Durward's Glen Retreat Center

New Retreat Center: Additional Articles




    • DURWARD'S GLEN -- According to the Diocese of Madison's Golden Jubilee book published in 1997, the history of the picturesque region of Durward's Glen goes back more than 125 years.

      In November of 1862, Bernard Durward, his wife, and family came here. They built a home and the first stone church in the Baraboo River Valley, called "St. Mary's of the Pines." Before his death in 1932, Durward gave his home and 36.5 acres of land to the St. Camillus religious order, headquartered in Milwaukee.

      The novitiate of the Order of St. Camillus (Servants of the Sick) was opened in 1948 on this site. The facility then was used as a retreat center up to 2007.

      St. Camillus Parish

      St. Camillus Parish was established in 1951 to serve Catholics residing in the area. St. Camillus Church is a small log chapel, seating about 80 people. It was built in 1951. At that time, there were 15 households in the parish. Fr. John Mingene was the founding pastor.

      St. Camillus Parish has continued to conduct an outdoor procession each year for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Plans are to hold the procession again this year.



      Beautiful grounds
      The grounds of St. Camillus are abloom with flowers from spring to fall. The grounds include a picnic area, a trout stream, a spring fountain, and a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary placed on the side of the hill overlooking the picnic area.

      On a winding path up a hill, Stations of the Cross conclude at the cemetery with an 1866 stone chapel. Stairs lead to a marble statue of the Holy Family and an altar where outdoor Mass has occasionally been celebrated.

      Two additional buildings on the ground have been used for retreat groups. There is a dining room with a capacity for about 100 persons and 35 individual bedrooms. There are also two small cottages.

      There is space on top of the hill for possible future building sites of dorms and/or classrooms.

      Closed parish
      On June 22, 2006, the Provincial Council of the Order of St. Camillus met to discuss the future of the Durward's Glen property and the closing of St. Camillus Parish. The order agreed to close the parish as of July 15, 2006, and to have an appraisal of the property undertaken with the aim to sell the property, except for the parish cemetery.

      Fr. Richard O'Donnell, provincial of the order, contacted the Diocese of Madison about this decision. He said, "It was felt that we should not wait until we actually had a purchaser to close down St. Camillus Parish. It could turn into something chaotic and everybody would be on pins and needles waiting to see when the parish would actually be closed. This would be hard on all of us so a definite date was agreed and that is July 15th with the closing of all parish books by the end of July."

      The Order of St. Camillus had found it was too expensive to maintain the land. Members of the order also said caring for Durward's Glen was outside the order's primary mission, which is healthcare.

      Parishioners at the former St. Camillus Parish have transferred to nearby parishes, including St. Mary Parish in Merrimac, originally a mission parish of St. Camillus, as well as parishes in Baraboo, Portage, and Sauk City.

      Selling property
      A group of Catholics in Durward's Glen have been in negotiations with the Order of St. Camillus about sale of the property. They have been in communication with the Diocese of Madison and since early in 2007, the diocese was brought into serious discussion after the group sought Bishop Robert C. Morlino's approval for the use of the Glen as a Catholic place of retreat or education.

      Grant Emmel, vice chancellor, reported, "The group has been very forthright and of good-will in ensuring that the Bishop's concerns and wishes are understood and followed."

      Their efforts culminated in the sale of the property to Magdalen College.



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    • By Kathleen Bushman
      CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

      BARABOO -- At a press conference held outside the chapel at Durward's Glen, April 30, Magdalen College of Warner, N.H., announced its purchase of the property for use as an extension of its college.

      The acquisition was made possible partly through the generosity of local supporters and the Our Lady of the Rosary Investors Group, a Columbia County group of preservationists.

      Durward's Glen recently closed its doors as a parish owned and operated since 1932 by the St. Camillus Religious community, headquartered in Milwaukee.

      Jeffrey J. Karls, president of the New England college and a native of Lodi, said Magdalen College had been looking at properties in other states to expand, but his being familiar with the property was coincidental. He said he remembered it being a "place of serenity."

      The college, which was started in 1973, is a four-year liberal arts college in the Catholic tradition. They are looking to host programs for youth and adults at the site, such as a summer program for youth aged 15 to 18 to be held July 29 to August 11.

      Two priests from the order of the Apostles of Jesus will be relocated to the Durward's Glen property and will staff the center. During the times that programs are being offered, there will be a Mass schedule, Karls said. The traditional Corpus Christi procession will be continued this year, and the walks will still be open to the public, said David Currier, chairman of the development committee for the Magdalen College board of trustees.

