THE AUGUSTINIAN MONASTERY
OUR LADY OF GRACE SHRINE
MARYLAKE RETREAT CENTRE
ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO
P.O. Box 550
13760 Keele St., King City
Ontario, Canada, L7B-1A7
(opposite the western end of Bloomington Rd.)
DIRECTIONS
From the East: Take Highway 404 northbound to Bloomington Rd. Go westbound on Bloomington until you reach Keele St. At this point there is an entrance to Marylake straight ahead.
From the West: Take Highway 400 northbound to the King Road. Go east on King Rd until you reach Keele St. turn left and go north on Keele St for about 2 kms. You will see the Marylake gate on the lefthand side of the road.
Local Map
Regional Map
(905) 833-5368
Fax (905) 833-5569
Contact:
Father Eugene Tramble O.S.A.
Prior, Marylake Monastery
Email: eugenetramble@aol.com
Masses
Monday to Friday at 08:00am
Saturday and Sunday at 09:00am
Other Services
Reconciliation: any time
The KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
(Sacred Heart King City Council)
presents the
Marylake Monastery Pipe Organ Restoration Project
Click here (or here) for more details
Welcome to this web site about the Marylake Shrine in King City, Ontario, Canada. Marylake is home to the Augustinian Monastery, (Order of St. Augustine, Province of St. Joseph).
The information you find here about Marylake has been reproduced from pamphlets that can be obtained at the monastery. I hope you find it informative and I appreciate your comments and suggestions that can make this site a better one.
Thank you so much,
Sebastiano G. (John) Tantalo - Webmaster
I've dedicated these Marylake web pages under the protection and intercession of St. Augustine who composed this beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That I my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.
Amen. (St. Augustine)
Originally the farm and summer home of Sir Henry Pellatt. During the depression in the thirties the Basilian Fathers established an agricultural school on the property. In 1942, James Cardinal McGuigan, the Archbishop of Toronto, invited the Augustinians to establish a shrine and to offer a program of weekend retreats for lay people. The title Our Lady of Grace comes from an Augustinian shrine in Lisbon, Portugal. The retreat program, initiated in 1943, so prospered that it was necessary to double the facilities for retreatants by adding to the red brick "farmer's house" in the early fifties. In order to house the steadily growing religious community of Augustinians and to provide pilgrims with a place of worship, a new monastery and shrine church were built in the sixties. In 1964, Cardinal McGuigan laid the cornerstone for the new shrine building and it was dedicated in 1978 by Cardinal Carter.
Image of Augustinian Coat of Arms seen below
designed by
DANIEL LA GAMBA
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Vocations
The Augustinains of the Midwest (Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel) has an excellent web site with more up-to-date comprehensive information on vocations.
Please click the links below for more information:
http://www.midwestaugustinians.org/ (Home Page O.S.A Midwest)
http://www.midwestaugustinians.org/vocatframe.html (Vocations O.S.A. Midwest)
As supplemental reading, you can read the following text which is a copy from an old pamphlet.
Passionate - Dedicated - Prayerful
"just being part of the family …"
Together The Journey
The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
(ACTS 4:32-34)
A Rich History
Augustinians are the spiritual descendants of Saint Augustine, one of the great thinkers of Christian antiquity and of the West. Extending over many centuries from medieval times to the present, the history of the Augustinian family is intertwined with the history of the Western world. Organized in 1244 by Pope Innocent IV, the Order of Saint Augustine is a religious community of "friars" or brothers serving the Church. Formed as a direct response to the needs of Europe in the thirteenth century, the Order witnessed the movement of people from farms to towns teeming with commerce. Augustinians moved into newly expanded cities and began to involve themselves in administering the sacraments, preaching and teaching. Augustinians helped Christianity recover from the Reformation, brought the Gospel message to Central and South America, planted the first seeds of Asian Christianity, and founded schools and parishes in North America.
The Augustinian style of life, like Saint Augustine's, is both active and contemplative. Service to the Church is nurtured by a commitment to individual and communal prayer. As Augustine founded communities to follow the Gospel, so the Augustinians seek to be a "community of believers" with "one heart and mind" in God (Acts 4:32).
Our Mission
Almost 3000 Augustinian friars live in community, ministering to people all over the world. We go wherever the needs of the Church call us - to the inner city, to rural and remote areas and to foreign lands. We serve in many different ministries: as teachers, chaplains, social workers, missionaries, writers and artists as well as pastoral ministers, preachers of the Word, presiders of the Eucharist and celebrants of the sacraments.
The Order is divided into many geographical provinces throughout the world. Each province is composed of local communities (houses or friaries). Each house is a community of three or more brothers. An Augustinian community is a family of equals. Wherever we live, or whatever form our work takes, we strive to realize what we seek in our Order: a community of mutual love and respect in the search for God in and with one another.
Our Charism - WHO WE ARE
Saint Augustine believed that God could best be discovered in the company of friends. Community occupies a central position in Augustinian spirituality. The Augustinians are a community of brothers and sisters who live with the People of God. Our journey is shared with other brother and sister Augustinians, with the people of the areas we serve, with the larger Church and with the entire world. In Augustinian spirituality, love of God and love of neighbour are one.
Also prominent in Augustine's spirituality is a commitment to develop the interior life through prayer. Prayer is the foundation for our service to the Church. Augustine writes in the very beginning of his Confessions, "You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless, until they rest in You." Augustinian life is a shared journey to God, a life of contemplation and action, prayer and service.
Your Journey
What now? You may not be sure where God is leading you, but you feel a gentle tug at your heart. Where do you go from here?
First, meet an Augustinian. Contact one of the vocation directors whose numbers are listed at the back of this brochure. He will schedule an appointment to meet you or direct you to an Augustinian community nearby. As you share your story, and the story of the Augustinians, you will learn more about yourself and learn to hear God's call more clearly.
Initial formation is structured with serious consideration given to the unique circumstances of each candidate. Those of college age may join St. Joseph's Seminary at Loyola University in Chicago to pursue a college degree while considering a call to religious life. Older candidates can do the same at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. while living in an Augustinian community. An alternate process involving a "live in" experience may also be arranged.
If you decide to continue your journey, you will enter the novitiate. This year-long program fosters spiritual growth and increased self-knowledge through prayer, courses in spirituality and religious life, and through meetings with the director. At the end of this year, if you desire to dedicate your life to living the Gospel values of poverty, chastity and obedience in community, you will ask to profess temporary vows.
As a professed member you will pursue graduate theological and pastoral studies as well as other training to prepare for your future as either a priest or brother. After spending at least three years in temporary vows, you will be eligible to profess solemn vows that express a lifelong commitment on the Order of Saint Augustine.
The Augustinians
John Merkelis, O.S.A.
Toletine Center
20300 Governors Highway
Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1081
(708) 748-9500
Tom Whelan, O.S.A.
108 Cole Street
San Franscisco, CA 94117-1116
(415) 387-3626
Vocation Director
214 Ashwood Road
P.O. Box 340
Villanova, PA 19085-0340
(610) 527-3330 ext. 284
Vocation Director
Marylake Box 550
King City, Ontario, Canada L7B-1A7
(905) 833-5368
Please click the links below for more information:
http://www.midwestaugustinians.org/ (Home Page O.S.A Midwest)
http://www.midwestaugustinians.org/vocatframe.html (Vocations O.S.A. Midwest)
As supplemental reading, you can read the following text which is a copy from an old pamphlet.
Passionate - Dedicated - Prayerful
"just being part of the family …"
Together The Journey
The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
(ACTS 4:32-34)
A Rich History
Augustinians are the spiritual descendants of Saint Augustine, one of the great thinkers of Christian antiquity and of the West. Extending over many centuries from medieval times to the present, the history of the Augustinian family is intertwined with the history of the Western world. Organized in 1244 by Pope Innocent IV, the Order of Saint Augustine is a religious community of "friars" or brothers serving the Church. Formed as a direct response to the needs of Europe in the thirteenth century, the Order witnessed the movement of people from farms to towns teeming with commerce. Augustinians moved into newly expanded cities and began to involve themselves in administering the sacraments, preaching and teaching. Augustinians helped Christianity recover from the Reformation, brought the Gospel message to Central and South America, planted the first seeds of Asian Christianity, and founded schools and parishes in North America.
