Building for the Future… in Washington N.H.

Montfort Retreat Center

The Camp Apostolate

The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary extend their apostolate to Catholic youth from across the country during the summer. Morning Star Camp for girls, run by the Sisters– and Montfort Boys’ Camp, directed by the Brothers, each offer youth a week of jam-packed fun and excitement in a wholesome catholic camp atmosphere. Campers make life-long friends with the Religious and children their own ages, providing a boosting “support group” for those living the Traditional Catholic way of life.

Saint Benedict Center’s summer camp apostolate began right here in Still River nearly 30 years ago. Morning Star Girls’ Camp was held behind the Sisters’ convent, where all 30 campers spent the nights in a big tent borrowed from the National Guard! Daily Mass was held in IHM Chapel, and except for shuttling campers to a nearby lake in the afternoon, all the classes and camp activities were all held on the convent grounds. Montfort Boys’ Camp, run by the Brothers, also began in the same way; with campers rising at the bugle and standing at attention as the flag was raised… right in the Brothers’ backyard! But, humble beginnings though they were, campers kept coming back every year, and soon the groups were outgrowing the area.

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Seek and you shall find…

But when situations made the camp facility no longer available, and it was back to tents and outhouses– the campers still came– but the Leadership camp had to be cut and numbers limited. It was definite that the Camp Apostolate needed a home of its own, and the search for suitable property began. The long hunt through the New England area, brought the Sisters to all kinds of camps, waterfront and terrain. But either the place or the price was always wrong!! But finally, in 2004, all the prayers were answered when the searchers stumbled upon a large piece of wooded, waterfront property in Washington NH with a fantastic price tag. It was no small coincidence that the final papers were signed on April 28th… the feast of Saint Louis Marie de Montfort, our Patron!

With the kind help of a volunteer professional, the Brothers began surveying for the driveway that same spring. The long hours proved fruitful, for as they blazed the trails through the wooded acres, they discovered more and more the unique and beautiful character it had kept hidden.

By October of 2005, the pretty trail through the woods, looked more like a war zone, when the loggers came in to clear the “driveway.” Almost a mile of logs, stumps, mud and boulders or gigantic proportion, stood in the way when the real “road” began to be built. Progress was quickly halted by the snow… and when the spring/summer came, the painstaking job was only just begun and looked pretty impossible. But the Brothers said it would be finished by September… and sure enough, day after day of tedious work proved them right.

Not only that, but groups of volunteer men had been organized on various days to start clearing the waterfront and building areas, so that on September 8, 2006– the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother– when the building permit was officially hung at the site, things really started rolling! Only two weeks later, on September 20th, the foundation was pored for the Lodge!

With God All Things Are Possible

Now… with the help of God… and after four years of ownership and two years of hard work and building, Montfort Retreat is definitely a reality. Although far from finished, it is already a beautiful place and promises great things for the future! Today, in the place where thick underbrush and pristine forest had for so long stood untouched, the long wooded driveway called “Rosary Way” brings visitors to a little settlement of buildings which will be the heart of Montfort Retreat Center. The beautiful log buildings with green shingled roofs already promise to be a place of happiness and peace.

At the very end of Rosary Way, and closest to the shore stands the main building, the Lodge, a picturesque log house with a large deck which faces Lake Ashuelot. Inside, the rustic beams, open loft and large fireplace add to this beautiful building’s charming cottage look. This quaint building, which will accommodate twenty people, will serve as the “headquarters” of Montfort Retreat Center in the future.

Moving away from the lake, and little further up the road is the long Dining Hall. This large log structure, topped with a cupola, boasts of a spacious eating hall and kitchen. For additional seating, and room for activities, a long pavilion extends from the lake-side of the building; the attic above will serve as storage space. Although the interior is still in the first stages, one can already almost hear the campers chattering away during the future meal times in this beautiful building.

Outside the Dining Hall, is the Bathhouse. This equally quaint building, made of stone and log, will have facilities and showers for men and women and handicapped persons.

Walking back up Rosary Way, another smaller road breaks off to the left. This is Via Maria, the road leading to the cabin area and the Chapel. Footings for fifteen cabins have already been poured and the framing of the first cabin begun. These rough log cabins, which will house eight campers each, will be nestled among the trees in groups of five. Following the road to the end brings the visitor to a wooded knoll looking out over Lake Ashuelot. Here the rustically beautiful plans for Morning Star Chapel are presently being put into action. Eight cement pillars, which will eventually be faced with fieldstone, will support the enormous hand-hewn log trusses for the roof. The rest will be closed in with logs and screened windows. The altar will face east, as is traditionally stipulated for church structures. This quaint Chapel will be the heart and soul of the Retreat Center; and only the Latin Tridentine Mass will be said at its altar.

Of course, aside from the initial buildings, alot goes into a project of this magnitude. A sports field has been cleared, the well has been dug, and the 1300 foot pipeline placed; The electrical wiring has been run–which of itself was no small endeavor, since it included building a large log bridge to pass the wires safely over two rushing streams.

So with the help of God and the fond care of the Blessed Mother, Montfort Retreat is definitely progressing. But with over a hundred acres to “explore” this diamond in the rough, is just starting to be carved into a jewel. We could not have made such headway without the generosity of several donors and the valuable help of volunteers…too numerous to name here. In order to bring this project to completion, we rely on your support and generosity both monetarily and spiritually. For many years to come, participants at Montfort Retreat Center will indebted to you. We have faith that this “work which is well begun will be brought to completion” to the honor and glory of God! To Jesus Through Mary!

Be a part of Our Lady's work… donate to this holy endeavor, a worthy cause!
Please help in any way you can… your support goes a long way!

See the latest Montfort Retreat Progress Report! …or watch Slideshows on the progress!

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