OUR STORY

In 2003, John and Mary Timmons were inspired during Eucharistic Adoration to leave their Chicago area home, purchase land in downstate Illinois and start a retreat center for Catholics. After much searching, they found the perfect property in the Spring of 2004 in rural Vermilion county, north of Danville, Illinois and made the move to the country.

John and Mary had been brought up as cradle Catholics and were raised in a traditional Catholic environment. After straying from the faith for a time in their early adult years, both had profound conversions back to the faith and were married in 1997.

After consecrating their marriage to Jesus through Mary, they spent the first 6 years of their marriage starting a family and exploring what God's plan might be for their future. Three weeks after making the move to the country, in July 2004, they attended their first "Holy Family Fest" at Catholic Familyland in Ohio and were inspired to follow the spirituality of the Apostolate for Family Consecration (AFC) at their new retreat center, to sanctify families in the truths of our Catholic faith.

​The retreat center now serves as the host for annual AFC mini-Holy Family Fests Weekend, hosts the Consecration in Truth (CIT) family support group retreats, hosts Confirmation retreats for area Catholic high school students, hosts individual priestly retreats and various other retreats for local Catholic groups.

OUR MISSION

  1. To establish a close relationship with the Apostolate for Family Consecration (AFC) to sanctify and build up the family unit through Family Holy Hours, Peace of Heart Forums, Lay Ecclesial Team functions, spreading the "Message of Hope", offerings of retreats for AFC staff and members and AFC seminars and meetings.
  2. To offer a place for retreat for Catholic priests for one day or weekend getaways to the country for quiet spiritual reflection and recreation. 
  3. To offer a place to our local parish priest for Catholic high school retreats, confirmation retreats and other parish events. 
  4. To offer an annual "Holy Family AFC miniFest" to the community to introduce the AFC and encourage families to attend events at Catholic Familyland. 
  5. To promote St. Louis de Montfort's "Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary". 
  6. To promote the Apostolate for Family Consecration's vision and mission to various Catholic groups that may be interested in learning about the AFC. 
  7. To offer a venue for Catholic retreats to various church ministries, including, but not limited to: Cursillo leaders, Kairos prison leaders, Catholic college retreats, young adult Catholic retreats, Focus, NET Ministries, etc.
​Ave Maria Retreat Center is a private, independent retreat center for Roman Catholics, not affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of Peoria.
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