About Jesuit Retreat Center · Parma, Ohio
The Jesuit Retreat Center (JRC) in Parma, Ohio is a 57-acre wooded ministry of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) that has welcomed men and women of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds for prayer, reflection, and discernment since 1898. It is the oldest retreat center for laypersons in the United States and serves more than 7,000 people each year through overnight, weekend, day, directed, and 30-day retreats rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The Center also hosts parish missions, school retreats (including Kairos), AA retreats, men's and women's programs, and outside faith-based and non-profit groups, and welcomes drop-in visitors to its weekly Tuesday Liturgy & Ignatian Spirituality mornings.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- St. Ignatius of Loyola (Ignatian spirituality is the foundation of the Center's mission)
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Marco, S.J. (Executive Director, appointed beginning after July 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
JRC is a ministry of the Jesuits that welcomes people of all faiths, generations, and backgrounds — you don't have to be Catholic or even a retreatant to belong here. Each year it serves more than 7,000 people (including over 1,000 youth and young adults) through overnight, weekend, day, and 30-day directed retreats, parish missions, school retreats such as Kairos, AA retreats, monthly Sabbath Days, a women's prayer group, Cinema and Conversation, and a free weekly Tuesday Liturgy & Ignatian Spirituality gathering in the Main Chapel. Rooted in the spirituality of St. Ignatius and set on 57 acres of forest, wetland, and meadow in Parma, it is a long-standing place to slow down, pray, discern, and encounter God in everyday life.
Mass times at Jesuit Retreat Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Welcome to the Jesuit Retreat Center
Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and inspired by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Jesuit Retreat Center offers retreats and programs for an evening, a day, a weekend, 8 days, and 30 days. Open to people of all faiths, generations, and backgrounds, it serves more than 7,000 people each year from Northeast Ohio, across the USA, and around the world. The Center is centrally located in Parma on State Road, less than a mile south of I-480, and within 15 minutes of both Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Downtown Cleveland.
- More than 7,000 people served annually
- Over 1,000 youth and young adults served each year
- Within 15 minutes of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Downtown Cleveland
Our Story — 125+ Years of Retreat Ministry
The Center traces its roots to 1898, when the property on State Road in South Brooklyn Station (now Parma) became St. Stanislaus Novitiate and Fr. Theodore Van Rossum, S.J. welcomed the first lay retreatants. Over more than 125 years it has grown from a Jesuit training house into the oldest retreat center for laypersons in the United States, surviving two world wars, Vatican II, and a three-month COVID closure in 2020. A capital campaign added a major new wing and renovation, and a new name, logo, and mission statement marked the Center's 120th anniversary in 2018 and 125th anniversary celebrations beginning in August 2023.
- 1898 — St. Stanislaus Novitiate opens; first lay retreat held
- 1900 — Four-story Gothic brick building constructed by German Jesuit brothers
- 1898–1907 — approximately 500 men make retreats
- 1966 — Fr. Tom Gedeon, S.J. forms a lay advisory board after Vatican II
- 1998 — Centennial; name changed to Jesuit Retreat House
- 2018 — 120th anniversary; JRC name, logo, and website introduced
- 2020 — Reopens after COVID closure with renovated Martyrs' Chapel and Kitchen
- 2021 — Bill Hobbs, Ed.D. named Director
- 2023 — 125th anniversary year begins
- 2025 — Fr. Michael Marco, S.J. named next Executive Director
Retreats & Programs
Jesuit Retreat Center offers retreats across the span of life — the challenges of youth, discerning vocation and life directions, retirement and aging, experiencing God's love, and finding hope and recovery. Programs are rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and can be silent preached retreats, individually directed retreats, or special-purpose programs.
- Overnight / Weekend retreats — up to 77 guests in 67 rooms
- Daytime retreats
- Preached retreats
- Directed retreats (8-Day, 19th Annotation, 30-Day)
- AA retreats
- Youth and young adult retreats (Kairos and others)
- Men's and women's retreats
- Monthly Sabbath Days
- Monthly Women's Prayer Group
- Cinema and Conversation film/discussion series
Liturgy & Ignatian Spirituality
Every Tuesday morning, except on certain holidays, the Jesuit Retreat Center offers Mass/Liturgy at 8:00 AM in the Main Chapel, followed by a brief reflection on Ignatian Spirituality and an informal gathering with coffee and pastries to build the JRC faith community. A variety of priests preside at Mass, and a variety of Ignatian-trained presenters lead the reflections, which develop prayer life, offer practical tips for daily contemplation, and deepen understanding of Ignatian spirituality. There is no cost and registration is not required.
- Tuesday Liturgy — 8:00 AM, Main Chapel
- Brief Ignatian reflection follows Mass
- Coffee and pastries afterwards for community
- Free; registration not required
- Contact: Fr. Paul O'Connor, S.J., [email protected]
Facilities & Grounds
Set on a 57-acre site of forest, wetland, and meadow, the Center's winding entrance road through the woods immediately evokes a sense of peace. Paved walking trails connect outdoor shrines, an Our Lady of Lourdes grotto, and Stations of the Cross. Facilities include three chapels, multiple meeting rooms, a wood-paneled library, full-service dining, and ADA-accessible accommodations.
