The Monsignor Robert J. Coll Foundation, Inc. has announced the reopening of the St. Francis Spirituality & Retreat Center of Easton, formerly known as the St. Francis Retreat House.
All are invited to celebrate this new beginning at a Mass of Blessing and Renewal on Sunday, Oct. 4 — the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi — at 4 p.m. celebrated by Bishop Alfred Schlert. Offered in thanksgiving for the Center's restoration and for all who have prayed within its walls, the Mass will formally welcome retreatants, neighbors, and friends back to this sacred ground.
The reopening comes at significant time, since 2026 marks the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death, and has been named a Jubilee Year of St. Francis by Pope Leo XIV.
For more than 65 years, the former St. Francis Retreat House welcomed thousands of individuals, parish groups, schools, clergy, and religious seeking a deeper encounter with God. Following the closure of the retreat house in fall 2024, the Monsignor Robert J. Coll Foundation acquired the property with a commitment to preserving its sacred purpose and ensuring that future generations would continue to benefit from its legacy of faith, hospitality, and renewal.
Monsignor Robert Coll served the Diocese of Allentown for more than 60 years, dedicating his life to parish ministry, Catholic education, and care for the poor. He is best known as the founder of Operation Rice Bowl, a Lenten program he created in 1975 that grew into the national CRS Rice Bowl initiative, raising hundreds of millions of dollars to combat hunger worldwide. He died in 2026 at age 95, leaving a legacy of faith and generosity now carried on through the Monsignor Robert J. Coll Foundation and the St. Francis Spirituality & Retreat Center.
Today, the Center exists as a sacred place set apart for renewal, reflection, and peace. Rooted in the spiritual tradition of the Catholic Church and inspired by the humble witness of St. Francis of Assisi, the Center welcomes individuals and groups to encounter the presence of God, experience the peace of Christ, and deepen their relationship with the Lord.
Visitors will once again be able to enjoy the chapels, devotional gardens, outdoor Stations of the Cross, sacred artwork, and quiet spaces that made the property a treasured destination for prayer and reflection.
The Center is expected to welcome retreat groups, parish gatherings, schools, and individual retreatants beginning this fall. The St. Francis gift shop will also reopen this fall, offering visitors gifts that renew the faith, inspire hope, and bring peace.
Advance registration is required for the Oct. 4 Mass. Register here.
The Center is located at 3918 Chipman Road, Easton. For more information, call 484-837-1112.
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