The Augustinian style of life, like Saint Augustine's, is both active and contemplative. Service to the Church is nurtured by a commitment to individual and communal prayer. As Augustine founded communities to follow the Gospel, so the Augustinians seek to be a "community of believers" with "one heart and mind" in God (Acts 4:32).
Our Mission
Almost 3000 Augustinian friars live in community, ministering to people all over the world. We go wherever the needs of the Church call us - to the inner city, to rural and remote areas and to foreign lands. We serve in many different ministries: as teachers, chaplains, social workers, missionaries, writers and artists as well as pastoral ministers, preachers of the Word, presiders of the Eucharist and celebrants of the sacraments.
The Order is divided into many geographical provinces throughout the world. Each province is composed of local communities (houses or friaries). Each house is a community of three or more brothers. An Augustinian community is a family of equals. Wherever we live, or whatever form our work takes, we strive to realize what we seek in our Order: a community of mutual love and respect in the search for God in and with one another.
Our Charism - WHO WE ARE
Saint Augustine believed that God could best be discovered in the company of friends. Community occupies a central position in Augustinian spirituality. The Augustinians are a community of brothers and sisters who live with the People of God. Our journey is shared with other brother and sister Augustinians, with the people of the areas we serve, with the larger Church and with the entire world. In Augustinian spirituality, love of God and love of neighbour are one.
Also prominent in Augustine's spirituality is a commitment to develop the interior life through prayer. Prayer is the foundation for our service to the Church. Augustine writes in the very beginning of his Confessions, "You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless, until they rest in You." Augustinian life is a shared journey to God, a life of contemplation and action, prayer and service.
Your Journey
What now? You may not be sure where God is leading you, but you feel a gentle tug at your heart. Where do you go from here?
First, meet an Augustinian. Contact one of the vocation directors whose numbers are listed at the back of this brochure. He will schedule an appointment to meet you or direct you to an Augustinian community nearby. As you share your story, and the story of the Augustinians, you will learn more about yourself and learn to hear God's call more clearly.
Initial formation is structured with serious consideration given to the unique circumstances of each candidate. Those of college age may join St. Joseph's Seminary at Loyola University in Chicago to pursue a college degree while considering a call to religious life. Older candidates can do the same at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. while living in an Augustinian community. An alternate process involving a "live in" experience may also be arranged.
If you decide to continue your journey, you will enter the novitiate. This year-long program fosters spiritual growth and increased self-knowledge through prayer, courses in spirituality and religious life, and through meetings with the director. At the end of this year, if you desire to dedicate your life to living the Gospel values of poverty, chastity and obedience in community, you will ask to profess temporary vows.
As a professed member you will pursue graduate theological and pastoral studies as well as other training to prepare for your future as either a priest or brother. After spending at least three years in temporary vows, you will be eligible to profess solemn vows that express a lifelong commitment on the Order of Saint Augustine.
The Augustinians
John Merkelis, O.S.A.
Toletine Center
20300 Governors Highway
Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1081
(708) 748-9500
Tom Whelan, O.S.A.
108 Cole Street
San Franscisco, CA 94117-1116
(415) 387-3626
Vocation Director
214 Ashwood Road
P.O. Box 340
Villanova, PA 19085-0340
(610) 527-3330 ext. 284
Vocation Director
Marylake Box 550
King City, Ontario, Canada L7B-1A7
(905) 833-5368
Devotions
St Augustine
St Rita's Chapel
The Tree of Life
The Rosary
Stations of the Cross
Our Lady of Grace
Pilgrimage Groups at marylake
St Rita's Chapel
The Tree of Life
The Rosary
Stations of the Cross
Our Lady of Grace
Pilgrimage Groups at marylake
History
History of Marylake
"The information recorded below was taken from a pamphlet I purchased at the Marylake Shrine. The author is Aemon Burchill, O.S.A. I found it to be an excellent read on the history of the Marylake grounds."
Sebastiano G. (John) Tantalo - Webmaster
MARYLAKE
THE AUGUSTINIANS
PROVINCE OF SAINT JOSEPH, O.S.A.
MISSION STATEMENT
We believe that the EMBLEM of our Order definitively symbolizes the basis of Augustinian Spirituality. The open book clearly represents the intellectual searching which must be part of a living faith. The flaming heart boldly suggests that our developing love must be profound and even passionate. The arrow cleverly recalls the divine energy, the stimulating grace, which is the source of our thinking and loving. This actually represents the Spirit of God, dynamically piercing our minds and hearts and calling us to a vivid and continual experience of the growth of faith, hope and love in our personalities. The emblem, then, portrays the fundamental aspect of our charism; the inner experience of grace activating us to learn, to love and to live toward God. This is what INTERIORITY really is.
The MOTTO of our Order, "One mind and one heart unto God" adds the second note to our charism - COMMUNITY. We Augustinians should be working to encourage each other intellectually and affectively. This actually describes a continuous process of ever more profound communication among ourselves. The discipline of Augustinian Spirituality is the self-sacrifice demanded to open ourselves to each other and to attempt in very humble ways to really understand each other so that we can appreciate and love each other more sincerely and more genuinely. Augustinian community is making real communication happen, each and every day of our lives together. This must be at worship and prayer, at work, at meals, at recreation, and at every practical opportunity. Or as St. Augustine put it: "Ut animas nostras et Deum simul et concorditer inquiramus." (That together and harmoniously we inquire about our lives and our God).
In summary: The Augustinian Charism is a lifelong spiritual project of acquiring intelligible interiority and communicative community.
AUGUSTINIANS AT MARYLAKE
Researched and Written by
Aemon Burchill, O.S.A.
(The first page of this pamphelt contains a picture of St. Joseph with child Jesus and below it a picture of the Marylake Shrine. At Marylake, St. Joseph is a PATRON and PROTECTOR. Hence, the Augustinians at Marylake belong to "THE ORDER OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PROVINCE OF ST. JOSPEH".)
Forty years ago, a visitor to Marylake drove very carefully over the potholes on the muddy surface of Keele Street, frequently made impassable by the snow of winter or the thaw of spring.
The visitor might see the sun setting behind the wooded rolling hills, enjoy a cast of thousands of trees; mighty oaks, towering pines, splendid spruce, fiery firs, brilliant beeches and glorious maples.
Of all these trees, none are original, because over two hundred Years ago when Yonge Street was being built, the surrounding land was divided into farms and the countryside cleared.
In order to preserve the woodland of Marylake in prime condition, the first seedlings of red pine and white spruce were planted in the spring of 1949 along two sides of the lake. In the spring of 1981, seedlings, 38,000 in number, and consisting of red and white pine, white cedar, white ash and white spruce, silver maple, European larch and black locust, were planted. These seedlings as they develop and grow, will help, along with the present fields, woods and headlands, together with the lake and its watershed, to provide cover and protection for the abundance of wildlife, birds and fish, which find a haven at Marylake.
(There is a picture here of the lake with 4 men in a boat)
At Marylake the visitor contemplates the mystery of God. Nature helps the visitor, whether walking or resting, -listening to the melody of the robin; the quiet splashing of the water; -or the not so quiet splashing when an industrious beaver slaps his tall; or, watching geese and goslings majestically bobbing on the water of the lake; or the lake gulls swooping down noisily.
Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, C.V.O.; D.C.L., V.D., 1859-1939, was a royalist, a devoted military officer, a capitalist, financier, philanthropist and builder. He built a famous castle in Toronto called Casa Loma. He was a boy who never grew old, a gentleman of Toronto.
Over a period of years he painstakingly acquired land acre by acre in the Township of King, which eventually grew to 860 acres, and included a 40 acre lake, which he named after his first wife Marie. Tenants at first worked the land as Sir Henry had a lodge built for himself, as well as horse and cattle stables. During the summer months he employed 24 gardeners to keep the grounds and flowerbeds well tended.
Marylake and the surrounding area was formed two and one half billion years ago by the Wisconsin glacier, and is part of the Oakridge moraine, that collection of stone, gravel and sand which was deposited in this area. On one occasion, Sir Henry decided to build an island in the lake. He had his men construct a huge pile of dirt on the ice of winter, assuming the dirt would drop with the spring thaw, and provide the island. However the dirt did not drop, but spread and scattered over the lake. Now, instead of having a nice firm bottom, it is rather muddy, and has lost the characteristics of the other kettle moraine lakes in the area. The lake is mainly spring fed, perhaps from an underground river, sometimes the ice on the lake is not always the same thickness, so Sir Henry that year of the island, lost a team of horses and a sleigh with its load of dirt, as the ice broke under the weight. The lake provided summer time ice for the lodge and guests.
