We hope you can make it to Sunday afternoon’s open house at the Diocese of Peoria’s new Sacré-Coeur Retreat Center, featured in a special section within this issue of The Catholic Post. But if you can’t, not to worry.

This jewel of renewal, built on the site of the former retreat center originally known as King’s House and later as Nazareth House in Magnolia, will be welcoming guests and providing a space to rest and encounter Jesus for decades to come. And that’s something to celebrate, whether in person at Sunday’s open house or with a prayer of gratitude at your home or at Mass this weekend.

We congratulate all who have had, and will have, a role in its creation and operation, especially our visionary shepherds, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, and Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka. We thank the architects, the contractors, the artists, and the many skilled craft men and women who made this diocesan dream a reality.

Parishes, Catholic institutions, organizations and individuals around the diocese should consider Sacré-Coeur for a future retreat. Deacon Terry Stalsberg, executive director, and the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary who are assisting the operation would love to make that happen. They know that even more beautiful than this amazing facility and its river bluff setting is a heart and soul renewed or healed by the love of Jesus. — Thomas J. Dermody