Who We Are
The Centre is on a 35 acre property that boasts of walking paths, community gardens, a greenhouse, a private beach and plenty of space for gatherings. Bring your own sports equipment to make use of our outdoor facilities! Tennis, swimming, canoeing, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing and other possible activities are available to our guests. Our maintenance crew does an excellent job keeping our grounds and facilities ready for all seasons.
We can accommodate up to 50 people with meals and accommodations. Our cooks and kitchen staff offer nutritious and delicious food, which is prepared fresh on the premises and served buffet style in our dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner. During weekday retreats staff is available to assist with any IT-related questions as well as presentation set up. Weekend office staff will gladly assist you with your questions on the weekend or provide office type support. Our resident Guest Services & Security staff will look after assisting you with after-hours support should you get locked out of your room, require extra towels or blankets and any other incidentals.
With three main conference rooms plus a variety of other rooms for intimate gatherings, the main building includes: 37 bedrooms, a library, a dining room, and a grand staircase to the second floor chapel. You can nurture your body, mind and spirit with scheduled labyrinth walks (inside or outside), yoga, prayer and meditation. Our resident Oblate chaplain, Father Richard Kelly, is available for spiritual direction upon request.
Everyone is encouraged to get to know what the Galilee Centre is all about. It is truly a welcoming holistic spiritual life centre that is an oasis of peace, care and comfort. While the Centre is rooted in Christian values and beliefs, it is very much a multi-faith centre.
Book your retreat during the week by calling our bookings coordinator at (613) 623-4242 x20.
Here at the Galilee Centre, we strive to maintain a globally inclusive community of choice where individuals or groups can renew, refresh, and revive their spirit, mind and body in a welcoming tranquil oasis.
Mission
Galilee is a place of prayer and renewal providing an opportunity for growth, healing and reconciliation. Its objectives are:
a) To advance spiritual, religious, and peaceful co-existence amongst people of all faiths, or no faith, through retreats, educational workshops, seminars and courses that focus on the spiritual practices and histories of various religions and peoples, with emphasis on reconciliation, healing and forgiveness.
b) To advance ecological projects around sustainable living and care of the planet including but not limited to clean water initiatives, recycling and reforestation.
Vision
To create an inclusive community of choice whereby individuals of all faiths, or no-faith, find in Galilee a welcoming oasis of belonging and learning– an authentic home – whether for a short visit or an extended period.
Members of the Galilee community strive to build nurturing, supportive and inclusive communities in service of making the world a better place wherever they find themselves.
Oblates
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate are just that, missionaries, located throughout the world. There are more than 700 Oblates in Canada and the United States, working in a wide range of ministries, including prisons, schools, universities, hospitals, and parishes, where they focus on bringing the love of God to the poor and abandoned. This religious community started in 1816 in the southern France, when the founder, St. Eugene de Mazenod, and four priest companions came together to bring the Good News to post-Revolution France. Some 3,800 Oblates are now present in all five continents around the world.
Oblate Associates are lay men and women who are witnesses to God’s love in their daily lives. Like the Oblates themselves, Associates feel called to minister directly to the poor. Infused with the charism of St. Eugene, the Oblate Associates work not only to improve the condition of the poor, but also to bring an awareness of the Good News that they, too, are children of God.
For more information on the OMI, please click here to Read More!