- Main Chapel — seats up to 110 with flexible sound system
- Manresa Chapel — seats 26, adaptable for prayer and reflection
- Martyrs' Chapel — meditation space for 1–2 persons
- Largest meeting room — up to 125 with state-of-the-art AV
- Medium meeting room — up to 30; six small group rooms — 8–10 each
- 10 new ADA-accessible guest rooms; 6 suites; ~53 single rooms with shared bathrooms
- Wood-paneled library with leather furniture and spiritual/theological texts
- Main dining room — up to 70 at round tables; two small dining rooms for 6–8 each
- Normandy Catering; full-time food service staff; dietary needs accommodated
- Fully ADA accessible entrance, restrooms, and trails
- Our Lady of Lourdes grotto and outdoor Stations of the Cross
Host Your Event
The Center's new state-of-the-art addition provides an ideal setting for meetings, conferences, and retreats for faith-based, non-profit, and other organizations. A variety of room sizes — from a 125-seat meeting room to small 8–10 person breakout rooms — along with on-site dining, walking trails, and chapels make it well suited for day and overnight programs.
- Meeting rooms for 8 to 125 people
- State-of-the-art AV equipment
- On-site dining and dietary accommodation
- Walking trails, chapels, and library available to guests
- Easy access from I-480, 15 minutes from Cleveland Hopkins and Downtown Cleveland
Staff
Jesuit Retreat Center is led by an executive director and a small staff of Jesuits and lay professionals in ministry, programs, operations, development, marketing, food services, housekeeping, guest services, and maintenance. Fr. Michael Marco, S.J. has been named the next Executive Director of JRC, missioned by the Provincial of the Midwest Jesuits, beginning after July 1.
- Fr. Michael Marco, S.J. — Executive Director (incoming)
- Bill Hobbs, Ed.D. — Director (through transition)
- Fr. Paul O'Connor, S.J. — Director of Ignatian Identity and Mission
- Fr. Bernie Owens, S.J. — Pastoral Minister
- Ken Fortuna — Director of Groups and Programs
- Tom Hornberger — Director of Operations
- Catherine McManus — Marketing & Communications Director
- Mary Jo Lupica — CFO / Business Manager
- Kevin Gladstone — Director of Major Gifts / Major Gifts Officer
- Laurie Hertelendy — (Development/Office)
- Barb Hubbell / Mary Margaret Adkins — Administrative Assistant / Receptionist
- Patty Schwelgin, Rose Mucci, Tina Burns, Chris Minich, Anne Moore — Guest Services
- Mary Jo Lupica — Director of Food Services
- Paige Minich, Tom Boothe — Food Services
- Ashley Meister, Jean Sien, Ernie Prem — Housekeeping
- Frank Domzalski — Maintenance
Visit, Contact & Directions
The Jesuit Retreat Center welcomes visitors to its weekly Tuesday Liturgy & Ignatian Spirituality mornings and to its monthly Sabbath Days and other events. Located on State Road in Parma, it is less than a mile south of I-480 and within 15 minutes of both Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Downtown Cleveland. Paved walking trails and ADA-accessible facilities make the grounds welcoming to guests of all abilities.
- Address: 5629 State Road, Parma, OH 44134
- Phone: (440) 884-9300
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.jesuitretreatcenter.org
- Tuesday Mass/Liturgy: 8:00 AM, Main Chapel
- On State Road, < 1 mile south of I-480
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Theodore Van Rossum, S.J.1898–
Superior of the Buffalo Mission, Rector and Master of Novices; invited the first laymen to make a retreat at St. Stanislaus Novitiate, founding the lay retreat apostolate at the site.
- Fr. Tom Gedeon, S.J.
Executive Director and retreat director who established a lay advisory board (including women) to implement changes after Vatican II; recruited Frs. O'Leary, Nusbaum, and Farrell.
- Fr. Patrick O'Leary, S.J.
Assumed leadership of the retreat house; oversaw continued program growth, annual 30-Day retreats (1982–86), and the design of the original Jesuit Retreat House logo.
- Fr. James Riley, S.J.
Acting Director (1998) and then Director; used the 1998 centennial to renew programs, facilities, and finances, reinstating the priority of the Spiritual Exercises.
- Fr. Clem Metzger, S.J.2010–
Named Director in 2010; oversaw continued growth of programs and the capital campaign for the new addition.
- Sr. Mary Ann Flannery, S.C.
Executive Director; charged with developing a program staff focused on lay leadership and marketing.
- Rick Krivanka
Hired as Executive Director after Sr. Mary Ann's retirement; launched the capital campaign to renovate and build a major new addition.
- Bill Hobbs, Ed.D.2021–
Named Director in August 2021 following Rick Krivanka's retirement; led strategic plan, new name/logo/website, and 120th anniversary.
- Fr. Michael Marco, S.J.2025–
Announced as next Executive Director; formerly president of Marquette University High School and Walsh Jesuit High School.