New barn at Manresa replaces one destroyed by fire

Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Bloomfield Hills celebrated the rebuilding of a new barn on Friday, November 5, on the site of one which had been consumed by fire in 2019.

The original barn predated the sale of the property for the Jesuit use, according to Steve Raymond, assistant director of Manresa Jesuit Retreat House. The barn burned down on April 10, 2019, along with an adjacent structure. A newly constructed structure designed to replace the previous barn was blessed on “a crisp clear morning,” Raymond said, with participants gathering inside the new barn after an 8 a.m. mass. They were welcomed by Sr. Linda Sevcik, SM, Executive Director.

The new barn is 3,500 square feet over two floors, has three doors for vehicles and is topped by a cupola with the old barn's original weather vane.

Sr. Linda recognized Marie Molnar and her late husband, Bill, at the blessing for gifting the replacement cost for the new barn.

The Mission of Manresa Jesuit Retreat House is to help men and women grow spiritually through prayer, reflection, guidance and teaching according to the tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It is located at the corner of Quarton Road and Woodward Avenue.