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Moye Retreat Center
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History
The Sisters of Divine Providence, founded in France in 1762 by Blessed John Martin Moye, first came to Castroville in 1868 at the invitation of Bishop Claude Dubuis, who served as pastor from 1847 - 1853 of the first St. Louis Church located on the property. By 1870 Sisters St. Andrew Feltin and Alphonse Boegler opened the first public school of Castroville, the current Retreat House. As more Sisters came from Europe and new members entered the Congregation from Texas, larger living quarters became necessary. In 1873, the Main House was built as the first motherhouse for the Sisters of Divine Providence in the United States. Later in 1886, the far west wing was added and by 1890 a private school for girls, Providence Academy, was opened, welcoming boarders to the Main House. When the Congregation moved its headquarters to San Antonio in 1896, the Sisters continued the parish school in Castroville. The Main House was used from 1915 - 1917 as a seminary for priests exiled from Mexico. In 1920, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate bought the property for their formation program; they later sold it to the Salesians who used it for a novitiate until 1937. At that time the Congregation, learning that a prospective buyer wanted the property for a night club, bought it back. The Sisters operated Moye Military Academy, a boarding school for boys from 1938 through 1959. In the years that followed, it became Moye High School for aspirants interested in membership in the Congregation, and later it became Moye Formation Center and served as a novitiate for the Sisters. The Rock House which had served as classrooms and the Retreat House which had served as a music studio were renovated, and in 1985 it became Moye Center, a place for renewal and retreats. Moye Retreat Center is owned and subsidized by the Sisters of Divine Providence who are committed to making Moye an affordable place for groups to use, even though this pledge is a financial challenge for them. The Sisters of Divine Providence are now engaged in a fundraising effort for Moye, "Sharing Sacred Spaces Capital Campaign," to address five physical areas that need immediate attention.The cost for these Capital Improvements is $300,000. We are asking for your help to raise this amount to preserve and improve Moye Retreat Center. To learn more about this campaign, click here for Brochure or go to the home page. You can help us continue our retreat mission at Moye by making a contribution in the following ways:
Please
mail check or money order to: Thank you in advance for your kind generosity to us.
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