Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford

What Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford does

The Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford is a Catholic, non-profit 501(c)(3) retreat ministry founded in 1929 and sponsored by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) USA Midwest Province. It operates a 37-acre campus along the Little Miami River in Milford, Ohio, about thirty minutes east of downtown Cincinnati, comprising the Arrupe Retreat House (56 bedrooms), Loyola Retreat House (46 bedrooms), Thomas Retreat House (8 beds), the 100-person Schott Pavilion, Splain Cabin (a 500-square-foot private hermitage), and Willig Chapel. The center offers Ignatian spiritual formation programs built on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, including Ignatian Weekend Retreats, week-long Personally Directed Retreats, single-day retreats, and one-on-one Spiritual Direction.

Its youth ministry is the largest programmatic arm: a dedicated team serves over 7,000 young people annually across more than 70 on- and off-campus retreats, with custom-designed programming that travels to partner schools and parishes across the Midwest (and as far as Alabama). Supporting programs include the Ignite Internship (a year-long residential ministry-training program for college graduates) and a three-year Spiritual Direction Internship that certifies new Ignatian spiritual directors. The center also rents its facilities to faith-based organizations for their own retreats.

Revenue is generated through retreat fees ($50–$910 per person depending on format), Spiritual Direction Internship tuition ($1,200–$1,750 per year), facility rentals, and donations including planned giving and stock gifts. Marketing and registration flow primarily through the jesuitspiritualcenter.com website and Donorperfect-powered online giving, supplemented by social channels (JSCMinistry on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), seasonal newsletters, and direct outreach to schools and parishes.

Name

Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford

Legal name

Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford

Website

https://jesuitspiritualcenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford is a Catholic non-profit Jesuit-sponsored retreat center in Milford, Ohio, offering Ignatian spiritual formation, youth and adult retreats, spiritual direction, and a ministry training pipeline across a 37-acre campus serving 14,000+ people annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Retreat Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB)

Keywords

• Catholic retreat programs
• Ignatian spiritual formation
• Youth ministry retreats
• Spiritual direction training
• Retreat facility rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Milford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retreat Fees: Fees charged for various retreat programs including Ignatian Weekend Retreats ($330), Personally Directed Retreats (5-7 nights at $650-$910), and day retreats ($50). $50 deposit required to register with balance due at retreat.
2. Spiritual Direction Training Tuition: Three-year certificate program with tuition fees: Year 1 at $1,750 for 15 sessions, Year 2 at $1,200 for 7 sessions
3. Donations and Planned Giving: One-time and recurring donations, stock donations, bequests, and planned giving options for supporters of the ministry
4. Facility Rentals: Rental of retreat facilities (Arrupe, Loyola, Thomas House, Schott Pavilion, Splain Cabin, Willig Chapel) to faith-based organizations for their own retreats

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford is a Catholic retreat ministry that designs and delivers Ignatian spiritual formation programs including silent weekend retreats, week-long personally directed retreats, single-day retreats, custom K-12 youth ministry retreats, one-on-one spiritual direction, and multi-year training programs. The center operates six retreat facilities on a 37-acre campus along the Little Miami River in Milford, Ohio, and serves more than 14,000 people annually. It is sponsored by the Jesuits USA Midwest Province and has operated continuously since 1929.

Product overview

The Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford is a Catholic retreat ministry offering a portfolio of Ignatian spiritual formation programs and facilities. Its core offerings include Ignatian Weekend Retreats (silent 2-3 day retreats with guided presentations and sacraments), Personally Directed Retreats (week-long introspective retreats with personal spiritual directors), and A Day of Your Own (single-day retreats). The center operates a vibrant Youth Ministry serving over 7,000 youth annually across 70+ retreats. Supporting programs include the Ignite Internship (year-long residential ministry training), Spiritual Direction services, and a three-year Spiritual Direction Internship for training directors. The center manages multiple retreat facilities: the Arrupe Retreat House (56 rooms), Loyola Retreat House (46 rooms), Thomas Retreat House (8-person capacity), Schott Pavilion (100-person capacity), Splain Cabin (private hermitage), and Willig Chapel—all situated on 37 acres along the Little Miami River.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ignite Internship: A year-long internship program for college-aged adults living in community, receiving hands-on training in youth ministry and working within a team of professional youth ministers.