North of the stable is a fieldstone building which housed the herdsman and his family, attached to this was the dairy and ice house. These buildings are now the Convent of Good Counsel and the laundry. Anyhow, Sir Henry used to have his men cut blocks of ice from the lake in the thick of winter, load the ice on sleighs, and then drawn by horses to the ice house, where they were stored in sawdust, for summertime use, especially in his bar, which is the block house he purchased from another location, and rebuilt on the Marylake site. It is now over 180 years old, and has had different uses and has been renovated a number of times. It is presently in use as storage space for summer equipment.
When Sir Henry decided to enclose the estate, he went with a sketch of the property to see about the cost. In one half hour, after figuring the number of concrete posts, the quality of page wire and labour, etc., he contracted on the spot for $18,000, a large sum at that time. This included the ten foot high fence, which enclosed a large woodlot in which was established a game sanctuary stocked with deer and elk.
The lodge was built surrounded with a veranda, which could be fitted with windows in the winter, or screens in the summer. On occasion Sir Henry would have his guests sitting around the veranda, highballs at hand and rifles at the ready, while beaters would drive wild game enclosed by the fence along the lake, in front of the lodge, and the would-be hunters supposedly would enjoy a good days sport.
(There are 3 pictures here of Sir Henry Pellatt's Lodge)
The Lake Marie Athletic Association, founded and promoted by Sir Henry, was headquartered in a large barn on the property and served as a meeting hall for the village young people. The barn was destroyed by fire, while serving as the implement shed for the present farm operations.
The original brick and stone barn, burned in 1949, and has been rebuilt. The original roof was of slate imported from England, the brick and stonework was elaborately designed. The impressive iron and stone gate which gives entrance to the property, is located on Keele Street, two kilometres north of the King Side Road, and is on the southeast corner of the property. Just inside is the gate house, which has remained the same as it was built, except for modern conveniences, and is rented to a private family.
(There is a picture here of the Main Gate dated 1953, "Entrance to Marylake from Keele Street")
Due to economic depression, Sir Henry decided to sell the estate in King. He sold to a newly formed association, headed by Reverend M. J. Oliver, C.S.B., along with a group of lay and clergy assistants. In the spring of 1936 the group was incorporated and the Pellatt estate purchased. At this time, the name Lake Marie was changed to Marylake, and the Marylake Farm School was founded. The purpose of the school was agricultural in nature, and also served as a rural development community.
In the early 1940's Archbishop McGuigan decided to have established a shrine to Mary to be a spiritual centre and place of pilgrimage for the Archdiocese of Toronto. On August 25, 1942, negotiations were opened for the purchase of Marylake by the Augustinian Order. The Reverend Athanasius Pape acted for the Order, and on September 17 the first Augustinians arrived. The following day the Sacred Congregation of Religious issued a decree establishing the new Augustinian foundation at Marylake, and Sir Henry Pellatt's lodge, situated where the shrine is now located became the home of the Augustinians. The house was formally opened on October 1, 1942 and on the same day the Archbishop selected its full title "Marylake-Our Lady of Grace" in recognition of a very ancient devotion of the Augustinians to the mother of God under this title. Thus an estate, built at the turn of the century as a monument to capitalism, today stands as a monument to Spirituality and to Mary, the mother of God.
On June 7, 1964 at 3 o'clock in the afternoon his Eminence James Cardinal McGuigan performed the ceremony of laying the corner stone of Our Lady of Grace Shrine Church at Marylake. King City, Ontario. Under threatening skies and with two thousand visitors in attendance, the Cardinal stated "finally after twenty years here is a dream come to fruition."
Marylake is now well known as a spiritual centre for the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, under the direction of a community of Augustinians. The main focus is as a centre of prayer and pilgrimage in honour of Our Lady of Grace. Another focus is as a spiritual health resort for weekend retreats. To help support this apostolate the community maintains a herd of about one hundred Hoistein cattle, with all the support that entails.
Thursday, November 30, 1978, the Archbishop of Toronto, Emmett Cardinal Carter, rededicated the newly completed Shrine Church of Our Lady of Grace at Marylake, King City, Ontario, declaring it to be a delightful and inspiring experience, also in the dedication homily the Cardinal recognized the Augustinian character of Marylake, and the value of a place for pilgrimage, retreat and prayer.
(There are 3 pictures in this section of the Shrine and Residence)
The main building which houses the community is built on three levels, from lake level upwards. There are entrances and exits on all levels. The building, including house and church is constructed of split field stone native to Marylake, and reinforced concrete and brick.
The Shrine Church has attracted wide attention because of the grandeur of design and the sheer poetry of its conception. It is the work of Mr. J. Stuart Cauley.
The Shrine Church and Blessed Sacrament Chapel are both ellipsoidal in form. Irregular sized pieces of glass in multicolour shades, forms the bell tower, (extending one hundred feet high, two hundred feet from lake level, about five stories high) spectacularly encloses the all-purpose circular sanctuary, enclosing it with multicoloured light.
The bell tower itself, like a huge crown sits atop the church. The bell was cast in bronze in Troy, New York, weighs 2,500 pounds and sounds the musical tone "E" above middle "C," and is activated automatically by a programmed time clock.
The sound system in the church was set up with the aid of an oscilloscope, assuring quality of voice without distortion. The acoustics in the church are superb, so much so that during the course of a year both professional and amateur groups of musicians use the church for rehearsals and performances.
The organ in the Marylake church is a melding of two famed instruments. Both organs are Aeolian-Skinner, made in the same factory, and in the same year 1928. One organ came from the Eaton estate, the other from the Seagram estate. The intricate task of combining the two organs into one unit with two consoles, was completed after four years, with the combined effort of the community; of Mr. Harry P. Livingston, a scientist and electronic engineer, who was buried with funeral mass from the shrine on Wednesday, April 15, 1981 ; and of Mr. J. Stewart Duncan, a retired organ company executive and organ builder. The great and choir organ is located on the west side of the church, the swell organ on the east side. The great and choir organ has over three thousand pipes, fifty pipes, plus harp and chimes. After much work and patient waiting, the organ played for the first time, ringing out the Christmas message at the midnight mass 1973, by the noted organist Mr. Fran Jacino.
The sculpture at the south end of the church was a gift of Gerald L. and Mary Timmins in memory of their father. The work was designed and executed by Mr. William McElcheran. The theme of the work is "Our Lady's Role in Salvation History." Briefly in ascending order we see:
Adam and Eve tempted.
The sacrifice of Abel.
Angels foretell the birth of Isaac.
Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac.
The annunciation to Mary.
The presentation of Jesus in the temple.
Mary bringing all of us to the risen Christ.
Through all of this the tree of knowledge of good and evil weaves and intertwines upwards to become the Cross.
(There is a picture here of the tree of life)
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is located on the east side of the church. It is here that the community celebrate daily the liturgies of the mass and hours. The tabernacle of the Blessed Sacrament weighs two and a half tons, is of travertine marble and was sculpted by Mr. Earl Neiman, who also fashioned the celebrants chair and lectern in the same material. His wife, Maria, executed the bronze crucifix candleholders and sanctuary lamp, as well as the terra-cotta stations of the cross. The fifteenth station "the resurrection" is an innovative concept.
The first "Gordon Taylor Memorial Lecture" was delivered on May 30, 1979 by Mr. Malcolm Muggeridge who had as his topic: "Saint Augustine: His relevance for the modern world." Mr. Gordon Taylor died in 1977. He was a long-time friend and benefactor of Marylake
One of the buildings on the property was altered to serve as a retreat house, and on August 27, 1943, the first retreat was conducted under the captaincy of Mr. Alexander G. Sampson, an honorary Augustinian and long-time friend of the Marylake Augustinians, and an ardent promoter of the retreat apostolate. This first group of retreatants were known as "The pioneer group of Our Lady of Grace," and was directed by Rev. Athanasius Pape, O.S.A.