      "Most of all, I want you to know we don't plan any major changes to the glen," he said. The name of Durward's Glen will also remain the same.

      The effort to bring a purchaser for the property that would carry on the purpose of the Glen was mainly the work of several long-standing families in the area and the investment group. A series of presentations held by Magdalen College to inform about the Glen project were well attended. Karls said they were inspired by the number of people who showed interest in Magdalen College coming to Wisconsin.

      "It's been very heartwarming to see that, and to see the outreach that's always been extended to us," said Currier, who may be a part of the advisory committee to the board of trustees for the Glen.

      In a statement Bishop Robert C. Morlino praised the investment group that raised the money for the purchase, saying, "I am very encouraged by the faith that you and the other members of the Our Lady of the Rosary Group have shown in working to keep the Durward's Glen property as a sacred place of retreat. I want to personally thank you for the concern you have shown for my ministry.

      "As the guardian of church teaching and the practice in the Diocese of Madison, I grant my Nihil Obstat (official blessing) with regard to your efforts in procuring the Durward's Glen property and bringing Magdalen College to our Diocese," he said. "I believe that God blesses good works such as yours."


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    • Durward's Glen to become second campus for small N.H. college
      By Brian D. Bridgeford

      TOWN OF CALEDONIA — Durward's Glen will continue to be a tranquil enclave in the Baraboo Hills and open to the public, according to representatives of a Catholic liberal arts college that will use it as a retreat site and second campus.

      About 70 people assembled in front of the small Catholic chapel on the grounds of the former Durward's Glen retreat site southeast of Baraboo to hear about plans for the beloved natural area and healing site.

      The future of the Glen had been in doubt, and some feared it might be developed for residences or some other use after the former owners, the Milwaukee-based Catholic Order of St. Camillus, celebrated the last Masses at the church in July and sought to sell the property.

      Jeffrey Karls, president of Magdalen College in Warner, N.H., said the school is buying Durward's Glen to use as spiritual retreat site and second campus. Magdalen's programming at the Glen will begin this summer with a youth retreat July 29 to August 11.

      Karls said the school's leaders have a lot of work ahead to decide what other educational programs will take place at Durward's Glen. It is likely they will start out with weekend retreats and adult educational programs, he said.

      "The key factor here it will be an educational facility," he said. "It may well be a two-year prep school; it could be a senior college. There are a variety of options."

      Karls said he grew up in Lodi and has fond memories of visits to Durward's Glen. He praised the local Blau and Krejchik families and other neighbors who donated to purchase the property.

      "Magdalen College intends to protect the Glen and keep the Glen in the very same spirit in which it has always existed," he said.

      David Currier, a trustee of the Magdalen College Board, said the school is not yet releasing details of what Magdalen College paid for Durward's Glen.

      Magdalen College works with a Catholic order of priests, The Apostles of Jesus, Karls said. Two priests of that order are expected to take up residence at the Glen in June and begin a schedule of Masses after that.

      Rural Caledonia resident Marty Krejchik said more than 60 local residents donated money to help Magdalen College purchase the property. She would not say Monday afternoon how much they gave, but in March announced they had pledges of $400,000 to that point and hoped to raise about $350,000 more.

      She said she is relieved Durward's Glen would continue as a place of peace and spirituality.

      "It's safe," she said. "I know God has it in its hands for a long time now."

      Local resident Leonard Blau said he has attended the small chapel at Durward's Glen all his life. His father, Frank Blau, help found the congregation in the 1930s.

      Leonard and three other Blau brothers, Charles, Leo and Luke, have been among those fundraising to preserve the property for spiritual and educational purposes. It was the wish of the original owners, devout Catholics and teachers Bernard and Margaret Durward, that the Glen be a be a place where daily Masses were celebrated, he said.

      "I've got quite an attachment to it," he said. "I didn't want it to get developed, to have something else here."

      Krejchik said supporters of the Glen plan to continue the tradition of holding a Feast of Corpus Christi procession and Mass on June 10. She said details are not final, but it will be followed by a potluck dinner, and the public is invited.

      In a shaded section of the Durward's Glen property, a small creek runs out of the bluffs through a rocky cleft and empties into a small pond with a picnic area on the shore.

      A statue of the Virgin Mary stands guard over the creek. There are other statues of Catholic saints placed around the property, and an outdoor trail features the stations of the cross.

