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The History of Loyola House
Loyola House has been a centre of spiritual depth and hospitality since its founding in 1964. Located within the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, Ontario, the retreat house was established by the Jesuits of English Canada to provide a dedicated space for Ignatian retreats and formation. From the beginning, it has offered a place of silence, prayer, and personal encounter with God through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Beginnings Rooted in Ignatian Vision
The house was named in honour of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, whose vision of discerning God’s presence in all things continues to shape the mission of Loyola House today. From its earliest years, Loyola House supported the classic 30-day Spiritual Exercises as well as shorter directed retreats, creating space for spiritual seekers to withdraw from daily life and deepen their relationship with God.
It quickly gained recognition for its dedication to Ignatian spirituality and its hospitable welcome to individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. Laypeople, clergy, religious, and seekers alike found in Loyola House a space of stillness, direction, and renewal.
A Shift in Ignatian Retreat Practice
From the late 1960s through the 1970s, Loyola House became the centre of a groundbreaking change in how Ignatian retreats were conducted. Until then, retreats typically followed a preached model—retreatants would gather at specific times to hear talks and be told what to pray throughout the day.
This approach shifted dramatically through the influence of two Jesuit priests, John English, S.J. and John Veltri, S.J. Drawing on their formation at St. Beuno’s College in Wales, they introduced a more personal and dynamic way of engaging with the Spiritual Exercises. Instead of communal preaching, they offered daily individual spiritual direction, where retreatants received personalized “points for prayer” in one-on-one conversations.
John Veltri began this work at Loyola House in 1967, and John English, who had been novice master at the neighbouring St. Stanislaus Novitiate since 1965, joined him at Loyola House in 1978. Together, they helped redefine the Ignatian retreat model in North America. Their innovation became the hallmark of Loyola House and has since shaped Ignatian retreat practice around the world.
A Legacy of Innovation and Hospitality
Building on this foundation, Loyola House continued to expand its offerings through the 1980s and 1990s, launching formation programs for spiritual directors and retreats that integrated themes of ecology, social justice, and creative expression.
As part of the larger Ignatius Jesuit Centre, Loyola House also embraced IJC’s growing ecological mission, encouraging a contemplative relationship with the land and creation as an expression of faith and spiritual practice.
Today, Loyola House stands as both a beacon of Ignatian tradition and a place of contemporary spiritual exploration. With retreatants visiting from across Canada and around the world, it remains a sacred space where silence, direction, and discernment continue to transform lives—faithful to its roots, and alive to the Spirit’s movement in our time.