(There is a picture here of the Retreat house and also of a Pioneer group of retreatants)
This retreat house proved to be too small, so it was enlarged, to provide simple but satisfactory accommodations for sixty people. It contains comfortable and air-conditioned chapel, conference rooms and dining room. It was blessed and opened October 19, 1952 with about seven hundred people in attendance. The retreat apostolate at Marylake has been abundantly blessed. Over the years regular groups have made the Marylake Retreat House well known and well attended. Marylake is blessed with spacious grounds, surrounded by an atmosphere of peace and quiet, which is conducive to recollection and prayer no matter what the season of the year.
On December 10, 1950, four members of the Sisters of Saint Rita arrived from Germany to serve the Marylake Retreat House in the domestic and kitchen apostolate. They laboured faithfully for twenty-five years at this post. Due to age they regretfully returned to their convent in Germany. A new group, the Sisters of Good Counsel from Mexico took over the apostolate. Both groups of sisters are affiliated to the Order of Saint Augustine.
The term shrine refers to a place where a relic, holy object or miraculous apparition receive special veneration from the people, also to a church so designated. Marylake was designated a shrine on October 1, 1942, by the then Archbishop McGuigan of Toronto, thus becoming a pilgrimage centre, a place of prayer and devotion to honour Mary under the title "Lady of Grace."
Since then, Our Lady of Grace Shrine has drawn thousands of pilgrims, as well as retreatants, from not only the Archdiocese of Toronto, but from all Ontario, all Canada, indeed from every continent. In its short history of forty years, the grace and spirituality that has been dispensed from Marylake to people of many creeds, races and tongues has been incalculable.
The Augustinians are committed by a deep desire to serve the spiritual needs of the people of the Archdiocese of Toronto. Devotion to "Mary - Lady of Grace" is believed to be of Portuguese origin. As legend has it, fishermen off the coast of Portugal, brought up in their net, a picture of Mary. They offered it to the Augustinians in Lisbon, where it was given a place of honour in the church of Saint Augustine. The spot became a famous Marian Shrine, and the people were blessed with many favours so that the picture came to be known as the Lady of Graces (Gifts).
The principle reason that the Augustinians were invited to the Archdiocese of Toronto, was to promote devotion to Mary, and to venerate her under the title "Our Lady of Grace." Over the years, this has been accomplished. A renewed awareness of Mary's place as Mother of God, and of her role in the Church, has once again come to the minds of Catholics. Marylake will be here in the future, as will be the Augustinians, to promote devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, and Our Lady of Grace.
The Augustinians welcome all who wish to come as pilgrims or retreatants to Marylake. Men and women are invited to make a spiritual retreat on any of the forty weekends, that retreats are conducted at Marylake Retreat House. Men wishing to make a private retreat, may do so at the guest house of the Augustinians.
Other opportunities of enhancing the spiritual life of the people of Toronto are: March through May: Days of recollection, and/or confirmation preparation days are made available to students and teachers; May through September: Marylake is a centre of pilgrimage, with the possibility of confession in various languages.
(Another picture of the Retreat House)
TRIVIA
Pentecost Sunday
1934: Racine, Wisconsin founded
1938: Monastery, Nova Scotia, founded
1944: Delta, British Columbia, founded
1945: Marylake, Ontario, first mass of first Canadian Augustinian.
November 11, 1961, Philip Pocock - Coadjutar Bishop of Toronto, officially established the Parish of Sacred Heart, King, entrusting it to the care of the Augustinians at Marylake. The parish was formerly a mission territory of Saint Patrick's Parish, Schomberg. Father Reinhard Burchhardt was the first pastor.
On November 15, 1965 the provincial headquarters of the Canadian Augustinians was transferred from New York to Marylake.
From July 8 - 12, 1968 the first provincial chapter of the Augustinians - Province of Saint Joseph in Canada - was held at Marylake.
1962 - A Marylake chapter of the secular Augustinians for men was founded.
1982 - A Marylake chapter of the secular Augustinians for women was founded.
Established October 1, 1942
Priors:
Leo Ebert 1942-47
Athanasius Pape 1947-53
Suitbert Moors 1953-59
Arnulf Hartmann 1959-66
Cyril Smetana 1966-68
Suitbert Moors 1968-70
Isidore Ceiss 1970-75
Allan Charnon 1975-83
Cyril Smetana 1983-87
Louis Campbell 1987-91
Eugene Tramble 1991-
Leo D. Cameron (Current Prior)
(There are 7 pictures concluding the pamphlet:
1. Air Force Men
2. First Boy Scout retreat
3. Clergy from Hamilton
4. Men's retreat
5. Chaplains of the R.C.A.F. (Royal Can. Air Force)
6. Marylake Shrine & Monastery
7. Airial photo of Marylake Shrine
Travel Direction to Marylake
From the East: Take Hwy. 404 northbound to Bloomington Rd. exit. Go westbound on Bloomington until you reach Keele St. At this point you will see the Marylake gate straight ahead.
From the West: Take Hwy. 400 northbound to the King Side Rd. exit. Go eastbound on the King Side Road until you reach Keele St. Turn left and go north on Keele St. for about 2kms. You will see the Marylake gate on the left-hand side.
"The information recorded below was taken from a pamphlet I purchased at the Marylake Shrine. The author is Aemon Burchill, O.S.A. I found it to be an excellent read on the history of the Marylake grounds."
Sebastiano G. (John) Tantalo - Webmaster
MARYLAKE
THE AUGUSTINIANS
PROVINCE OF SAINT JOSEPH, O.S.A.
MISSION STATEMENT
We believe that the EMBLEM of our Order definitively symbolizes the basis of Augustinian Spirituality. The open book clearly represents the intellectual searching which must be part of a living faith. The flaming heart boldly suggests that our developing love must be profound and even passionate. The arrow cleverly recalls the divine energy, the stimulating grace, which is the source of our thinking and loving. This actually represents the Spirit of God, dynamically piercing our minds and hearts and calling us to a vivid and continual experience of the growth of faith, hope and love in our personalities. The emblem, then, portrays the fundamental aspect of our charism; the inner experience of grace activating us to learn, to love and to live toward God. This is what INTERIORITY really is.
The MOTTO of our Order, "One mind and one heart unto God" adds the second note to our charism - COMMUNITY. We Augustinians should be working to encourage each other intellectually and affectively. This actually describes a continuous process of ever more profound communication among ourselves. The discipline of Augustinian Spirituality is the self-sacrifice demanded to open ourselves to each other and to attempt in very humble ways to really understand each other so that we can appreciate and love each other more sincerely and more genuinely. Augustinian community is making real communication happen, each and every day of our lives together. This must be at worship and prayer, at work, at meals, at recreation, and at every practical opportunity. Or as St. Augustine put it: "Ut animas nostras et Deum simul et concorditer inquiramus." (That together and harmoniously we inquire about our lives and our God).
In summary: The Augustinian Charism is a lifelong spiritual project of acquiring intelligible interiority and communicative community.
AUGUSTINIANS AT MARYLAKE
Researched and Written by
Aemon Burchill, O.S.A.
(The first page of this pamphelt contains a picture of St. Joseph with child Jesus and below it a picture of the Marylake Shrine. At Marylake, St. Joseph is a PATRON and PROTECTOR. Hence, the Augustinians at Marylake belong to "THE ORDER OF ST. AUGUSTINE, PROVINCE OF ST. JOSPEH".)
Forty years ago, a visitor to Marylake drove very carefully over the potholes on the muddy surface of Keele Street, frequently made impassable by the snow of winter or the thaw of spring.
The visitor might see the sun setting behind the wooded rolling hills, enjoy a cast of thousands of trees; mighty oaks, towering pines, splendid spruce, fiery firs, brilliant beeches and glorious maples.
Of all these trees, none are original, because over two hundred Years ago when Yonge Street was being built, the surrounding land was divided into farms and the countryside cleared.
In order to preserve the woodland of Marylake in prime condition, the first seedlings of red pine and white spruce were planted in the spring of 1949 along two sides of the lake. In the spring of 1981, seedlings, 38,000 in number, and consisting of red and white pine, white cedar, white ash and white spruce, silver maple, European larch and black locust, were planted. These seedlings as they develop and grow, will help, along with the present fields, woods and headlands, together with the lake and its watershed, to provide cover and protection for the abundance of wildlife, birds and fish, which find a haven at Marylake.
(There is a picture here of the lake with 4 men in a boat)
At Marylake the visitor contemplates the mystery of God. Nature helps the visitor, whether walking or resting, -listening to the melody of the robin; the quiet splashing of the water; -or the not so quiet splashing when an industrious beaver slaps his tall; or, watching geese and goslings majestically bobbing on the water of the lake; or the lake gulls swooping down noisily.
Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, C.V.O.; D.C.L., V.D., 1859-1939, was a royalist, a devoted military officer, a capitalist, financier, philanthropist and builder. He built a famous castle in Toronto called Casa Loma. He was a boy who never grew old, a gentleman of Toronto.
Over a period of years he painstakingly acquired land acre by acre in the Township of King, which eventually grew to 860 acres, and included a 40 acre lake, which he named after his first wife Marie. Tenants at first worked the land as Sir Henry had a lodge built for himself, as well as horse and cattle stables. During the summer months he employed 24 gardeners to keep the grounds and flowerbeds well tended.
Marylake and the surrounding area was formed two and one half billion years ago by the Wisconsin glacier, and is part of the Oakridge moraine, that collection of stone, gravel and sand which was deposited in this area. On one occasion, Sir Henry decided to build an island in the lake. He had his men construct a huge pile of dirt on the ice of winter, assuming the dirt would drop with the spring thaw, and provide the island. However the dirt did not drop, but spread and scattered over the lake. Now, instead of having a nice firm bottom, it is rather muddy, and has lost the characteristics of the other kettle moraine lakes in the area. The lake is mainly spring fed, perhaps from an underground river, sometimes the ice on the lake is not always the same thickness, so Sir Henry that year of the island, lost a team of horses and a sleigh with its load of dirt, as the ice broke under the weight. The lake provided summer time ice for the lodge and guests.
North of the stable is a fieldstone building which housed the herdsman and his family, attached to this was the dairy and ice house. These buildings are now the Convent of Good Counsel and the laundry. Anyhow, Sir Henry used to have his men cut blocks of ice from the lake in the thick of winter, load the ice on sleighs, and then drawn by horses to the ice house, where they were stored in sawdust, for summertime use, especially in his bar, which is the block house he purchased from another location, and rebuilt on the Marylake site. It is now over 180 years old, and has had different uses and has been renovated a number of times. It is presently in use as storage space for summer equipment.
When Sir Henry decided to enclose the estate, he went with a sketch of the property to see about the cost. In one half hour, after figuring the number of concrete posts, the quality of page wire and labour, etc., he contracted on the spot for $18,000, a large sum at that time. This included the ten foot high fence, which enclosed a large woodlot in which was established a game sanctuary stocked with deer and elk.
The lodge was built surrounded with a veranda, which could be fitted with windows in the winter, or screens in the summer. On occasion Sir Henry would have his guests sitting around the veranda, highballs at hand and rifles at the ready, while beaters would drive wild game enclosed by the fence along the lake, in front of the lodge, and the would-be hunters supposedly would enjoy a good days sport.
(There are 3 pictures here of Sir Henry Pellatt's Lodge)
The Lake Marie Athletic Association, founded and promoted by Sir Henry, was headquartered in a large barn on the property and served as a meeting hall for the village young people. The barn was destroyed by fire, while serving as the implement shed for the present farm operations.
The original brick and stone barn, burned in 1949, and has been rebuilt. The original roof was of slate imported from England, the brick and stonework was elaborately designed. The impressive iron and stone gate which gives entrance to the property, is located on Keele Street, two kilometres north of the King Side Road, and is on the southeast corner of the property. Just inside is the gate house, which has remained the same as it was built, except for modern conveniences, and is rented to a private family.
(There is a picture here of the Main Gate dated 1953, "Entrance to Marylake from Keele Street")
Due to economic depression, Sir Henry decided to sell the estate in King. He sold to a newly formed association, headed by Reverend M. J. Oliver, C.S.B., along with a group of lay and clergy assistants. In the spring of 1936 the group was incorporated and the Pellatt estate purchased. At this time, the name Lake Marie was changed to Marylake, and the Marylake Farm School was founded. The purpose of the school was agricultural in nature, and also served as a rural development community.
In the early 1940's Archbishop McGuigan decided to have established a shrine to Mary to be a spiritual centre and place of pilgrimage for the Archdiocese of Toronto. On August 25, 1942, negotiations were opened for the purchase of Marylake by the Augustinian Order. The Reverend Athanasius Pape acted for the Order, and on September 17 the first Augustinians arrived. The following day the Sacred Congregation of Religious issued a decree establishing the new Augustinian foundation at Marylake, and Sir Henry Pellatt's lodge, situated where the shrine is now located became the home of the Augustinians. The house was formally opened on October 1, 1942 and on the same day the Archbishop selected its full title "Marylake-Our Lady of Grace" in recognition of a very ancient devotion of the Augustinians to the mother of God under this title. Thus an estate, built at the turn of the century as a monument to capitalism, today stands as a monument to Spirituality and to Mary, the mother of God.
On June 7, 1964 at 3 o'clock in the afternoon his Eminence James Cardinal McGuigan performed the ceremony of laying the corner stone of Our Lady of Grace Shrine Church at Marylake. King City, Ontario. Under threatening skies and with two thousand visitors in attendance, the Cardinal stated "finally after twenty years here is a dream come to fruition."
Marylake is now well known as a spiritual centre for the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, under the direction of a community of Augustinians. The main focus is as a centre of prayer and pilgrimage in honour of Our Lady of Grace. Another focus is as a spiritual health resort for weekend retreats. To help support this apostolate the community maintains a herd of about one hundred Hoistein cattle, with all the support that entails.
Thursday, November 30, 1978, the Archbishop of Toronto, Emmett Cardinal Carter, rededicated the newly completed Shrine Church of Our Lady of Grace at Marylake, King City, Ontario, declaring it to be a delightful and inspiring experience, also in the dedication homily the Cardinal recognized the Augustinian character of Marylake, and the value of a place for pilgrimage, retreat and prayer.
(There are 3 pictures in this section of the Shrine and Residence)
The main building which houses the community is built on three levels, from lake level upwards. There are entrances and exits on all levels. The building, including house and church is constructed of split field stone native to Marylake, and reinforced concrete and brick.
The Shrine Church has attracted wide attention because of the grandeur of design and the sheer poetry of its conception. It is the work of Mr. J. Stuart Cauley.
The Shrine Church and Blessed Sacrament Chapel are both ellipsoidal in form. Irregular sized pieces of glass in multicolour shades, forms the bell tower, (extending one hundred feet high, two hundred feet from lake level, about five stories high) spectacularly encloses the all-purpose circular sanctuary, enclosing it with multicoloured light.
The bell tower itself, like a huge crown sits atop the church. The bell was cast in bronze in Troy, New York, weighs 2,500 pounds and sounds the musical tone "E" above middle "C," and is activated automatically by a programmed time clock.
The sound system in the church was set up with the aid of an oscilloscope, assuring quality of voice without distortion. The acoustics in the church are superb, so much so that during the course of a year both professional and amateur groups of musicians use the church for rehearsals and performances.
The organ in the Marylake church is a melding of two famed instruments. Both organs are Aeolian-Skinner, made in the same factory, and in the same year 1928. One organ came from the Eaton estate, the other from the Seagram estate. The intricate task of combining the two organs into one unit with two consoles, was completed after four years, with the combined effort of the community; of Mr. Harry P. Livingston, a scientist and electronic engineer, who was buried with funeral mass from the shrine on Wednesday, April 15, 1981 ; and of Mr. J. Stewart Duncan, a retired organ company executive and organ builder. The great and choir organ is located on the west side of the church, the swell organ on the east side. The great and choir organ has over three thousand pipes, fifty pipes, plus harp and chimes. After much work and patient waiting, the organ played for the first time, ringing out the Christmas message at the midnight mass 1973, by the noted organist Mr. Fran Jacino.
The sculpture at the south end of the church was a gift of Gerald L. and Mary Timmins in memory of their father. The work was designed and executed by Mr. William McElcheran. The theme of the work is "Our Lady's Role in Salvation History." Briefly in ascending order we see:
Adam and Eve tempted.
The sacrifice of Abel.
Angels foretell the birth of Isaac.
Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac.
The annunciation to Mary.
The presentation of Jesus in the temple.
Mary bringing all of us to the risen Christ.
Through all of this the tree of knowledge of good and evil weaves and intertwines upwards to become the Cross.