      In addition to the St. Camillus Church, the Durward's Glen site includes a dormitory, dining room and classrooms and living areas.



      In a statement released Monday evening, Bishop Robert Morlino of the Madison Diocese praised the local donors for preserving the Glen and the administration of Magdalen College for coming to the area.

      Diocese spokesman Brian Kelly said supporters of the Glen included many people who are not Catholic, but still love the place for its tranquility and charm.



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    • Catholic College Saves Durward's Glen From Development
      Land Purchased By New Hampshire College



      BARABOO, Wis. -- A prized 40-acre piece of the Baraboo bluffs is being saved from future development.

      A New Hampshire-based Catholic college is acquiring the historic land. The property is called Durward's Glenn, with the same peace and beauty as nearby Devil's Lake, WISC-TV reported.

      Until last year, the land was home to a Catholic parish and conference center, owned by an order of priests. When they decided to sell it, some longtime parishioners raised money and helped Magdalen College purchase the land.

      The amount of money they paid isn't being released, but the college plans to use the land for educational purposes and keep it accessible to future generations, WISC-TV reported.


      "Magdalen College intends to protect the glen and keep the glen the very same spirit that's always existed," said Magdalen College President Jeffrey Karls.

      "I think it's holy ground," said parishioner Kevin Blau. "Just to be at peace and see God's creation, just to see how beautiful it can be."

      Many said that they believe the glen has healing powers.

      The college plans to work with the local Catholic diocese to develop programming for the conference center and retreat. A summer camp for teens has already been scheduled for the center, WISC-TV reported.



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    • Durward's Glen will continue to be retreat site

      By Brian D. Bridgeford

      TOWN OF CALEDONIA -- Durward's Glen will continue to be a tranquil enclave in the Baraboo Hills and open to the public, according to representatives of a Catholic liberal arts college that will use it as a retreat site and second campus.

      About 70 people assembled in front of the small Catholic chapel on the grounds of the former Durward's Glen retreat site in Columbia County to hear about plans for the beloved natural area and healing site. The future of the Glen had been in doubt and some feared it might be developed for residences or some other use after the former owners, the Milwaukee-based Catholic Order of St. Camillus, celebrated the last Masses at the church in July and sought to sell the property.

      Jeffrey Karls, president of Magdalen College in Warner, N.H., said the school is buying Durward's Glen to use as a spiritual retreat site and second campus. Magdalen's programming at the Glen will begin this summer with a youth retreat July 29 to August 11.

      Karls said the school's leadership have a lot of work ahead to decide what other educational programs will take place at Durward's Glen. It is likely they will start out with weekend retreats and adult educational programs, he said.

      "The key factor here it will be an educational facility," he said. "It may well be a two-year prep school; it could be a senior college. There are a variety of options."

      Karls said he grew up in Lodi and has fond memories of visits to Durward's Glen. He praised the local Blau and Krejchik families and other neighbors who donated to purchase the property.

      "Magdalen College intends to protect the Glen and keep the Glen in the very same spirit in which it has always existed," he said.

      David Currier, a trustee of the Magdalen College Board, said the school is not yet releasing details of what Magdalen College paid for Durward's Glen.

      Magdalen College works with a Catholic order of priests, The Apostles of Jesus, Karls said. Two priests of that order are expected to take up residence at the Glen in June and begin a schedule of Masses after that.

      Rural Caledonia resident Marty Krejchik said more than 60 local residents donated money to help Magdalen College purchase the property. She would not say Monday afternoon how much they gave, but in March announced they had pledges of $400,000 to that point and hoped to raise about $350,000 more.

      She said she is relieved Durward's Glen would continue as a place of peace and spirituality.

      "It's safe," she said. "I know God has it in its hands for a long time now."

      Local resident Leonard Blau said he has attended the small chapel at Durward's Glen all his life. His father, Frank Blau, help found the congregation in the 1930s.

      Leonard and three other Blau brothers, Charles, Leo and Luke, have been among those fundraising to preserve the property for spiritual and educational purposes. It was the wish of the original owners, devout Catholics and teachers Bernard and Margaret Durward, that the Glen be a be a place where daily Masses were celebrated, he said.

      "I've got quite an attachment to it," he said. "I didn't want it to get developed, to have something else here."

      Krejchik said supporters of the Glen plan to continue the tradition of holding a Feast of Corpus Christi procession and Mass on June 10. She said details are not final, but it will be followed by a potluck dinner, and the public is invited.


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