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Supreme Officers and their wives visited Villa Maria Guadalupe in Stamford, Connecticut, in October to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the international retreat center directed by the Sisters of Life and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.
The Knights purchased the property from the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in 2004. Under the leadership of then-Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, founding superior general of the Sisters of Life, it was dedicated Oct. 20, 2004, with a special mission of serving as a spiritual center for the culture of life.
Villa Maria Guadalupe now welcomes more than 1,000 retreatants a year, including men and women involved with the pro-life movement; pregnant women, single mothers and those wounded by abortion.
To honor the anniversary, the Sisters of Life hosted a votive Mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe — celebrated by Father John Connaughton, pastor of St. Cecilia-St. Gabriel Parish in Stamford — and a small celebratory dinner Oct. 29.
“People go to the shrine [of Our Lady of Guadalupe] bearing many things, shattered by the struggles of life in the world, and there they find consolation,” Father Connaughton said in his homily. “And that is true about this place as well.”
Reflecting on Mary’s Magnificat, he attributed his own vocation to the priesthood to Our Lady’s intercession and his experience on retreat at Villa Maria Guadalupe.
“As a proud young man here, I had resisted this idea of Christian vocation,” Father Connaughton said. “But finally, through God’s grace, I was humbled enough to be lifted up and be open to the possibility of receiving the grace of ordination.”
In remarks during dinner, Sisters of Life superior general Mother Mary Concepta thanked the Order for its years of support and generosity to the retreat center. Over the past 20 years, Villa Maria Guadalupe has “become a place of peace, a place of tranquility, a place of light and refreshment, a place of love for literally thousands of people,” she said. “We’re so happy to live here and call this our home. And of course, it’s the home of the Knights too.”
Mother Mary Concepta also presented Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly with a special letter of commendation from the Sisters of Life, recognizing the “exceptional generosity and solicitous care over these foundational years” shown by the Knights of Columbus.
“We rejoice and give thanks for all the graces that have been poured forth from the Heart of Jesus in the past 20 years,” she wrote in a card presented to the Supreme Officers. “We give glory to the Father for the miracles of new life that have taken place in the souls of those who walked through the doors.”
“This is part of who the Knights are and part of who the Sisters of Life are,” said Supreme Knight Kelly. “Together, we can do beautiful things. And I think that’s what Villa Maria is. It’s this wonderful cooperation.”