The Marist Brothers acquired the former estate of Colonel Oliver Hazard Payne on the banks of the majestic Hudson River in Esopus, New York in 1945 for $50.000.00, a lot of money then, but today merely a "dime." Its nearly 300 acres and several buildings, including a magnificent renaissance mansion modeled after one Colonel Payne saw on the Mediterranean, served as a juniorate, provincial residence, novitiate, retreat center and summer camp for various kinds of handicapped children and adults. The once servants quarters, gatehouse and garages now serve as the novitiate, and spirituality center where retreats of all kinds, meetings and summer camps occupy this Center of Spirituality around the year. The cemetery for the Marist Brothers also is located here.
Beyond the physical beauty and practical use of Colonel Payne's grand estate, there is a deeply spiritual aspect that serves to nourish all who come here and almost magically draws them back. There is no accurate count of conversions, returns to the Church and active practice of the Faith and growth in the knowledge and love of Jesus that have occurred here, but since September of this current academic year alone, for example, 2,800 students or adults have been here for "the Esopus Experience" of one sort or another. 178 volunteers have thus far donated their time and abilities to help make this happen. Programs are ever expanding to bring more and more people to this well-spring where the Marist Legacy, the Gospel are taught and experienced. Bayonne, New Jersey may be the administrative headquarters of the Marist Province of the United States, but Esopus is the heart pumping the spiritual blood into the veins of its members. Students from Marist schools who have made retreats here come back as leaders of other retreats, or as Marist Young Adults and volunteers seeking to deepen their relationship with God and help others do the same.
There is no greater satisfaction that to see a person who was once part of a Marist program now working with youth and leading a retreat here, as happened yesterday when I reconnected with Chris Kaiser in the Retreat House dining room. The legacy is being passed on, the hard work of the brothers "making it happen" continues from generation to generation under the approving gaze of St. Marcellin. Little did Colonel Payne know what a gift he was giving the Church when he built his estate from 1913-1915, as little do we know that impact we can have on others until years later.
Bro. Rene
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