About Capuchin Retreat Center · Washington, Michigan
The Capuchin Retreat Center, located in Washington Township, Michigan, is a Franciscan retreat ministry run by the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph. Situated on 95 scenic, wooded acres surrounded by the Stony Creek Metropark, the center has welcomed retreatants for more than 50 years with weekend retreats, days of reflection, directed retreats, and healing services rooted in the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi. The facility offers 47 private rooms with private bathrooms, walking trails, a chapel, dining hall, and gift shop, and is served by Capuchin friars and a preaching staff of lay women and auxiliaries. It is not a parish church: there is no public Sunday Mass, and the faithful are asked to worship at their home parish on Sundays.
- Established
- 1968
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (the retreat is a Capuchin Province of St. Joseph ministry, not a diocesan parish)
Why belong here
The Capuchin Retreat Center offers Catholics a chance to step away from daily busyness and encounter God on 95 wooded acres in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Weekend retreats include five conferences, daily liturgy, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, healing services, private spiritual direction, and ample silence for prayer and rest, all in a setting of Franciscan hospitality, simplicity, and Gospel joy. Non-Catholics are explicitly welcome, and the staff — Capuchin friars plus a team of lay women and auxiliaries — creates a warm, accessible environment for anyone seeking renewal.
Mass times at Capuchin Retreat Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sacrament of Reconciliation is made available during weekend retreats
About the Capuchin Retreat Center
For more than 50 years, Capuchin Retreat has served as a Franciscan home set on 95 scenic, wooded acres in Washington Township, Michigan, surrounded by the Stony Creek Metropark. The center offers weekend retreats, days of reflection, private and directed retreats, and healing services rooted in the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi and the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph. A typical weekend retreat begins with orientation at 7:30 on Friday evening, includes five conferences, prayer experiences led by Capuchin friars and staff, liturgies on Saturday and Sunday, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a healing service, and individual spiritual direction, concluding with a meal after the Sunday liturgy. The 47 rooms offer private bathrooms, and the grounds include 22 walking trails, a chapel, dining hall, and gift shop. The offering for most 2025–2026 weekend retreat programs is $280 per person and includes a private room, all meals and snacks, presentations, liturgical services, and a private consultation. All are welcome, including non-Catholics seeking to encounter Jesus and grow in discipleship.
- 95 scenic, wooded acres surrounded by Stony Creek Metropark
- 47 private rooms, each with a private full bathroom
- 22 walking trails on the grounds
- 2025–2026 weekend retreat offering: $280 per person
History of the Retreat
In the early 1950s, Capuchin Friar Lawrence Merten began offering retreats at a home in St. Clair, Michigan. The retreats became so popular that they outgrew the space. In 1965, Michigan native and Capuchin retreatant Art Zaske of Mt. Vernon offered a 95-acre plot of land for purchase, and Capuchin Friar Simon Hesse was given the challenge of raising funds to build a retreat house on the rural property. By 1968 the cornerstone was laid on the first building. In July 2018 the center marked the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the retreat house with a picnic-style open house and a rededication of the cornerstone by retired Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton.
- 1950s — Retreats begin at a home in St. Clair, Michigan, under Fr. Lawrence Merten, OFM Cap.
- 1965 — Art Zaske offers a 95-acre plot; Fr. Simon Hesse given the building challenge
- 1968 — Cornerstone laid on the first building
- 2018 — 50th anniversary celebrated with open house and cornerstone rededication by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
Friars and Staff
The retreat is served by Capuchin friars and a team of lay women and auxiliaries. The current Director is Br. Igor, OFM Cap., who assumed the role in June 2026 after serving as Director of the Capuchin Communication Office in Montana; he was born in South Africa, raised in Belgium, and before entering the Capuchins led a federation of ten parishes in the Diocese of Bruges. The Program Director is Fr. Antony Julius Milton, OFM Cap., who joined the staff in June 2022 after formation in Tamil Nadu, India and graduate study at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
- Br. Igor, OFM Cap. — Director (since June 2026)
- Fr. Antony Julius Milton, OFM Cap. — Program Director (since June 2022)
- Sally McCuen, OSF — Preaching Staff
- Fr. Vito Martinez, OFM Cap. — Preaching Staff
- Fr. Tom Zelinski, OFM Cap. — former director (at 50th anniversary, 2018)
Mass and Liturgical Schedule
Daily Mass is celebrated in the chapel four mornings a week and on Wednesday evenings, but there is no public Sunday Mass — the faithful are asked to worship at their home parish on Sundays. The center is a retreat house, not a parish church, so its Mass schedule is geared toward retreatants and visitors during the week.
