Calvary Retreat Center History

In the winter of 1960, Father Gilbert Walser, C.P., the retreat director of Our Mother of Sorrows Retreat House in West Springfield, MA, began to speak with Bishop Bernard Flanagan about the possibility of opening a retreat center in the Worcester, MA Diocese. In the early summer of that year, the Houghton Estate at 59 South Street in Shrewsbury, MA was purchased from its owner and converted to handle Days and Evenings of Recollection. The first such Evening of Recollection was held on the evening of November 2, 1960.

Work on the present retreat center was begun in August of 1963 and the Passionist Community of priests and brothers moved into the building on February 15, 1965. The first retreat took place on the weekend of March 5 – 7, 1965 with 73 men from Our Lady of Mount Carmel – St. Ann Parish of the Worcester Diocese. The solemn dedication of Calvary Retreat Center took place on April 29, 1965 (what was then the feast of St. Paul of the Cross – the founder of the Passionist Community). Bishop Flanagan presided at the Mass of Dedication, and the Passionist Provincial, Father Gerard Rooney, C.P. preached the homily.

Since that time, Calvary Retreat Center has continued to host a variety of retreats. There are preached retreats for men or women and retreats for clergy and religious. In addition, we offer retreats for young adults, married couples, persons in recovery programs and those dealing with emotional recovery. A variety of days or evenings of reflection are offered for Senior Citizens, Teen Confirmation Candidates, those interested in Scripture Study, those in Recovery Programs. Please consult our schedule for a full listing of programs that may be of interest to you.

Who Are The Passionists?

We are a community of brothers and priests who share a common vision of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus through our lifestyle and service to God's people. Living in a community, we have the support and affirmation of others who share the same vision. Community life enables us to do more together than each of us could accomplish alone.

As Passionists we are committed to keeping the memory of Christ's Passion alive in the world today. We recognize that the passion still takes place in the lives of the suffering, the sick, the poor, the hungry...anyone in need of God's Love. And through our ministries we strive to bring compassion, care and understanding to God's people.

It was the Love and understanding of the Passion that inspired St. Paul of the Cross, the founder of the Passionist Community. St. Paul of the Cross gathered companions to live together and proclaim the Gospel message. He continues to serve as the inspiration and model for our community.

The Passionist Sign

The badge or Sign that each Passionist wears upon his religious habit is the treasured symbol of the Passionist charism and community, dating back to the foundational experience of St. Paul of the Cross. In 1720, at the age of twenty-six, Paul was granted a vision in which he saw himself clothed in a Black tunic on which there was a white cross with the word "Jesu" under it. Paul later added the words "Christ" and "Passion" to the Sign. The three words in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, situated in the midst of a heart shaped sign, relate the central motif in the story of any Passionist. We are called to keep the memory of the Passion of Jesus alive in our hearts and to proclaim its meaning and power to all humankind by our words and our lives.