Hiking trail behind Holy Peace Chapel / Photo courtesy of Claire Fisher
BY CLAIRE FISHER, STAFF WRITER
When school and college life get overwhelming, it is important for students to have a place to unwind. It can be even more helpful to have this place off campus. Luckily, St. Bonaventure has a strong connection to Mt. Irenaeus, a Franciscan mountain community.
A mission going back more than 30 years, the friars and permanent community work hard to create and forward an atmosphere of both contemplation and activity. With inspiration from St. Francis and Thomas Merton, Mt. Irenaeus, also known as “The Mountain,” experiences God in all people and places.
While not a retreat center, Mt. Irenaeus offers a great spot for students to get away for a day or weekend at a time. Equipped with a pond, several hiking trails, beautiful chapel, and most importantly a welcoming atmosphere, The Mountain can be loved by students or staff of any faith tradition. Executive Director, Mike Fenn, has been involved with The Mountain since 1987. Fenn describes The Mountain as a place for anyone to feel welcome.
“The most important thing about The Mountain is that every student belongs here,” said Fenn. “Students are welcomed with adults who care about them and a place to be without fear of judgment of who they are.”
One of the key values at The Mountain is peace, meaning those of any religion, or no religion at all, are always welcome. For those who do not consider themselves Catholic, Mt. Irenaeus has numerous opportunities for spiritual time in the chapel, faith sharing in small or large groups and group prayer such as Lectio Divina where individuals can do literary analysis on the Gospel. For students who do not practice Christianity, there is a lot to enjoy in the complex nature, community aspect of house-life, hermitages and even a cannonball in the pond!
To extend one’s stay at The Mountain, they offer a Summer Mountain Companion program for students to work on their communication, ministry development and leadership. This is a two-month position that allows for deeper spiritual connection with God and the world around them.
Mt. Irenaeus allows its students to get hands-on experience in their event planning on campus as well. Reignited this semester, Mountain Community Leaders, is a small group of students who come together once a week to plan future overnights or weekends. Even next month, Mt. Irenaeus is hosting an Intercollegiate Weekend, Nov. 4 – 6 , which invites not only Bonaventure students, but ones from surrounding schools such as Rochester Institute of Technology and SUNY Geneseo.
The community at The Mountain leaves students with an open invite and asks you to bring a friend!
To become more involved with Mountain events, email Br. Kevin Kriso at kkriso@sbu.edu to visit the student-run Mountain Community Leader meetings, Fridays at 12:30 p.m. in the McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministry.
fisherck21@bonaventure.edu
