Retreats at John XXIII
At John XXIII, we care about the formation of the whole person.
We know that each individual is a unique gift from God and our goal is to help bring this precious potentiality to its full realization. While we focus on nurturing children, we also recognize the importance of healthy families as integral to our project. Thus, while our students enjoy the natural wonders of our campus we also want to make them available to their parents and others, too.
God has blessed the Center with a beautiful, scenic property and we want to steward this gift so that it may help build his kingdom here in Front Royal. In an attempt to realize these goods, we are offering retreat space for local believers and people of goodwill to encounter their Creator in a special way. As Jesus so often demonstrated, time apart from the hustle and bustle of life is essential for spiritual reflection---our children know this in their atrium and the need continues into adulthood. The Center invites registered guests to visit for the day or overnight throughout the year.
Overview
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Price: Donation basis (recommended: $20 per day, $60 per night)
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When: Weekends during the school year (September-May) and all week over the summer.
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Where: Retreatants are welcome to utilize the whole campus and choose between our two lodging options.
Soterion - Place of Healing
Also known to the White Oaks’ students as the Prayer Shed, this small 10' x 8' building was once owned and used by the Arlington diocese’s first consecrated hermit, Father Clarence Trinkle. Fr. Trinkle lived apart from the world in a cloistered hermitage on the grounds of St. Dominic’s Monastery in Linden. Nearby once stood this little structure, Soterion, meaning “bringing salvation.” It was here that Fr. Trinkle would welcome all pilgrims seeking spiritual guidance, consolation, and the sacrament of confession. At his passing a few years ago, the Dominican nuns offered the structure to John XXIII. We are honored to preserve Fr. Trinkle’s legacy and his intentions for the space. Because of its size, this lodging option is necessarily ascetic. Its accommodations include a cot, mini refrigerator, toaster oven, dishware, and a water dispenser.
Guest Room at White Oaks
The guest room at White Oaks is our more comfortable option. The building itself is used to host our adolescent program throughout the school year, but it's left mostly unoccupied during the summer months. The room includes a twin bed and typical dormitory amenities. Other features of the house include a fully stocked kitchen, couches, heating and cooling, art supplies, a scenic overlook, a library, and plenty of table space. Guests using this overnight option should bring their own food (linens are provided).
Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 11
Our Scenic Campus
John XXIII is a strikingly beautiful and unique property at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and within the city limits of Front Royal. Altogether, the campus consists of more than 23 acres and includes a pond, hosting much wildlife, two creeks, swamplands, giant sycamores, bountiful old oak trees, an ampitheater a number of trails, and hills enough to shield much of the property from the noise of the surroundings roads and countryside. Even though we are located a short distance from downtown Front Royal, the campus is such that it is easy to be convinced otherwise. Retreatants are welcome to wander all of these varied terrains and make themselves at home in our wilderness.
Making a retreat at John XXIII is really special. I live near the campus, stayed one night in the Soterion, and basically stepped into a monastic setting simply by walking out my backdoor. The icon of Our Lady inside is especially stirring.