Lenten Retreat and Pilgrimage to the Purification Heritage Center

Date: March 19, 2022 (Solemnity of St. Joseph)

Place: Purification Heritage Center (Sharon, GA)

  • Click this link for detailed information: LENTEN RETREAT DETAILS
  • Make sure you have directions to Sharon, GA. Do not make the mistake of going to Washington, GA. We will meet at the Church of the Purification. 
  • If possible, please fill out the waiver form electronically before Saturday. If not, please fill out the printed waiver forms upon arrival at the site on Saturday.  

Fr. Bill has arranged with the Purification Heritage Center (PHC) for a one-day Lenten retreat for the parishioners of Holy Name of Jesus Chinese Catholic Mission. The Purification Heritage Center is known as the cradle of Catholicism of Georgia; it is the location where the first Catholics settled in the state of Georgia in 1790. The Purification Heritage Center provides a sacred place to seek, find and renew faith.

The Purification Heritage Center encompasses the church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Locust Grove Cemetery, Heritage Preserve and a retreat center that is being developed to host future retreats, meetings and pilgrimages. The church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in 1883 and is the third church built by the first Catholic congregation in Georgia. Locust Grove Cemetery is the oldest Catholic cemetery in Georgia. Heritage Preserve includes Grace Garden (a space for prayer and meditation), Trinity Common Pavilion (a place to gather for meals and fellowship), the Seven Sorrows of Mary Walk, a pond and Dock House.

Our one-day retreat will begin with carpool at 8:00am at the Holy Name of Jesus followed by a 2-hour drive to the Purification Heritage Center. Upon arrival, we will be greeted by the staff of PHC. The one-day retreat will include Mass at the church of the Purification, a guided tour of the pilgrimage site and lunch provided by PHC. There will be plenty of time for communal and private prayer, peaceful reflection in a rural setting and site seeing. We plan to leave at 3:30pm and arrive in Norcross by 5:30pm.  

Save the date on your calendar. Children accompanied by their parents are welcome. There are no fees for this retreat.