About Loyola Retreat House · Clinton, Ohio
Loyola Retreat House is a Catholic retreat center situated on a hilltop overlooking farmland and lakes in rural Clinton, Ohio (Summit County), about 20 minutes south of Akron. Affiliated with the Benedictine monks of St. Andrew Abbey in Cleveland and operating under the Diocese of Cleveland, the 70-plus-acre property offers overnight and day retreats, Pre-Cana marriage preparation, school retreats, icon-painting workshops, and private spiritual getaways. Its mission is summed up in its motto 'Come Away to the Quiet,' offering hospitality rooted in the Rule of St. Benedict for groups seeking prayer, solitude, and renewal.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Ignatius of Loyola (the Jesuit name-sake; affiliated since 2008 with the Benedictines of St. Andrew Abbey)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Loyola Retreat House is not a parish with weekend Masses but a Catholic retreat center dedicated to offering 'a warm and welcome environment for prayer, solitude and quiet reflection.' Visitors come for hosted or private retreats, Pre-Cana marriage preparation, school retreats (day or overnight), and specialized programs such as the icon-painting retreat 'A Window to Heaven.' Only one group books the property at a time, which keeps the experience intimate, and a full-time chef prepares home-cooked meals. The Benedictine affiliation with St. Andrew Abbey, the 72-seat chapel, and 70-plus acres of prayer paths, Stations of the Cross, and the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine make it a natural choice for any parish group, school, or individual seeking a true spiritual getaway in Northeast Ohio.
History & Heritage
The story of Loyola Retreat House begins in 1964, when lay Catholics — many from St. Sebastian Parish in Akron, with Monsignor Zwisler prominent among them — recognized the need for a retreat facility in Summit County. They raised the funds, appealed to the Jesuits for sponsorship, and acquired a parcel of farmland on a hilltop overlooking Nimisila Reservoir near the Portage Lakes. The house was formally founded in 1965 under the name Loyola of the Lakes Retreat House, with Rev. Thomas Billstein, SJ as its guiding director. It operated under Jesuit sponsorship for the next four-plus decades before being entrusted in 2008 to the Benedictine monks of St. Andrew Abbey in Cleveland, with a formal affiliation established in 2010. Today, in the Benedictine tradition of prayer, work, community, and hospitality, Loyola continues its mission of welcoming all guests as Christ.
- Founded 1965 by the Society of Jesus
- Originally called 'Loyola of the Lakes Retreat House'
- Founding lay group largely from Akron's St. Sebastian Parish
- Jesuit sponsorship ended 2008; Benedictine (St. Andrew Abbey) affiliation established 2010
- Celebrated its 50th anniversary in September 2015 with Mass by Abbot Gary Hoover, OSB
Mission, Vision & Core Values
Loyola's stated mission is to help all who 'Come Away to the Quiet' recognize the loving guidance of God and the redeeming love of Jesus in their lives. Its vision is to be a sacred space where souls encounter God's grace, find renewal, and embark on transformative journeys of faith. The retreat house operates with honesty, transparency, and accountability in the spirit of St. Benedict, quoting the Rule: 'All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.'
- Mission: help retreatants recognize God's loving guidance
- Vision: a sacred space for renewal and transformative faith journeys
- Core value: Integrity in the spirit of St. Benedict
- Motto: 'Come Away to the Quiet'
Retreat Programs
Loyola specializes in hosting preplanned retreats for outside groups rather than operating its own directed retreats. Only one group is booked at a time, which makes every retreat intimate and highly customizable. The retreat center also runs a small number of signature programs of its own, including the popular Pre-Cana marriage preparation day and the icon-painting retreat 'A Window to Heaven.'
- Hosted Retreats — reserve the entire house for your group
- Private Retreats — solo or small-group time for rest, reflection, and renewal
- School Retreats — day or overnight programs for Catholic schools
- Sponsored Retreats
- Pre-Cana Class for Engaged Couples (Sundays, 10:30 AM–6:30 PM, $90/couple)
- Icon-painting retreat 'A Window to Heaven'
Pre-Cana Marriage Preparation
Loyola's Pre-Cana Day is offered for couples marrying for the first time. The day includes prayer, presentations, Mass, quiet reflection time, and opportunities for sharing with one's fiancé, plus lunch, dinner, and refreshments. The cost is $90 per couple and registration is required. Couples in which at least one spouse has been married before or has minor stepchildren are referred to the Cana II program through the Diocese of Cleveland.