- Monday — 8:00 a.m.
- Tuesday — 8:00 a.m.
- Wednesday — 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday — 8:00 a.m.
- Friday — 8:00 a.m.
- No public Sunday Mass
First Wednesday Relic Blessings and Healing Mass
On the first Wednesday of every month, during the 7:00 p.m. evening Mass, the center offers blessings with a first-class relic of Blessed Solanus Casey, in union with the brothers and sisters at the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit. A Healing Mass and Relic Blessing is also featured on the program schedule as a regular event.
- First Wednesday of each month — 7:00 p.m. Mass with Blessed Solanus Casey first-class relic blessing
- Healing Mass and Relic Blessing — recurring featured event
Retreat Programs
The Capuchin Retreat Center offers a year-round calendar of retreats rooted in Franciscan spirituality, including theme-based silent weekend retreats, days of reflection, private and directed retreats, and hermitage retreats for individuals seeking extended silence. The 2025–2026 theme for weekend retreats is "Encountering God in the Parables."
- Silent Weekend Retreats — e.g., "Encountering God in the Parables"
- Days of Reflection
- Private and Directed Retreats
- Hermitage retreats for individual silence seekers
- Healing Services and Healing Mass
What to Expect on a Retreat Weekend
A typical weekend begins with orientation at 7:30 on Friday evening. Throughout the weekend, five conferences are given, prayer experiences are led by Capuchin friars and staff, and liturgies are celebrated on Saturday and Sunday. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is made available, a healing service is offered, and staff members are available for individual spiritual direction with retreatants. The program concludes with a meal following the Sunday morning liturgy. Retreatants are provided with a private room (with private full bathroom, linens, towels, soap, and tissue); recommended items include casual clothing appropriate to the weather, personal toiletries, an alarm clock, and optional books or journals. The center recommends leaving laptops and other technology distractions at home if possible.
- Friday evening orientation at 7:30 p.m.
- Five conferences over the weekend
- Saturday and Sunday liturgies
- Sacrament of Reconciliation and healing service offered
- Private spiritual direction available
- Private room with private full bath provided
Who Are the Capuchins?
The Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin, is a religious order of men who take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, living by the rule of St. Francis of Assisi. The Capuchin Retreat Center is a ministry of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph, headquartered in Detroit, with ministries worldwide. Rooted in the Franciscan tradition of hospitality, simplicity, and the Gospel, the center's friars and staff welcome all — including non-Catholics — to encounter Jesus through a retreat experience.
- Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin — vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
- Rule of St. Francis of Assisi
- Part of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph (headquartered in Detroit)
Inside Our Home — Facilities
The retreat complex is set on 95 acres with 22 walking trails and offers 47 private rooms, each with a private full bathroom. Recently remodeled rooms feature climate control, furnishings from Michigan manufacturers, updated security, and artwork from the late Br. Mike Gaffney, OFM Cap., of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph. The facilities include a chapel, dining hall, library of spiritual books, and gift shop, and the Ovations Dining Service with Chef James and the kitchen staff serve as dining room hosts.
- 47 private rooms with private full bathrooms
- 22 walking trails across 95 wooded acres
- Chapel, dining hall, library, and gift shop
- Ovations Dining Service with Chef James and kitchen staff
- Recently remodeled rooms with climate control and Michigan-made furnishings
Frequently Asked Questions
The center's FAQ addresses the most common questions from prospective retreatants. All are welcome, including non-Catholics. Silent retreats maintain an atmosphere of quiet from after the opening orientation until the closing liturgy to promote deep listening. Individual silent experiences are also available through the hermitage, which is connected to the grounds and lets retreatants structure their own retreat at lower cost. The 2025–2026 offering for most weekend retreats is $280 per person, which includes a private room, all meals and snacks, five presentations, healing services, spiritual direction, reconciliation, and Holy Mass.
- Are non-Catholics welcome? — Yes.
- What is a silent retreat? — Quiet maintained from orientation to closing liturgy.
- Can I come on retreat outside the scheduled dates? — Yes, through the hermitage or private retreats.
- What does it cost? — $280 per person for most 2025–2026 weekend retreats.
- What should I bring? — Casual clothing, toiletries, optional books/journals; leave electronics at home.