Eastern Point Retreat House — Local services in Gloucester

Incredible place to meet God! Gorgeous venue of peace and tranquility. Excellent spiritual guidance and welcoming community. Accommodations are great with private rooms, each private bath and shower, private balconies (most rooms), a nice desk and comfy chair.

I'm a presbyterian and haven't been to many catholic retreat houses but I have to say this place is amazing. Father Campbell, the director, is a warm and gracious host. He welcomed us as retreat coordinator (and standup comic) to something I hadn't even thought was possible for me: a 30 day silent retreat! That's a long time for me to be quiet but it was a long term goal for me, truly once-in-a-lifetime.

Making The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius has been a profoundly transformative experience for me. I haven’t felt this much joy and this much confidence in God since 1978, when I first met Jesus personally. God has been persistent with me through the years, yet the Exercises have become a "cannonball moment," propelling me into a much deeper friendship with Jesus. This feels truly life-changing.

Joan McCarthy, my spiritual director, has a passion and love for The Spiritual Exercises that were evident in every interaction we had. Her ability to understand and read me was remarkable, and her attentive ear to the prompting of the Spirit made this experience all the more special.

I have to say one of the highlights was the food. Truly the best "institutional" food service I have ever experienced. The meals are hot, fresh and delicious. Lots of variety and the vegetables are not overcooked! Their baked cod is as good as any restaurant. Love having a salad bar available at every meal but often the special salads on the buffet are so good that I don't bother. I'm pescaterain and pretty good at eating at a buffet and avoiding meat, but Dan Ryan and his team never let that happen. If there wasn't a good fish or vegetable main, there was always a plate of something cooked up just for me with my name on it. Made me feel special. And I know they deal with lots of food preferences/restrictions--not just mine. Really added to my retreat experience.

edit: grammer...

EP Retreat House Welcomes All

I am a mature woman religious but not of any particular order or congregation. I have been coming to Eastern Point for about 7 years now. Living on a limited budget this is my only opportunity to have a quiet affordable week of rest in a lovely safe setting by the ocean. In fact I have never had the chance to be near the ocean until I started coming to EP.

In my years of coming here I have witnessed people’s of many different nationalities and backgrounds. Many are from religious organizations ( but not all ) and are also on limited incomes. We save our money to be able to come to one of the few places where there is nature and serenity and we can feel welcome.

From the various people I have met, they come here for the annual retreat ( a quiet time to spend re-energizing their faith) and then return to do missionary work in many different parts of the world and the US.

The house was built in the 1920 and purchased by the Jesuits in 1958 for the purpose of holding retreats. I don’t believe the surrounding area was as “opulent and prestigious “ as it is now. I believe those expensive properties came much later. The Jesuits were fortunate to acquire and retain the property when they did, as now it is much more valuable. The old building is still used as our chapel , dining room, meeting room and where the only two staff members ( Fr Bill being one of them ) have their rooms. The building is in need of serious repair and there is no air conditioning anywhere.

There is an additional building with rooms for the retreat attendees. The rooms are simple but suitable with just the essentials.

Prices for retreats start at $60/ day and include meals.

All this information in on the website.

For the reviewer that lost her father, my sincere condolences. Her deceased father having been Catholic, I encourage her to honor his faith and not scatter his ashes; and bury him with the proper Catholic Blessing. He’ll thank you...

I called Father Campbell to ask for his permission to spread my father's ashes on the property. I am not Catholic; so I don't know the rules. My dad was. The Father called me back and without any kindness- no I'm sorry for your loss or any offer of what others who have called him do instead- he said Catholic policy doesn't allow the body to be spread; it must be interred. I can respect that his rules and beliefs are different from mine... But when someone calls with a dead parent looking for help to put that parent at rest, maybe the first response of a religious leader should be one of compassion before you throw the rule book at them. No wonder young people want nothing to do with the church.

Also the ban on spreading rather than interring seems like a strange rule to enforce considering all the body parts and blood of multiple saints that the Catholic Church holds as relics- shouldn't the Father and his colleagues start interring those with the saints bodies in that case?

Anyway it's a tax free vacation house for Catholics with 32 rooms in the wealthiest part of town. End of a Gated community with a security guard. Stays at the house cost upwards of 3000. Meanwhile in downtown Gloucester there is an overfull homeless shelter struggling to help everyone, and as far as I know the retreat center does little for those folks. Between that and the constant Priest abusing children problem in the church, I would say if you are a true believer find a better place to spend your time and your money- one that actually serves your God and his children. Pretty sure Jesus would flip the tables...