- Cost: $90 per couple
- Includes lunch, dinner, and refreshments; casual dress
- Register online or by phone at 330.896.2315
- Cana II handled through the Diocese of Cleveland
Facility & Grounds
Set on more than 70 acres of lawn, fields, gardens, and wooded pathways, Loyola's facilities are designed for prayer, solitude, and quiet reflection. The main house features 42 air-conditioned guest rooms (10 with a full bed and private bathroom; 32 with two twin beds and shared bathrooms), a 72-seat air-conditioned chapel, a 72-seat air-conditioned dining room, meeting spaces, a large multipurpose room, and A/V equipment including a 72-inch TV, DVD player, digital projector with screen, and a portable sound system. Delicious home-cooked meals are prepared by a full-time chef.
- 42 air-conditioned guest rooms
- 72-seat air-conditioned chapel
- 72-seat air-conditioned dining room
- Meeting spaces and a large multipurpose room
- A/V equipment (72-inch TV, DVD, projector, portable sound)
- Full-time chef on site
Outdoor Prayer Spaces
The 70-plus-acre property includes two prayer paths, an outdoor Stations of the Cross, and the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, all available for retreatants. A gazebo and meditation areas invite quiet walks, and the rolling farmland, lakes, and night sky are a signature feature of any visit. The grounds are open to the public when Loyola is not hosting a retreat, but visitors are asked to call ahead.
- Two prayer paths across the 70+ acres
- Outdoor Stations of the Cross
- Our Lady of Fatima Shrine
- Gazebo and meditation areas
- Grounds open to the public when no retreat is in session (call ahead)
Leadership & Staff
Loyola is led day-to-day by an Executive Director and supported by a small team that includes an Office Assistant, Housekeeping Staff, Maintenance Staff, and a full-time Chef, all working under the oversight of an Executive Board of Directors. Spiritual direction is provided by the Benedictine monks of St. Andrew Abbey. The retreat house was led in recent years by Executive Director Tim Hite (quoted in the Catholic Echo in 2024), with Andrea Ferraro, Ph.D., currently serving as Executive Director.
- Andrea Ferraro, Ph.D. — Executive Director (current)
- Tim Hite — former Executive Director (2024)
- Alexis Tremeer — Spiritual Director
- Abbot Gary Hoover, OSB — affiliated abbot, St. Andrew Abbey
- Abbot Clement Zeleznik, OSB — chaplain in residence
- Full-time chef plus office, housekeeping, and maintenance staff
Affiliation: St. Andrew Abbey Benedictines
Since 2008, Loyola Retreat House has been sponsored by the Benedictine monks of St. Andrew Abbey in Cleveland, with a formal affiliation established in 2010 under Abbot Christopher Schwartz, OSB. The Benedictines do not own Loyola but are involved in its planning and ministry. Retired Abbot Clement Zeleznik, OSB lives on site as chaplain in residence and offers workshops and retreats alongside other monks of the abbey.
- Benedictine (OSB) sponsorship since 2008
- Formal affiliation established 2010
- Chaplain in residence: Abbot Clement Zeleznik, OSB
Planning Your Visit
Retreats must be reserved in advance — the property is never double-booked. The retreat house hosts overnight and daytime meetings for faith-based, non-profit, and other mission-aligned organizations. To schedule a tour, call 330.896.2315 or use the online form on the website. Walk-ins to the grounds are welcome when no retreat is in session, but staff ask that visitors call ahead.
- Address: 700 Killinger Road, Clinton, OH 44216
- Phone: (330) 896-2315
- One group at a time — reservations required for retreats
- Public access to grounds by calling ahead
Support & Giving
Loyola Retreat House is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 34-0960779) under the USCCB group exemption. Recent grants supporting the mission include a $25,000 Repair and Restoration grant from the Lehner Family Foundation, $15,000 in general support from the MG O'Neil Foundation, and $5,000 in general charitable-purpose support from the Leone Family Foundation.
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 34-0960779)
- Child organization under USCCB group exemption
- Donations supported via #weGIVECATHOLIC
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Billstein, SJ1965 – early 1970s
Founding Jesuit director; selected the hilltop site overlooking Nimisila Reservoir; guided development of programs until ill health forced retirement.