(There is a picture here of the tree of life)
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is located on the east side of the church. It is here that the community celebrate daily the liturgies of the mass and hours. The tabernacle of the Blessed Sacrament weighs two and a half tons, is of travertine marble and was sculpted by Mr. Earl Neiman, who also fashioned the celebrants chair and lectern in the same material. His wife, Maria, executed the bronze crucifix candleholders and sanctuary lamp, as well as the terra-cotta stations of the cross. The fifteenth station "the resurrection" is an innovative concept.
The first "Gordon Taylor Memorial Lecture" was delivered on May 30, 1979 by Mr. Malcolm Muggeridge who had as his topic: "Saint Augustine: His relevance for the modern world." Mr. Gordon Taylor died in 1977. He was a long-time friend and benefactor of Marylake
One of the buildings on the property was altered to serve as a retreat house, and on August 27, 1943, the first retreat was conducted under the captaincy of Mr. Alexander G. Sampson, an honorary Augustinian and long-time friend of the Marylake Augustinians, and an ardent promoter of the retreat apostolate. This first group of retreatants were known as "The pioneer group of Our Lady of Grace," and was directed by Rev. Athanasius Pape, O.S.A.
(There is a picture here of the Retreat house and also of a Pioneer group of retreatants)
This retreat house proved to be too small, so it was enlarged, to provide simple but satisfactory accommodations for sixty people. It contains comfortable and air-conditioned chapel, conference rooms and dining room. It was blessed and opened October 19, 1952 with about seven hundred people in attendance. The retreat apostolate at Marylake has been abundantly blessed. Over the years regular groups have made the Marylake Retreat House well known and well attended. Marylake is blessed with spacious grounds, surrounded by an atmosphere of peace and quiet, which is conducive to recollection and prayer no matter what the season of the year.
On December 10, 1950, four members of the Sisters of Saint Rita arrived from Germany to serve the Marylake Retreat House in the domestic and kitchen apostolate. They laboured faithfully for twenty-five years at this post. Due to age they regretfully returned to their convent in Germany. A new group, the Sisters of Good Counsel from Mexico took over the apostolate. Both groups of sisters are affiliated to the Order of Saint Augustine.
The term shrine refers to a place where a relic, holy object or miraculous apparition receive special veneration from the people, also to a church so designated. Marylake was designated a shrine on October 1, 1942, by the then Archbishop McGuigan of Toronto, thus becoming a pilgrimage centre, a place of prayer and devotion to honour Mary under the title "Lady of Grace."
Since then, Our Lady of Grace Shrine has drawn thousands of pilgrims, as well as retreatants, from not only the Archdiocese of Toronto, but from all Ontario, all Canada, indeed from every continent. In its short history of forty years, the grace and spirituality that has been dispensed from Marylake to people of many creeds, races and tongues has been incalculable.
The Augustinians are committed by a deep desire to serve the spiritual needs of the people of the Archdiocese of Toronto. Devotion to "Mary - Lady of Grace" is believed to be of Portuguese origin. As legend has it, fishermen off the coast of Portugal, brought up in their net, a picture of Mary. They offered it to the Augustinians in Lisbon, where it was given a place of honour in the church of Saint Augustine. The spot became a famous Marian Shrine, and the people were blessed with many favours so that the picture came to be known as the Lady of Graces (Gifts).
The principle reason that the Augustinians were invited to the Archdiocese of Toronto, was to promote devotion to Mary, and to venerate her under the title "Our Lady of Grace." Over the years, this has been accomplished. A renewed awareness of Mary's place as Mother of God, and of her role in the Church, has once again come to the minds of Catholics. Marylake will be here in the future, as will be the Augustinians, to promote devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, and Our Lady of Grace.
The Augustinians welcome all who wish to come as pilgrims or retreatants to Marylake. Men and women are invited to make a spiritual retreat on any of the forty weekends, that retreats are conducted at Marylake Retreat House. Men wishing to make a private retreat, may do so at the guest house of the Augustinians.
Other opportunities of enhancing the spiritual life of the people of Toronto are: March through May: Days of recollection, and/or confirmation preparation days are made available to students and teachers; May through September: Marylake is a centre of pilgrimage, with the possibility of confession in various languages.
(Another picture of the Retreat House)
TRIVIA
Pentecost Sunday
1934: Racine, Wisconsin founded
1938: Monastery, Nova Scotia, founded
1944: Delta, British Columbia, founded
1945: Marylake, Ontario, first mass of first Canadian Augustinian.
November 11, 1961, Philip Pocock - Coadjutar Bishop of Toronto, officially established the Parish of Sacred Heart, King, entrusting it to the care of the Augustinians at Marylake. The parish was formerly a mission territory of Saint Patrick's Parish, Schomberg. Father Reinhard Burchhardt was the first pastor.
On November 15, 1965 the provincial headquarters of the Canadian Augustinians was transferred from New York to Marylake.
From July 8 - 12, 1968 the first provincial chapter of the Augustinians - Province of Saint Joseph in Canada - was held at Marylake.
1962 - A Marylake chapter of the secular Augustinians for men was founded.
1982 - A Marylake chapter of the secular Augustinians for women was founded.
Established October 1, 1942
Priors:
Leo Ebert 1942-47
Athanasius Pape 1947-53
Suitbert Moors 1953-59
Arnulf Hartmann 1959-66
Cyril Smetana 1966-68
Suitbert Moors 1968-70
Isidore Ceiss 1970-75
Allan Charnon 1975-83
Cyril Smetana 1983-87
Louis Campbell 1987-91
Eugene Tramble 1991-
Leo D. Cameron (Current Prior)
(There are 7 pictures concluding the pamphlet:
1. Air Force Men
2. First Boy Scout retreat
3. Clergy from Hamilton
4. Men's retreat
5. Chaplains of the R.C.A.F. (Royal Can. Air Force)
6. Marylake Shrine & Monastery
7. Airial photo of Marylake Shrine
Travel Direction to Marylake
From the East: Take Hwy. 404 northbound to Bloomington Rd. exit. Go westbound on Bloomington until you reach Keele St. At this point you will see the Marylake gate straight ahead.
From the West: Take Hwy. 400 northbound to the King Side Rd. exit. Go eastbound on the King Side Road until you reach Keele St. Turn left and go north on Keele St. for about 2kms. You will see the Marylake gate on the left-hand side.
Secular Augustinians
An Introduction to the Secular Order
(PDF File)
This is the most current version.
Includes topics such as membership, commitments, the Rule of the Secular Order and much more.
When this file is printed double sided, it can be folded into a nice small pamphlet that can be distibuted to your friends!
An Introduction to the Secular Order
(HTML File)
This is an older version.
Statutes of the Secular Augustinians
Newsletters
Topica
January - May, 2005
Augustinian Heartbeat
Spring/Summer 2005 (PDF file)
Volume 1, #1
Fall/Winter 2005 (PDF file)
Volume 1, #2
Winter 2006(PDF file)
Volume 2, #1
(PDF File)
This is the most current version.
Includes topics such as membership, commitments, the Rule of the Secular Order and much more.
When this file is printed double sided, it can be folded into a nice small pamphlet that can be distibuted to your friends!
An Introduction to the Secular Order
(HTML File)
This is an older version.
Statutes of the Secular Augustinians
Newsletters
Topica
January - May, 2005
Augustinian Heartbeat
Spring/Summer 2005 (PDF file)
Volume 1, #1
Fall/Winter 2005 (PDF file)
Volume 1, #2
Winter 2006(PDF file)
Volume 2, #1
The Retreat
Marylake Retreat Centre
To view the Retreat Schedule click here
Father Eugene Tramble, O.S.A, is the Director of Marylake Retreat Centre
This Centre is available for and compliments the many spiritual needs of the Archdiocese including:
*
Clergy Days
*
Weekend Groups
*
Youth Groups
*
Teachers Faith Days.
Phone: (905) 833-5368
Fax (905) 833-5569
13760 Keele St.
P.O. Box 550
King City, ON L7B 1A7
Father Eugene Tramble O.S.A.
Prior, Marylake Monastery
Email: eugenetramble@aol.com Cecilia Doyle McCabe
Administrative Assistant
Email: marylakeretreat@bellnet.ca
click to enlarge picture
More pictures below
Picture of The Chapel
Picture of The Dinning Room
Picture of The Bedroom Suites
COME TO THE WATER... (an introduction):
What to Expect on a Retreat:
* The Purpose of the Retreat
* Mary, the Model Retreatent
* What we have to offer
* An Atmosphere Conducive to Reflection
* We Pray as Church
* Additional Information on Retreats
DIRECTIONS
“COME TO THE WATER….”
