practical models needed for one to adapt to an ever-changing world.
For more information on the dates and costs of the lecture and workshop please visit
To purchase tickets for Chris Lowney's "Heroic Living" lecture, please visit the River Run Centre website
Retreat Calendar 2010-2011
Loyola House retreat is delighted to introduce its 2010-2011 Program Calendar. The spring edition includes details on new and timely workshops with informative descriptions of all our offerings.
In keeping with our recognition of the divine in God’s creation, workshops and retreats will draw from the strength and pristine beauty of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre estate. A serene and calming place of peace where retreatants and program participants can further their spiritual direction.
The Stations of the Cosmos
An exciting project began in the summer of 2008 at the Centre; the creation of the Stations of the Cosmos. Thomas Berry, Passionist priest and eco-theologian, argues that our culture needs a New Story to guide it into a less destructive ecological age. Such a story integrates the scientific story of evolution with the experience of a sacred presence within the universe. By way of a spiral meditative walk, the Stations of the Cosmos will depict significant “moments of grace” in this Story. Unique to the meditative walk will be the incorporation of stations depicting the Development of Religion, and the traditional Stations of the Cross. The latter is a devotion practiced by Christians for many centuries, depicting the story of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Stations opened in May of 2009 and are located in the field next to the apple storage and the community gardens. We are grateful to the Catherine Donnelly Foundation and individual donors for support of this project.
The Peace Pole Project
What better and more appropriate welcome to those at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre than the message of a Peace Pole. Each of the more than 200,000 Peace Poles worldwide carry the message “May Peace Prevail On Earth” in a variety of languages and dedicate the surrounding space as a place of peace.
The Ignatius Jesuit Centre of Guelph, known as “A Place of Peace” to its many friends, supporters and visitors could not be a more fitting place for a Peace Pole. We would like to add a Peace Pole, with 12 languages specially chosen to reflect the diversity of visitors to our centre, to our newly constructed outdoor prayer and meditation area but we need your help.
The cost of a Peace Pole and its installation is $2000 and we are asking each one of our friends to support this visual reminder of peace and our ministry. Please contact Miriam Koopman at 519-824-1250 ext 250 to donate.
Board of Directors
President- James Profit, S.J.
Vice-President- Terry Ackerman
Secretary/Treasurer- Barry Leidl
Barbara Peloso
Erik Oland, S.J.
Hector Barber
Mary Sojczynski
Don Drone
Bernie Carroll, S.J.
Moragh Lippert
Richard Olson
Matthew Stanley
Our Work
Ecology Programs
Our programs encompass a variety of initiatives that speak to humanitarian and environmental issues in the 21st century. Integral to our ministry, our ecology programs are a hope-filled advocacy of sustainable environmental stewardship.
Loyola House Retreat
Over 60,000 people have renewed a dialogue with God at our world–renown Retreat. Loyola House is a welcoming space dedicated to nurturing a deeper spirituality in people, leading to inner freedom and loving service.
Orchard Park Centre
Inspired by the open vistas, classic ambiance and flexible leasing plans, many entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses are calling the Orchard Park Office Centre home.
Our History
Jesuit History
In January 1852, Bishop Charbonnel appointed Father John Holzer, S.J. to be Pastor of the Church of our Lady Parish. This was the same year Guelph celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Our Roots
In 1913, a group of thirteen English-Canadian Jesuits arrived in Guelph from Sault-au-Recollet, Quebec, to establish a place of prayer and worship for English speaking Jesuits in formation.
Milestones
A photo timeline depicting significant milestones in the development of Guelph's social infrastructure and the humble beginnings of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre.
Features
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