A Pioneer Retreat at St. Aloysius Retreat House in Nyamonye
By Fr. Francis Anyanzu, SJ
Many of us have heard of our new retreat house or even visited it but the question you might be asking is whether it is already open and running, if facilities are available and if, above all, it is possible to do a retreat there. If these are your questions, my response to you is an affirmative, YES, you can, after having done my first retreat but also a pioneer retreat at the Retreat House. Since the opening of the Retreat House, so far the two religious Sisters did their annual retreats at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Retreat House before me.
The Retreat House is located in Nyamonye, some 20 plus kilometres away from Bondo town of Siaya County, and about 6 kilometres from the main road to Usenge. The rooms are fully furnished and you have all the basic items you need for your retreat. The nearly 3 acres’ land on which the house sits are all covered with trees to shade you from worries and concerns about the daily routines and only have time with your God. Being located in a rural area, one is graced with a clean and virgin environment that provides body, mental and even spiritual refreshment. The food is amazingly fresh from the gardens or fish directly fished from the lake or rivers nearby. For one who likes to explore, the Lake Victoria is some 40 minutes to 1 hours walk from the Retreat House.
Personally, the enviably silent and serene environment was my perfect place for prayer. Apart from birds singing, or village people talking to each other, no distractive and disruptive noise could be heard. The quiet but safe roads are perfect for long meditative walks and jogging. Located in a rural place, the strong sense of community can be felt from the greetings of the people when one walks around. This new retreat house should be your next destination for retreat before the craziness of city life encroaches the quietness of the neighbourhoods.
