On September 1, 1923 thirty-eight men gathered at Marathon's St. Anthony Friary for the first retreat which was given by Capuchin Father Andrew Neufeld, who was teaching at St. Lawrence College, Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin.  It proved to be a successful venture.

The men who gathered for that first retreat were impressed with the monastic atmosphere of the seminary and were touched by Fr. Andrew's conferences.
At the end of the retreat, they adopted the following resolution:

      "Whereas! By the grace of God we have been called to spend the last three days in retreat at St. Anthony's Monastery  where,  by the example of the Fathers, Students and Brothers, and the great zeal of the retreat master, we have received courage and inspiration to seek the things of God and improve our spiritual life.

      "Be it resolved! That we promise to observe during our lives the holy counsels of Fr. Andrew, the lessens of the retreat, and to make known to our fellow Catholic laymen the value of these exercises to ourselves, to Holy Mother Church,and to our home and country."

This resolve of the first retreatants was no empty boast. They did make known the value of a retreat and within a short time the number of retreats and retreatants grew.  But the retreats could only be held during the summer months when the students vacated their rooms and slept in the basement or classrooms in order to accommodate the men. Before long it became apparent that other arrangements would have to be made.

Most of the success of the retreat movement was the result of efforts of Fr. Gilbert Heuel, a Capuchin priest who taught the art of preaching to the Capuchin students at Marathon. He had been a diocesan priest who joined the Capuchin Order, a gifted and capable man. He realized that something had to be done to alleviate the inconveniences caused students by the arrangement of the retreats. So he proposed that a separate house for retreats be built on the grounds of Marathon.

However, the depression hit the country at that time and there was no way that money could be raised for a retreat house. So plans for a retreat house were laid aside for the time.

A few years later things changed to make it possible for the idea of a retreat house to become a reality. A close friend of the Capuchins, Mrs. Mary Merkel, owned a tract of land east of the city of Appleton. She was thinking of donating the land to the Third Order of St. Francis for a home for the elderly.  Mrs. Merkel was approached as to the possibility of using the land for a retreat house.  She consented and even purchased more land along the Fox River.

Fr. Gilbert Heuel was asked to be in charge of building a retreat house. Ground was broken on July 15, 1934. Two months later 2000 people gathered for the laying of the cornerstone. The dream of the Knights of Columbus materialized.

The new site was designated Monte Alverno in honor of the mountain where St. Francis of Assisi received the Stigmata. Monte Alverno became the first retreat house in the state of Wisconsin to be built as a retreat center. The dedication took place on April 7, 1935. The first retreat was on May 4th. Twenty-three Knights of Columbus gathered with Father Gilbert as retreat master.

The retreat movement in the United States was in its infancy stage. It took much time and energy to promote the purpose and value of a retreat. The beginning was slow and tedious.

The original building accommodated thirty-four retreatants. The movement grew so that by the1950's expansion was becoming a need. The conference room below the chapel was already converted into a dormitory.

A new addition soon materialized under the leadership of Fr. Bill Alcuin. The cornerstone was laid in 1962 and the dedication took place on July 19, 1963. Twenty-five rooms plus a new lounge, lobby, meeting room and extension of the dining room was added. In 1965 the new convent was built. Additional retreatant rooms became available when the sisters left and the friars moved into the convent turned friary several years later.

With the advent of Vatican II the retreat movement went through a period of experimentation. Dialogue and youth retreats as well as encounters replaced many silent retreats. The number of retreatants declined considerably to the point that the Capuchins were re-examining their commitment to the retreat movement due primarily to the financial burden.

Fortunately a decision was made to retain Monte Alverno as a retreat center with a new era of contemplative type retreats. Father Bill Alcuin returned as director together with Father Ellis Zimmer. Father Bill became a prophetic voice for the retreat movement both locally and nationally. He became involved in the development of Retreats International as the retreat movement for men and for women merged.

The retreat movement and Monte Alverno again began to prosper with the unfolding of Vatican II. The renewed awareness of scripture became a deepening source for preaching and reflection. A Bible group developed from among the retreatants and continues to meet every Monday morning. The Monte Alverno Guild was formed to help provide furnishings for the retreat center and to assist in the promotion of the retreats.

The retreat registrations increased and stabilized through the strong coordinator and promoter system among retreatants from various areas of the diocese of Green Bay. Father Kieran Hickey succeeded Father Bill Alcuin during the decade of 80's and into the 90's.

Monte Alverno is now one of eight retreat centers in the diocese of Green Bay. Although primarily a Catholic setting, Monte Alverno is open to people of all faiths. All talks and presentations are from the Catholic perspective and spirituality.

About 3000 persons come each year to get in touch with their deeper self, and their God, to discern how they relate to others and all of God's creation. People come primarily from the greater Fox Cities area, yet some come from as far a distance as Illinois and Minnesota.

A retreat is a time to reflect, renew and energize oneself. The setting of Monte Alverno on the banks of the Fox River provides marvelous space and atmosphere for a person to revel in God's creation, reflect on one's life patterns, and be attuned to new visions and dreams in one's life and relationships.

Programs are offered almost every weekend of the year. A retreat for men or for women -- or both together -- begins Friday evening after supper and continues until after the noon meal on Sunday.

Talks or conferences reflect on a person's relationship to God and on the need to cope with life's struggles and losses, and offer reflections on how to pray and generally how to face life.  Morning prayer, presentations, Eucharist and a healing service are part of the weekend schedule.

Monte Alverno also offers mid-week and evening programs. During Lent a program is offered each Tuesday--three evening programs and three days of prayer. Many people come to the retreat center for spiritual direction and private days of prayer.

Father Werner Wolf, a Capuchin-Franciscan, became the director of Monte Alverno on July 1, 1996 and resigned as of August 1, 2004.  Father Adrian Staehler was asked to take his place pending the arrival of Fr. Keith Clark who became Director in July of 2005. Additional ministerial staff members include Brother John Kocian and Sister Marlene Weber, FSPA.  Fr. Art Cooney joined the staff in November of 2005. The remainder of the staff is comprised of three full-time employees, namely, Jane Kolosso in the office; Jim Ritchie in custodian and maintenance services, and Verna Brown as head cook.  Bob Hieptas has been volunteering his talent and time to help with the Capital Campaign.  Part-time employees are Sally Gerarden and Don & Mary Bossert in the kitchen; Verna Berken, Margie Hartmann, Nellie Shillcox, Linda Van Handel, and Melissa Verkuilen in housekeeping; and Kathleen MacGregor, Donna Nagan as musicians.

We believe that, if we provide a competent staff and a meaningful program,  the providential God will provide the financial resources needed. There have been many needs to the physical plant that will need to be attended to, such as plumbing, an elevator, a walk-in cooler/freezer, and the upgrading of the kitchen.  Future needs to be met are a loading dock and window replacement.

There may not be as many Capuchin friars ministering in the future years, but a vibrant lay staff will evolve from the fruits of the ministry provided during the past century. In faith we look to a hopeful future and with gratitude we praise God for many rewarding years of service provided by many friars, religious and lay folks. Let us praise the Lord. Amen.  Alleluia

Monte Alverno Retreat Center, sponsored by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars, offers hospitality and sacred space to all people searching for God.   In a quiet prayerful atmosphere, guided by staff members, surrounded by the beauty of creation,  retreatants continue their spiritual journey toward wholeness.

Through its staff, facilities, programs and environment, Monte Alverno provides an opportunity for growth in relationship with God, others, and self.

Fr. Thomas Aquinas
Heidenrich
1951-1952

Fr. Keith Clark
2005 -