“Forest bathing,” the mindfulness practice of being in a natural area with trees to experience physiological and psychological health benefits, was first popularized in Japan (the Japanese term is shinrin-yoku) during the 1980s as a therapeutic response to the urbanization and technological transformation in the Asian country.
Susan Campbell, the director of the Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre in Cochrane, Alta., first learned about the concept after assuming her role over nine years ago.
“When I looked at that, I thought, ‘Well, we’ve been doing that for 75 years, people going off into the forest and just being able to breathe again,' ” said Campbell.
The 75th anniversary of this Catholic spiritual hub of stillness and prayer, nestled in the foothills of the picturesque Rocky Mountains and 20 minutes from Calgary, is being feted with a special celebration over the Aug. 10-11 weekend.
The two days of revelry features live music, a Way of the Cross hike, historical displays and an anniversary Mass co-celebrated by Calgary Bishop William McGrattan and Fr. Pierre Charland, minister provincial of the Order of the Friars Minor (OFM) in Canada.
On Aug. 15, 1949, the Franciscans gave their first retreat in their new home, which they had partially purchased. A benefactor named Clair J. Cote donated the surrounding land. Diocese of Calgary clergy were the first to experience the relaxing splendour of this new 500-acre property helmed by the OFM. Lay retreatants were hosted beginning the following month.
Campbell, who will step down from her director role next month but remain an active retreat team member, said Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre has maintained its fidelity to the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
“We welcome everyone in the name of Christ,” said Campbell. "We have had people here of no faith, people struggling with their faith, Catholics, disaffected Catholics and Christians from all walks of life. There is the story of Francis embracing a leper— for him, that was a turning point in his life. Everyone is welcome here. It does not matter who you are.”
St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of ecology. Campbell said the retreat centre strives to be fastidious in modelling, in Pope John Paul II’s words, the friar’s “exemplary ecological sensitivity” by reducing plastic composting and using solar panels as a renewable energy source.
The Italian mystic and poet also famously enjoyed spending many hours in prayerful seclusion. He once offered the following prayer: “Lord, help me to live this day quietly, easily. To lean upon Thy great strength, trustfully, restfully. To wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely. To meet others peacefully and joyously. To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously.”
Brother Michael Perras, OFM, said the centre strives to provide meaningful silent meditation time for retreatants and staff.
“With us, the whole premise is that there is always time for quiet contemplation,” said Perras. The motto here in the mountains is 'a place of peace, healing and prayer where all are welcome in the name of Christ.’ This echoes how Francis tried to live and how we, as Friars, try to live that out in the world.”
Testimonials from guests suggest the approach at Mount St. Francis is working effectively. Perras said visitors continually tell him and his team how the centre “helps them to let go of everything that has been burdening or holding them back.”
The retreat team orchestrate its own week-long or weekend events during about half the weekends in a calendar year, but the property is also a hot rental commodity for outside groups. Its most fruitful relationship is with the Diocese of Calgary. Parishes, lay groups, clergy and pastoral teams routinely turn to Mount St. Francis for fellowship, ministerial development and spiritual formation events.
Serenity retreats, inspired by the principles and practices of the renowned 12-step program for addiction recovery, have also emerged as a key pillar of Mount St. Francis over the past 75 years and are poised to remain so in the years ahead.
Looking ahead to the next 75 years, Campbell and Perras both commit to ensuring Mount St. Francis stays true to its mission of providing a cherished silent environment for spiritual contemplation.
In other words, they want to continue their apparent mastery over the art of forest bathing.