Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center is located at 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford.

By Kathy Colello

The symbol for the 75th wedding anniversary is the diamond, representing immense strength, endurance, and an indestructible bond. Couples who reach this milestone are a holy testament to the power of love in the face of the countless challenges life throws their way.

Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and, like the diamond, has demonstrated an immense strength, endurance, and indestructible bond with the community over those years.

The Center’s roots go back far longer than 75 years – to 1720. It was then, in Italy, that St. Paul of the Cross founded the Passionist Congregation with the goal of teaching people how to pray and meditate on Christ’s Passion, the final period of intense suffering before his death. The Order arrived in the U.S. in the 1800s, and in 1945, Bishop Henry J. O’Brien of Hartford invited the Passionists to establish a monastery and retreat house for Catholic men in Connecticut. Under the leadership of Father Joseph Leo Flynn, C.P., the Passionists purchased 69 acres of farmland in West Hartford, and in 1951, Holy Family Monastery and Retreat House opened its doors, on a hill with a lighted cross, as is the Passionist tradition.

The very first retreat was held the weekend of Feb. 2, 1951, and welcomed 95 men from St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hartford. Since then, Holy Family has grown exponentially, expanding to include women, couples, youth, those in recovery, and a vibrant tapestry of diverse groups encompassing, among others, the Hispanic and deaf communities. Individuals of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome.

Today, Holy Family is the largest parish-based Catholic retreat center in the United States, offering a wide variety of retreats and programs to the thousands of visitors who come seeking spiritual renewal. Through dynamic preaching, inspiring music, generous hospitality, and renowned homestyle cooking and freshly baked cookies, the Center has become a premiere sanctuary for peace, comfort, and healing, as many retreatants have testified.

Back to the music, which could humbly be described as legendary. For many, the music offered at Holy Family is one of the most moving and uplifting parts of their spiritual experience – whether at a weekend retreat, at masses, or at the annual Christmas and Easter concerts. If Holy Family offers any gifts to those who visit, its music, under the direction of Holy Family’s talented and beloved leader since 1999 Fr. David Cinquegrani, C.P., has got to be among the most cherished.

Holy Family offers many other unique features as well, including a full-sized labyrinth, a beautiful pavilion, outdoor Stations of the Cross, a bustling Mass Card office, and a gift shop with handmade gifts, cards, books, and fairly traded Passionist coffee and chocolate. The Center is also home to The Monastery Gallery of Art, with rotating exhibits for all to enjoy, and The Center for Spiritual Direction, where seekers and their guides build enduring connections. The Christian Contemplative Experience at Holy Family offers enriching programs for Christians to learn, share, and pray together in the contemplative tradition.

And in recent years, Holy Family has become a favored destination for special events – including corporate conferences, wedding receptions, memorial luncheons, family reunions, and other functions – thanks to its tranquil setting and gracious hospitality.

“We’re so proud of all that we’ve achieved and all that we’ve become over the years,” said Fr. David Cinquegrani, “and we’re beyond thrilled to be celebrating this milestone anniversary. We’re proud of our history as a place of peace and instrument of spiritual growth and transformation for so many people, and we hope to continue on that path for many years to come.”

To celebrate its glorious 75-year history, Holy Family has a number of activities planned for 2026, culminating in a festive anniversary mass and reception on Sunday, Sept. 13. A summer concert is planned for the outdoor pavilion on Wednesday, July 8, and the Center will host other events and guests throughout the year.

With 75 remarkable years under its belt, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center is indeed like a diamond, a symbol of immense strength, commitment, and enduring love. With the help of God, it will continue to shine like a diamond and serve the community for at least 75 more.

For more information about Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, visit their website.

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