40th Anniversary at Marymount Hermitage, New Construction
Marymount Hermitage in Mesa, Idaho is home to a Hermit named Sister Beverly. Geographically, Marymount is 100 acres of high desert, surrounded by mountains. The campus has grown from the original, 5 small, modular buildings, to include now 2 on-site hermitages, a chapel, a larger modular for Hermit Sisters, a work-shop, and a large library, which was built only 6 years ago. Sister Beverly has lived her life of prayer in silence and solitude at Mesa for 40 years. This year is the 40th Anniversary for Marymount and to celebrate, Bishop Peter Christensen, the Catholic Bishop of Idaho, will be offering a public Mass on Oct. 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. All are welcome! To commemorate this 40th Jubilee, a new facility is under construction. To meet the demand from more people to spend time on retreat, Jubilee Guest House is being built with 5 bedrooms, which can host either individuals, married couples, or a group request for a retreat. The new building is about 4,000 sq. ft. and is being built by local tradesmen. Jack Roberts of PMR, Inc. in Council, ID is the general contractor. When the new facility is finished in the spring of 2025, there will be an Open House for the public on several days.
What is a retreat at Marymount like? Temporarily, people live each day like Sister Beverly does, in silence and solitude for the sake of prayer. During the orientation tour upon arrival, the retreatant is shown the buildings which are available to them: besides their own hermitage (a self-contained cabin), the chapel and library are always open. There is ample space to go for a long walk and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding mountains, forests and wide skies.
How do you pray? This is the communication between you and God. Prayer can be a conversation. It can include reading the Bible or writing in your prayer journal. You can bring books of your own to read or check out books from the library. Maybe all you want to do is sit outside and look and listen. The Lord speaks in silence to your heart. You can also join in the communal prayers in the chapel: morning prayer, evening prayer, Mass and holy hours. To apply for a retreat, email and ask if the dates you are requesting are available on the calendar. SisterBeverly@marymount-hermitage.org A return email will follow up with agreement or alternatives for your dates and request for an application and deposit to be sent by US mail.
Given the state of the world and our country, having people come to pray is a good spiritual value. However, having visitors to the wider Council/Cambridge area is also a financial benefit to our local economy. People have to buy food to cook for themselves while on retreat. Retreatants often come from Boise or even out-of-state. Traveling these distances, people need gas for their vehicles. Most people love the natural beauty of the mountains, lakes, rivers, and scenic drives in the national forests. Some enjoy vigorous outdoor activities like biking, hiking, cross country skiing, fishing and sailing. Others thoroughly enjoy the cultural or social opportunities like the Council Quilt Show, the 4th of July fireworks with the Porcupine Race, the Cambridge Hells Canyon Days with all the vendors and associated activities, and shops with mementos and gift items for family and friends at home. Most people return annually when they have made one retreat at Marymount Hermitage. Whether you realize it or not, you help us to offer hospitality to visitors!
It is important that you as local citizens know what Marymount Hermitage is, why it is a benefit to the nearby communities, and that donations towards the building fund are gratefully appreciated. If you send a donation, please make the check out to Marymount Hermitage and send it in the U.S. mail to 2150 Hermitage Lane, Mesa, ID 83643. If you have questions for Sister Beverly, please feel free to call (208) 256-4354 (land line, no texts please) between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily or email her. The website has a special section dedicated to the Jubilee Guest House with current information on construction and fundraising posted there. The web address is:
marymount-hermitage.org.
Please pray for safety and success for the workmen, completion of construction in a timely way, and the necessary funds for all construction work and household furnishings. All donations will be acknowledged by a hand-written thank you note. Marymount Hermitage, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation, so tax receipts will be issued upon request. Benefactors are remembered in the daily prayers of the community here and in Masses offered regularly. We pray that the Jubilee Guest House will give glory to God and be for our neighbor’s good for many years to come. Please pray about a donation and God bless you!
