Organization
Loyola Retreat House- NJ
Location:
161 James St
Morristown, NJ 07960
United States
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OR call: 973-539-0740 x 24
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Space for your next group retreat, conference, workshop, reunion, yoga retreat or meditation retreat.
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Frederick Rogers
4/14/2008
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I have had the privilege or being a retreatant at Loyola a number of different times.
I had my first introduction to Loyola House of Retreats in the late 1990's. My spiritual director suggested that I take some time for a silent retreat as part of my spiritual direction.
He told me about Loyola. It was only a few miles from the church I was serving. I stayed about three weeks and took part in a private retreat. Fr. Lou Sogiluzzo SJ was my director for my first stay. I was very positively impressed by the beautiful grounds where I could spend time in meditation and prayer as well as the house itself where I could be with my God and my Lord. The community was very aware of my need to be in silence and they offered me a wonderful experience. The whole community was warm and very accepting. I learned much from Fr. Lou during my daily time with him.I would highly recommend Loyola as a place to get one's prayer life back on track or just to maintain a good sense of who Jesus is and how He relates to you.
Another time I went to the retreat house was after I had had a very negative experience. I had been let go from a position as Sr. pastor. The community which "asked" me to leave was rather unloving,dysfunctional and undifferentiated, to put it mildly. The staff at Loyola recognized my pain and offered me time to get healthy once again. I think one of them said "Fred, you need a little more than the four walls of the typical room." I was allowed to stay in an apartment usually used by one of the community. They were very supportive during a time when I needed to know of God's love and grace. After that stay I began to feel that Loyola House of Retreats is a place where I felt (and continue to feel) I could go and be accepted without any strings.
I returned in 2005 to take part in the Spiritual Exercises ; the 'long retreat"(Fr. Lou was my Spiritual Director for yet another time). During the whole month I stayed there it became clear to me that I was being included in the brotherhood while there. I return every once in a while just to attend mass and to "touch base" with a community which I still feel is like a second home. Every time I return I am warmly welcomed; usually asked to read one of the readings and asked to stay for fellowship at lunch. Loyola continues to have a very warm place in my heart and I pray that I will be able to return one day soon!
If you have not entertained taking time to retreat perhaps Loyola is the place to start.
May Go bless you!
Rev. Frederick W. Rogers
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