Sacred Encounters

Manresa celebrates 100th Anniversary

By JoAnn Amicangelo

Manresa Jesuit Retreat House is a retreat center in Bloomfield Hills. It is situated on 39 beautiful acres of forest, gardens and a stream with outdoor Stations of the Cross and many places for quiet prayer and contemplation. Thousands of people visit Manresa each year to experience God in new ways through their retreats, programs, classes and spiritual direction, many of whom leave with a life-giving encounter with the Sacred.

This past September Manresa kicked off a year-long celebration leading up to its 100th Anniversary on September 23, 2026. Under the theme of “Sacred Encounters: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow,” the celebration began with an outdoor Mass on Sunday, September 28, with more than 225 people present. 

“It was a wonderful time of worship and fellowship with our community of retreatants and those who have been touched by the ministry offered here,” said Sr. Linda Sevcik, SM, Executive Director of Manresa.

Manresa was founded in the early 1920s by a group of laymen who decided that they wanted to experience Jesuit-led retreats in Detroit, rather than traveling all the way to Cleveland, Ohio.

Today Manresa offers conference retreats for men, women and married couples and opens its doors to more than 1,500 youth each year through hosted school retreats and day programs. It also offers Individually Directed Retreats of four to eight days, a variety of spiritually enriching in-person and online programs and classes, and its Internship in Spiritual Companionship has equipped hundreds of men and women to accompany others on their spiritual journey.

Reflecting on Manresa’s rich history of sacred encounters, Sr. Sevcik said: 

“Our mission continues to be guided by the spirituality of Saint Ignatius, and as a result, Manresa has been a sanctuary for countless individuals who have found spiritual renewal and deeper connection with God. Our house and grounds offer a quiet and safe space to encounter the Sacred and experience the transformative power of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.”

100th Anniversary
Celebration Banquet

Manresa’s 100th Anniversary celebration continues in the new year with the I00th Anniversary Celebration Banquet on Thursday, May 7, 2026. This special annual banquet will be held at Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield with Detroit Archbishop Edward Weisenburger as the keynote speaker.

Steve Raymond, Manresa’s Director of Development, said the event is an opportunity for business and community leaders to support Manresa’s ministry through financial sponsorships and/or ad placements in the banquet program. 

“The sponsorships will play a significant role in meeting our operational costs and maintaining our aging facility,” said Raymond. “We hope to raise the support needed to tackle several important capital improvement projects in the near future.”

Dave Nona, long-time Manresa retreat participant and a member of the banquet planning committee said, ‘’I’d like to see those members of the Chaldean community who were educated by Jesuits in Iraq or in the US, or had family members educated in these schools, or were spiritually helped by Manresa’s retreats and programs, attend the 100th anniversary celebration on May 7. I humbly ask those who have been abundantly blessed to consider a special sponsorship in gratitude to God and to continue the work of Manresa for the next 100 years.” 

Manresa will close its celebratory year with an outdoor Mass and picnic on Sunday, September 20, 2026. This is a free event, though registration is required. 

“We invite all our retreatants and guests to join us for these upcoming events to honor our past, celebrate our present and look ahead to our future,” said Sr. Sevcik. 

If you have any questions about sponsorships, contact Steve Raymond at sraymond@manresa-sj.org, 248.644.4933, extension 111 or call Dave Nona at 248.521.0977. Sponsorships received by March 30, 2026, will be included in the Manresa banquet program. Tickets for the event will be on sale March I at manresa-sj.org/100Years.