St. Edmund's Retreat Center: An Island Get-Away

By Irene Lagan
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 3/6/03)

Apart from a few vacation packages that are geared toward Catholics, few island retreats are equipped to nurture the body and soul. Most island getaways, though refreshing, are more commercial.

Yet, St. Edmund’s Retreat Center combines the best of all worlds, lifting one out of the ordinary with the beauty of nature, combined with outstanding examples of contemporary art, with an island setting that fosters a renewal of mind and body and offers food for the soul. Apart from the allure of a retreat by the sea, St. Michael’s Institute of Sacred Art offers workshops in iconography, manuscript illumination and fresco painting.

St. Edmund’s retreat is a 12-acre island unto itself located near the quaint seaport town of Mystic, Ct. In 1954, Alys E. Enders conveyed a 12-acre island to the Society of St. Edmund, stipulating the property in Fisher’s Island Sound be a place of retreat and religious formation. Originally, the island was used as a novitiate and retreat for religious. However, in heeding the Holy Father’s call for a "new evangelization," the Edmundites gradually included an increasing number of retreats and religious education programs for laity. Recognizing art as a powerful tool for evangelization, St. Michael’s Institute of Sacred Art was launched to complement existing programs at St. Edmund’s Retreat and to foster a new Renaissance in the arts for the Third Millennium.

The retreat’s mission of evangelization and renewal is suited to the Edmundites, who were established to revitalize the faith in early 19th century France during a time when most of the laity was totally alienated from the Church. The Society is named for St. Edmund, the Archbishop of Canterbury who evangelized England in the 13th century. In 1891, some members of the Society migrated to Quebec and then again to Vermont, where they established St. Michael’s College.

Father Thomas Hoar, director, said that programs at St. Edmund’s Retreat help people "rediscover the Lord" as well as the wonder and beauty of creation. "We all lead such busy lives," he said. "Finding a quiet place apart is important to help us rediscover the goodness and beauty of creation. At St. Edmund’s we try to find different ways to help people experience the wonder and beauty of nature."

The permanent retreat staff at St. Edmund’s Retreat includes Father Hoar, three additional priests, a retired brother and a layman. Retreats featuring nationally known directors, such as Father Andrew Apostoli, Father Thomas Dubay and Sister Eugenia Brady run throughout the year for men and women. Individual retreats and adult education classes are also available. In addition, two week-long family retreats take place during the summer.

In addition to evangelization and renewal through education and retreat ministry, the St. Michael’s Institute of Sacred Art plays a special role on the island. In his 1999 Letter to Artists, the Holy Father wrote, "Every genuine art form in its own way is a path to the inmost reality of man and of the world. It is therefore a wholly valid approach to the realm of faith, which gives human experience its ultimate meaning. That is why the Gospel fullness of truth was bound from the beginning to stir the interest of artists, who by their very nature are alert to every "epiphany" of the inner beauty of things."

"The role of art is evangelization and prayer, another means by which we strive to bring about renewal," Father Hoar said. "We incorporated the icon workshop about 15 years ago. The Institute is a means of fostering the creative genius of artists that brings hope, inspiration, furthers the devotion of believers and encourages all who search for the truth who is Christ."

Original, museum quality sacred art created by instructors at the institute adorns the chapel. The numerous icons and illuminated manuscripts are conducive to reflection on "the link between good and beautiful." In particular, the illuminated manuscripts and Stations of the Cross incorporate aspects of nature found on the island.

The icons, an original Christian art form, have long played a central role in the worship of the eastern churches. In workshops held throughout the year, participants find not only an engaging introduction to the meaning and beauty of icons, and are, through lecture, theory and theological discussion drawn closer to the One who is their inspiration. Each participant completes a "museum quality" icon.

World-renowned master iconographer Vladislav Andreyev and his sons Dmitri and Nikita, founders of the Prosopon School of Iconology, are among several teachers who conduct workshops at the institute.

In addition, the institute holds workshops on manuscript illumination, stained glass, frescoes and Gregorian Chant, and other arts that nurture worship and life of church throughout the centuries.

In spite of the more than 10,000 people that participate in programs throughout the year, St. Edmund’s Retreat can accommodate almost double that number and still "maintain the balance between quiet space and community."

"There are a lot of people who are discovering St. Edmund’s for the first time even though we’ve been doing this work for many years," Father Hoar said. "Our goal is to provide more opportunities for people to come to know and love the Lord."

For more information about St. Edmund’s Retreat and St. Michael’s Institute of Sacred Art, go to www.endersisland.org. 

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