Within a short drive from the complexity and commotion of Metro Toronto lies the simplicity and serenity of the Augustinian Retreat Centre at Marylake. Nestled amid pastures and woodlands, Marylake offers an atmosphere in which one can become attuned to God's creation and alert to God's Word. The presence of a praying community of Augustinian friars provides a setting conducive to peaceful reflection, while the attentive care of the Augustinian Sisters of Good Counsel gives quiet witness to the unity of fervent prayer and humble service.
Formerly the country estate of Sir Henry Pellat, whose Toronto residence was Casa Loma, Marylake has been for over sixty years a vibrant centre of Augustinian spirituality and renewal in the life of the Church of Toronto. Though the number of active friars has diminished, the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace remains a living sign of permanence and continuity with a rich heritage of sanctity, scholarship and spiritual direction, as well as communion with men and women throughout the world who take the example and Rule of Saint Augustine as their guide.
Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says, 'Rivers of living water will flow from within'. [John 7:37-38] What we Augustinians have to offer is not our own wisdom and strength. We simply invite others to draw near to the water and to slake their thirst from the same source that nurtures and vivifies us: Jesus Christ, the deep spring of eternal life.
What to expect on a Retreat:
The Purpose of the Retreat
A retreat is a privileged time to let God's surprising and subversive Word challenge our casual acquaintance with God, to let us in on God's designs for us, to awaken us to the beauty and tenderness of the one whom we dare to call Father. To recognize Jesus as our friend and brother. To become aware of the Spirit who dwells in our hearts. Saint Augustine called himself a "minister of Word and Sacrament". That is the role we, his followers, try to fulfill for you on retreat. We want to break the Bread of God's Word for you so that you may more readily assimilate and digest it. We want to provide you the opportunity to commune more intimately with Jesus, the Bread of Life. With Jesus who heals and forgives, who strengthens and encourages.
Mary, the Model Retreatant
The one for whom Marylake is named is a model for us as we open ourselves to receive the Word of God in our minds and hearts. Like Mary, the mother of the Lord, we need to ponder, sometimes to struggle, perhaps even to wrestle with the Word of God. That Word is always fresh, like the morning dew, and always manages to seep into our lives. Isaiah tells us that the Word never returns to God empty but always accomplishes that for which it is sent.
What we have to offer
We want to offer you the best we have to give: what is not of our own making but God's gift to us, one that we have come to value and treasure. As Augustine told his congregation some sixteen centuries ago, "We share with you what we ourselves are nourished on. We all eat from the same storeroom, and it is God who stocks the pantry."
An Atmosphere Conducive to Reflection
To help us take full advantage of this holy time, we ask that you come prepared to listen, to ponder, to be still, to reflect, The weekend should be uncluttered. We need to be free, even from much vocal prayer, so that we can drink in all that the Lord has to say to us. If our usual manner of praying is full of words, the retreat is a time to let God speak.
We Pray as Church
We pray as the totus Christus, as living members of the Body of Christ. Our personal reflection flows from and leads to the traditional communal prayer of the Church: the Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist. Although the Sacrament of Reconciliation has a definite communal aspect, experience has shown us the importance of a leisurely personal celebration of the Sacrament, and so we provide ample time for individual confession. Augustine says, "Your desire is itself your prayer." It has been our experience that those who come with eager anticipation and deep desire will return home blessed with a joyful realization of God's unconditional love.
May that blessing be yours!
Addition Information on Retreats
During the retreat, presentations follow a scriptural theme. The retreats usually begin on a Friday evening with a Holy Hour or Mass, followed by a presentation, the rosary and Benediction.
Saturday's scheduled activities can include a conference, Stations of the Cross, presentations, group discussions, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Mass, a video presentation, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the night, and Benediction.
Sunday includes Mass at the Shrine, retreat closure and Benediction.
We comfortably accommodate with private rooms, 45 retreatants. In the event that some people can share a room, as in a family retreat, a total of 60 people can reside at the centre.
The Sisters of Our Lady of Good Counsel have an outstanding reputation for their home-style cooking and many kinds of dishes which suit the tastes of retreatants, who constantly express their delight in words and offerings.
For weekend retreats, the Centre is usually opened at 6:30pm with registration by the Captains at 7:30pm. Refreshments are available in the dining room during this time. The Holy Hour or Mass at the start of the retreat begins at 9:00pm in the Chapel. The retreat concludes on Sunday after lunch.
Directions
From the East: Take Highway 404 northbound to Bloomington Rd. Go westbound on Bloomington until you reach Keele St. At this point there is an entrance to Marylake straight ahead.
From the West: Take Highway 400 northbound to the King Road. Go east on King Rd until you reach Keele St. turn left and go north on Keele St for about 2 kms. You will see the Marylake gate on the lefthand side of the road.
Marylake Retreat Centre
13760 Keele St.
P.O. Box 550
King City, ON L7B 1A7
For further information please contact:
Father Eugene Tramble O.S.A.
Prior, Marylake Monastery
Email: eugenetramble@aol.com
Cecilia Doyle McCabe
Administrative Assistant
Email: marylakeretreat@bellnet.ca
Phone: (905) 833-5368
Fax (905) 833-5569
To view the Retreat Schedule click here
Father Eugene Tramble, O.S.A, is the Director of Marylake Retreat Centre
This Centre is available for and compliments the many spiritual needs of the Archdiocese including:
*
Clergy Days
*
Weekend Groups
*
Youth Groups
*
Teachers Faith Days.
Phone: (905) 833-5368
Fax (905) 833-5569
13760 Keele St.
P.O. Box 550
King City, ON L7B 1A7
Father Eugene Tramble O.S.A.
Prior, Marylake Monastery
Email: eugenetramble@aol.com Cecilia Doyle McCabe
Administrative Assistant
Email: marylakeretreat@bellnet.ca
click to enlarge picture
More pictures below
Picture of The Chapel
Picture of The Dinning Room
Picture of The Bedroom Suites
COME TO THE WATER... (an introduction):
What to Expect on a Retreat:
* The Purpose of the Retreat
* Mary, the Model Retreatent
* What we have to offer
* An Atmosphere Conducive to Reflection
* We Pray as Church
* Additional Information on Retreats
DIRECTIONS
“COME TO THE WATER….”
Within a short drive from the complexity and commotion of Metro Toronto lies the simplicity and serenity of the Augustinian Retreat Centre at Marylake. Nestled amid pastures and woodlands, Marylake offers an atmosphere in which one can become attuned to God's creation and alert to God's Word. The presence of a praying community of Augustinian friars provides a setting conducive to peaceful reflection, while the attentive care of the Augustinian Sisters of Good Counsel gives quiet witness to the unity of fervent prayer and humble service.
Formerly the country estate of Sir Henry Pellat, whose Toronto residence was Casa Loma, Marylake has been for over sixty years a vibrant centre of Augustinian spirituality and renewal in the life of the Church of Toronto. Though the number of active friars has diminished, the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace remains a living sign of permanence and continuity with a rich heritage of sanctity, scholarship and spiritual direction, as well as communion with men and women throughout the world who take the example and Rule of Saint Augustine as their guide.
Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says, 'Rivers of living water will flow from within'. [John 7:37-38] What we Augustinians have to offer is not our own wisdom and strength. We simply invite others to draw near to the water and to slake their thirst from the same source that nurtures and vivifies us: Jesus Christ, the deep spring of eternal life.
What to expect on a Retreat:
The Purpose of the Retreat
A retreat is a privileged time to let God's surprising and subversive Word challenge our casual acquaintance with God, to let us in on God's designs for us, to awaken us to the beauty and tenderness of the one whom we dare to call Father. To recognize Jesus as our friend and brother. To become aware of the Spirit who dwells in our hearts. Saint Augustine called himself a "minister of Word and Sacrament". That is the role we, his followers, try to fulfill for you on retreat. We want to break the Bread of God's Word for you so that you may more readily assimilate and digest it. We want to provide you the opportunity to commune more intimately with Jesus, the Bread of Life. With Jesus who heals and forgives, who strengthens and encourages.
