A History Shaped by Prayer, Work, and Care for the Land
Ignatius Jesuit Centre is rooted in a long tradition of spiritual practice, education, and stewardship that stretches back more than a century. The story of this place is inseparable from the land itself and from the Ignatian understanding that faith is lived through attention, service, and relationship with God, with others, and with creation.
Ignatian Roots
Ignatian spirituality begins with the life and teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in the 16th century. At its core is the conviction that God can be encountered in all things — in prayer and contemplation, but also in daily work, relationships, and engagement with the world.
This spirituality emphasizes discernment, reflection, justice, and action. Jesuits have long understood education, social responsibility, and care for the marginalized as integral to spiritual life. Over time, this has naturally extended to care for the natural world, recognizing that ecological responsibility is inseparable from spiritual and social well-being.
From Novitiate to Ignatius College
The Jesuits acquired the land north of Guelph in 1913. For decades, it functioned as a place of formation first as St. Stanislaus Novitiate, shaped by the rhythms of agriculture, prayer, and community life. Jesuits and lay collaborators cultivated the land, tended orchards and fields, and developed a deep familiarity with its forests, waterways, and soils. By mid-century, the property had become a major centre for Jesuit formation, renamed Ignatius College, serving both novices and junior scholastics.
Tragedy struck in the early hours of January 3, 1954, when a fire broke out in the roof of the main building. Despite the efforts of firefighters from Guelph and Fergus, the structure—built largely of wood—was engulfed in flames and completely destroyed within hours. Fortunately, no lives were lost, and the community quickly mobilized to rehouse the students and staff. This event marked a pivotal turning point in IJC’s history. Click here to read a wonderful article from Stephen Thorning in the Wellington Advertiser about the fire and it’s impact on the future IJC.
In the years following the fire, the Jesuits committed to rebuilding. New, modern facilities were constructed between 1958 and 1960, ushering in a new era for Ignatius College.
Loyola House and Spiritual Formation
In 1964, Loyola House was established on the property as a residential retreat and spiritual formation centre. Loyola House began as a weekend retreat centre and quickly evolved into a hub for Ignatian spirituality. Spearheaded by visionaries like Fathers John English and John Veltri, it offered directed retreats and training in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, drawing people from around the world seeking spiritual depth and discernment.
Thousands of people came to this land through Loyola House seeking silence, discernment, healing, and renewal. The retreat programs helped shape a generation of spiritual directors and deepened the understanding of Ignatian spirituality across Canada and beyond.
Opening the Land to Community
Beginning in the late 20th century, Ignatius Jesuit Centre increasingly opened its land and programs to the broader public. Ignatius Farm emerged as one of the first community-supported agriculture projects in the region, and later expanded to include community gardens, farmer training, and small-scale land access for new growers.
At the same time, conservation and land stewardship initiatives took root. Long-term restoration projects, trail systems, and habitat protection efforts reflected a growing awareness of the ecological value of the land and the responsibility to care for it into the future.
In 2006, IJC launched the Old-Growth Forest Project, a bold ecological restoration initiative with a 500-year vision. The project is focuses on regenerating native forest habitat, protecting biodiversity, and creating a space for environmental education, research, and contemplation. Over time, this initiative has transformed a portion of the property into a sanctuary for wildlife and a place of reflection for all who walk its trails. It stands as a testament to IJC’s long-term commitment to ecological justice and care for our common home.
These developments reflected a deepening understanding of Ignatian spirituality in practice: that caring for creation and fostering community are expressions of faith, not additions to it.
Ecology, Justice, and Spiritual Life
As ecological concerns became more urgent globally, IJC’s work increasingly reflected the insights of Catholic social teaching and, more recently, Pope Francis’ call to integral ecology. Conservation, regenerative farming, education, and spiritual reflection came to be understood as interconnected responses to the same underlying call: to live in right relationship with creation and with one another.
This integrated approach has shaped how programs evolved across the site — from the Old-Growth Forest Project and conservation corridors to farmer training and community engagement.
A Time of Transition and Renewal
With the conclusion of Loyola House’s residential retreat programming, Ignatius Jesuit Centre has entered a new chapter. While the form of programming has changed, the foundation has not. Ignatian spirituality, care for the land, and commitment to community remain at the heart of IJC’s mission.
This moment of transition has created space to reimagine how spiritual formation, ecological learning, and community life can come together in more accessible, land-based, and integrated ways. The development of the Centre for Integral Ecology reflects this renewal — building on the past while responding to the needs of the present.
Today, Ignatius Jesuit Centre continues to be shaped by its history while looking toward the future. Volunteers, farmers, partners, educators, spiritual seekers, and neighbours all contribute to the living story of this place.