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In 1958, Sister Joseph the Major Superior of the Oxford Dominican Community had a dream to do something with a large dairy barn on the property of the sisters. Her dream was to open a girl's camp for 7, 8 and 9th grade girls. They would use the barn for a camp where the young girls would come for two weeks at a time throughout the summer.

Construction began. Some of the sisters helped Sister Joseph with the plans for the barn. The Sisters cleaned the barn and builders began with construction. Once the construction was done Sister Rita, Sister Alberta and the novices did all the interior painting and tiling.

On the weekend of March 19, 1960 a group of 50 young women came to St. Mary's for a weekend retreat. It was so successful that Sister Lucille, the major superior at that time, decided not to use it as a girl's camp but rather to use it as a retreat house. In the mid-sixties more rooms and a chapel were added. From that weekend on St. Mary's has sponsored retreats every weekend from September through June.

The retreat house currently accommodates up to 59 women for a weekend retreat. Bedrooms on the second and third floor are private rooms with a sink in each room. There are ten addition bedrooms on the first floor along with the conference room, dining room, administrative offices, prayer room, gift shop and library areas.

The Retreat House is located on the property of the Dominican Sisters' Motherhouse in Oxford, Michigan. It still retains its own natural beauty with spacious grounds, wooded area with outdoor Stations of the Cross, and many beautiful trees.  

Orchard