Mary, the Model Retreatant
The one for whom Marylake is named is a model for us as we open ourselves to receive the Word of God in our minds and hearts. Like Mary, the mother of the Lord, we need to ponder, sometimes to struggle, perhaps even to wrestle with the Word of God. That Word is always fresh, like the morning dew, and always manages to seep into our lives. Isaiah tells us that the Word never returns to God empty but always accomplishes that for which it is sent.
What we have to offer
We want to offer you the best we have to give: what is not of our own making but God's gift to us, one that we have come to value and treasure. As Augustine told his congregation some sixteen centuries ago, "We share with you what we ourselves are nourished on. We all eat from the same storeroom, and it is God who stocks the pantry."
An Atmosphere Conducive to Reflection
To help us take full advantage of this holy time, we ask that you come prepared to listen, to ponder, to be still, to reflect, The weekend should be uncluttered. We need to be free, even from much vocal prayer, so that we can drink in all that the Lord has to say to us. If our usual manner of praying is full of words, the retreat is a time to let God speak.
We Pray as Church
We pray as the totus Christus, as living members of the Body of Christ. Our personal reflection flows from and leads to the traditional communal prayer of the Church: the Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist. Although the Sacrament of Reconciliation has a definite communal aspect, experience has shown us the importance of a leisurely personal celebration of the Sacrament, and so we provide ample time for individual confession. Augustine says, "Your desire is itself your prayer." It has been our experience that those who come with eager anticipation and deep desire will return home blessed with a joyful realization of God's unconditional love.
May that blessing be yours!
Addition Information on Retreats
During the retreat, presentations follow a scriptural theme. The retreats usually begin on a Friday evening with a Holy Hour or Mass, followed by a presentation, the rosary and Benediction.
Saturday's scheduled activities can include a conference, Stations of the Cross, presentations, group discussions, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Mass, a video presentation, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the night, and Benediction.
Sunday includes Mass at the Shrine, retreat closure and Benediction.
We comfortably accommodate with private rooms, 45 retreatants. In the event that some people can share a room, as in a family retreat, a total of 60 people can reside at the centre.
The Sisters of Our Lady of Good Counsel have an outstanding reputation for their home-style cooking and many kinds of dishes which suit the tastes of retreatants, who constantly express their delight in words and offerings.
For weekend retreats, the Centre is usually opened at 6:30pm with registration by the Captains at 7:30pm. Refreshments are available in the dining room during this time. The Holy Hour or Mass at the start of the retreat begins at 9:00pm in the Chapel. The retreat concludes on Sunday after lunch.
Directions
From the East: Take Highway 404 northbound to Bloomington Rd. Go westbound on Bloomington until you reach Keele St. At this point there is an entrance to Marylake straight ahead.
From the West: Take Highway 400 northbound to the King Road. Go east on King Rd until you reach Keele St. turn left and go north on Keele St for about 2 kms. You will see the Marylake gate on the lefthand side of the road.
Marylake Retreat Centre
13760 Keele St.
P.O. Box 550
King City, ON L7B 1A7
For further information please contact:
Father Eugene Tramble O.S.A.
Prior, Marylake Monastery
Email: eugenetramble@aol.com
Cecilia Doyle McCabe
Administrative Assistant
Email: marylakeretreat@bellnet.ca
Phone: (905) 833-5368
Fax (905) 833-5569
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Home Page
THE AUGUSTINIAN MONASTERY
OUR LADY OF GRACE SHRINE
MARYLAKE RETREAT CENTRE
ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO
P.O. Box 550
13760 Keele St., King City
Ontario, Canada, L7B-1A7
(opposite the western end of Bloomington Rd.)
DIRECTIONS
From the East: Take Highway 404 northbound to Bloomington Rd. Go westbound on Bloomington until you reach Keele St. At this point there is an entrance to Marylake straight ahead.
From the West: Take Highway 400 northbound to the King Road. Go east on King Rd until you reach Keele St. turn left and go north on Keele St for about 2 kms. You will see the Marylake gate on the lefthand side of the road.
Local Map
Regional Map
(905) 833-5368
Fax (905) 833-5569
Contact:
Father Eugene Tramble O.S.A.
Prior, Marylake Monastery
Email: eugenetramble@aol.com
Masses
Monday to Friday at 08:00am
Saturday and Sunday at 09:00am
Other Services
Reconciliation: any time
The KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
(Sacred Heart King City Council)
presents the
Marylake Monastery Pipe Organ Restoration Project
Click here (or here) for more details
Welcome to this web site about the Marylake Shrine in King City, Ontario, Canada. Marylake is home to the Augustinian Monastery, (Order of St. Augustine, Province of St. Joseph).
The information you find here about Marylake has been reproduced from pamphlets that can be obtained at the monastery. I hope you find it informative and I appreciate your comments and suggestions that can make this site a better one.
Thank you so much,
Sebastiano G. (John) Tantalo - Webmaster
I've dedicated these Marylake web pages under the protection and intercession of St. Augustine who composed this beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That I my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.
Amen. (St. Augustine)
Originally the farm and summer home of Sir Henry Pellatt. During the depression in the thirties the Basilian Fathers established an agricultural school on the property. In 1942, James Cardinal McGuigan, the Archbishop of Toronto, invited the Augustinians to establish a shrine and to offer a program of weekend retreats for lay people. The title Our Lady of Grace comes from an Augustinian shrine in Lisbon, Portugal. The retreat program, initiated in 1943, so prospered that it was necessary to double the facilities for retreatants by adding to the red brick "farmer's house" in the early fifties. In order to house the steadily growing religious community of Augustinians and to provide pilgrims with a place of worship, a new monastery and shrine church were built in the sixties. In 1964, Cardinal McGuigan laid the cornerstone for the new shrine building and it was dedicated in 1978 by Cardinal Carter.
Image of Augustinian Coat of Arms seen below
designed by
DANIEL LA GAMBA
OUR LADY OF GRACE SHRINE
MARYLAKE RETREAT CENTRE
ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO
P.O. Box 550
13760 Keele St., King City
Ontario, Canada, L7B-1A7
(opposite the western end of Bloomington Rd.)
DIRECTIONS
From the East: Take Highway 404 northbound to Bloomington Rd. Go westbound on Bloomington until you reach Keele St. At this point there is an entrance to Marylake straight ahead.
From the West: Take Highway 400 northbound to the King Road. Go east on King Rd until you reach Keele St. turn left and go north on Keele St for about 2 kms. You will see the Marylake gate on the lefthand side of the road.
Local Map
Regional Map
(905) 833-5368
Fax (905) 833-5569
Contact:
Father Eugene Tramble O.S.A.
Prior, Marylake Monastery
Email: eugenetramble@aol.com
Masses
Monday to Friday at 08:00am
Saturday and Sunday at 09:00am
Other Services
Reconciliation: any time
The KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
(Sacred Heart King City Council)
presents the
Marylake Monastery Pipe Organ Restoration Project
Click here (or here) for more details
Welcome to this web site about the Marylake Shrine in King City, Ontario, Canada. Marylake is home to the Augustinian Monastery, (Order of St. Augustine, Province of St. Joseph).
The information you find here about Marylake has been reproduced from pamphlets that can be obtained at the monastery. I hope you find it informative and I appreciate your comments and suggestions that can make this site a better one.
Thank you so much,
Sebastiano G. (John) Tantalo - Webmaster
I've dedicated these Marylake web pages under the protection and intercession of St. Augustine who composed this beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That I my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.
Amen. (St. Augustine)
Originally the farm and summer home of Sir Henry Pellatt. During the depression in the thirties the Basilian Fathers established an agricultural school on the property. In 1942, James Cardinal McGuigan, the Archbishop of Toronto, invited the Augustinians to establish a shrine and to offer a program of weekend retreats for lay people. The title Our Lady of Grace comes from an Augustinian shrine in Lisbon, Portugal. The retreat program, initiated in 1943, so prospered that it was necessary to double the facilities for retreatants by adding to the red brick "farmer's house" in the early fifties. In order to house the steadily growing religious community of Augustinians and to provide pilgrims with a place of worship, a new monastery and shrine church were built in the sixties. In 1964, Cardinal McGuigan laid the cornerstone for the new shrine building and it was dedicated in 1978 by Cardinal Carter.
Image of Augustinian Coat of Arms seen below
designed by
DANIEL LA GAMBA
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