Stations of the Cross from closed retreat centre will find a new home at youth camp

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Stations of the Cross from closed retreat centre will find a new home at youth camp

Pictured left: Artwork on the grounds of the former Queen’s House retreat centre will soon have a new home: Knights of Columbus members are working on moving the Stations of the Cross to the Blackstrap Youth Camp. Several K of C members recently gathered at the site to do prep work along with Fr. Doug Jeffrey of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, masonry and rock specialist Fr. Edward Gibney, and former Queen’s House director Brendan Bitz. (Photo by Tim Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

The large outdoor stations of the cross on the grounds of the former Queen’s House retreat centre which closed in 2024 will soon have a new home at the Blackstrap Youth Camp south of Saskatoon.

The stations, which were placed on large stones on the Queen’s House grounds in 1961 as a diocesan Knights of Columbus project, have the name of the artist on the side – “GARDINI” (Professor Giovanni Ardini) – and came from Naples, Italy.

A plaque on the Queen’s House site commemorates the donation of the stations of the cross by the Knights of Columbus in 1961. (Photo by Tim Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Finding a new home for the outdoor artwork has been a process undertaken by Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI, and Ron Schira, past Grand Knight of St. Philip Neri Parish K of C council in Saskatoon, who then consulted other Knights of Columbus members, including those serving on the board of the faith-based K of C Blackstrap Youth Camp.

BYC board member Blair Carruthers said that the Knights of Columbus serving on the board welcomed the suggestion that the stations of the cross be re-located to the 40-acre camp on the shore of Blackstrap Lake.

“There was a small group of us — Fr. Doug, Ron Schira, myself , Ron Denis, Dave Harder, –and we spent some time looking at several potential locations,” Carruthers said.  “We decided on a spot that is close to the chapel. We are going to get this moved and we are going to develop that area even further as more of a faith-based spot, not just for youth, but for all of our Catholic community.”

Checking the placement of one of the stations on the Queen’s House grounds (left to right:) Knights of Columbus past Grand Knight Ron Schira; Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI; K of C Blackstrap Youth Camp board member Blair Carruthers; and former director of Queen’s House, Brendan Bitz. (Photo by Tim Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Statue of Our Lady

Another piece of artwork commissioned by the Knights of Columbus for the Queen’s House grounds is a statue of Blessed Virgin Mary, holding a sheaf of wheat.  Carved by local artist Fr. Ed Gibney before he was ordained a priest, the statue is going to St. Paul’s Hospital.

“I think it is a great place to put it, a good place to continue its relationship with the community,” said Gibney, noting that the statue’s exact location will probably be decided once renovations at the hospital are complete.

Artist Fr. Edward Gibney stands next to the statue of Mary which will eventually be moved to St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon. (Photo by Tim Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Queen’s House of Retreats was established by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1958, and closed its doors in 2024 and right now Saskatoon Integrated Health is renting the property for a family treatment project.

A 1962 OMI Newsletter about activities at Queen’s House describes the dedication and history of the stations of the cross. (Screen capture image from scan of newsletter)

A 1962 Queen’s House Newsletter reported on the new stations of the cross:

“June 10 marked the occasion of the Dedication of the Plaque signifying the part the Knights of Columbus of the Saskatoon Diocese played in financing the Stations of the Cross for Queen’s House of Retreats. Bishop F.J. Klein performed the ceremony and later spoke a word of thanks in the name of the diocese. Mr. Leo Mitchener spoke on behalf of the Knights of the diocese. Father Director expressed appreciation on behalf of the Retreat Movement. All the guests then joined in making the Way of the Cross. Later the Knights of Columbus, their wives and families enjoyed a picnic lunch on the grounds.

“It might be good to recall a few things about this lovely set of the Stations of the Cross. The set was ordered on October 1st, 1959 and they arrived here February 15th, 1961. The stations are made of white Carrara marble and each of the fourteen weighs 88 pounds and measures 24″ x 18″ x 10″. They were sculptured in the studio of Professor Giovanni Ardini under the direction of Father G. Drago, OMI and Father Switallo, OMI. They were shipped from Naples on the S.S. Vulcania and the cost of the Stations delivered was over twenty-six hundred dollars. The Knights of Columbus are to be commended and thanked by us all.”

An earlier 1961 Queen’s House Newsletter described the arrival of the artwork and plans to place the artwork on boulders throughout the grounds:

“April 10th marked the actual beginning of work for the 1961 season…. The first consideration now is the erection of the Stations of the Cross. The white marble slabs arrived from Rome in February and they are very nice. Rather than erect them on an ordinary pedestal with a flimsy roof over them, we have adopted Mr. Julius Molaro’s plan of setting them into large field stones of different colours. The boulders have been brought in and are being worked on at present. The final result should be beautiful.”

A photo Queen’s House from 1961 with the stations of the cross placed on boulders around the grounds. (Screen capture image from scan of newsletter)

By Timothy Yaworski

Published on the Catholic Saskatoon News website