Products and services

• Ignatian Weekend Retreats Weekend silent retreats rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, directed by experienced retreat masters with presentations on prayer, reflection, and the spiritual journey, including Mass, Reconciliation, Adoration, Stations of the Cross, Rosary, Healing Service, and Spiritual Direction. Priced at $330 per retreatant with a $50 deposit required.
• Personally Directed Retreats Week-long silent retreats rooted in the Gospel and Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, offering daily conferences with a personal spiritual director, daily liturgy, and time for journaling, reading, art, music, and walking the 37-acre grounds. Priced at $910 for 7 nights or $650 for 5 nights.
• A Day of Your Own Single-day retreats offering Mass, confession, spiritual direction, and personal reflection and prayer in the Arrupe building, including lunch, ideal for those unable to attend longer retreats. Priced at $50 per person.
• Youth Ministry Retreats Custom-designed transformational retreat experiences in the Jesuit tradition for young people in grades K-12, serving over 7,000 youth annually across more than 70 retreats, offered on-campus or at schools and parishes. Includes Confirmation retreats, class retreats, all-school retreats, youth group retreats, and staff retreats.
• Spiritual Direction One-on-one sessions with trained spiritual directors in the Ignatian tradition to help individuals notice God's grace movements, grow in contemplative prayer, and deepen relationship with Christ, available in-person or virtually.
• Ignite Internship Program Year-long residential internship for college graduates living in community at the Rock House, providing hands-on training in youth ministry, facilitating approximately 75 retreats for over 6,000 young people, with housing, food stipend, monthly stipend, health insurance, and spiritual development components. Applications rolling February to mid-July.
• Spiritual Direction Internship Program Three-year non-degree training program in the Ignatian tradition for those seeking to become practicing spiritual directors, with certificate upon completion, featuring advanced topics, group and individual supervision, and opportunities to direct Ignatian retreats. Year 1 tuition $1,750 for 15 sessions; Year 2 tuition $1,200 for 7 sessions.
• Arrupe Retreat House The oldest and largest facility on campus featuring 56 private air-conditioned bedrooms, large chapel, main dining room, conference room, main lounge with fireplace, seven small breakout rooms, and fitness room. Available for rent to faith-based organizations.
• Loyola Retreat House Facility along the Little Miami River with 46 private air-conditioned rooms, large conference room, five smaller meeting rooms, large chapel, dining room staffed by professional chefs, and grounds including a labyrinth. Available for rent to faith-based organizations.
• Thomas Retreat House Smaller retreat house for groups of 4-8, featuring its own chapel, meeting area, full kitchen, lounge with gas fireplace, dining room seating 10, outdoor patio, and 4 bedrooms with 8 beds total. Available for rent to faith-based organizations.
• Schott Pavilion Octagonal stone building originally part of 1920s estate, used for day retreats and meetings, accommodating up to 100 people with dining area seating 80, fireplace, and self-sufficient venue for day and evening programs. Available for rent to faith-based organizations.
• Splain Cabin Private 500-square-foot cabin on the banks of the Little Miami River for individual retreatants seeking a hermitage atmosphere, featuring one bedroom, full kitchen, laundry machines, and front porch overlooking the river.
• Willig Chapel Chapel overlooking the Little Miami River, available 24/7 for prayer and quiet reflection, named after Fr. Jim Willig, featuring an outdoor deck and views of the prayer labyrinth and river overlook.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of retreatants grew in relationship with God
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Catholic CharitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for the 'Good Grief: Inviting Grief to be a Catalyst for Growth' retreat, bringing together Catholic Charities, Giving Voice Foundation, and the Jesuit Spiritual Center.
• Giving Voice FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for the grief retreat program; Krista Powers from Giving Voice Foundation directs the retreat experience.
• Society of Jesus (Jesuits) USA Midwest ProvincecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe center is sponsored by the Jesuits USA Midwest Province and is described as 'A Retreat Ministry of the Jesuits USA Midwest Province.' This is the foundational sponsoring relationship.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Demontreville Retreat House: Lake Elmo, MN Jesuit retreat house offering Ignatian preached retreats, directed retreats, and spiritual direction. Directly comparable as a Jesuit-sponsored retreat center in the Midwest serving the same tradition and overlapping geographic region.
• Manresa Jesuit Retreat House: St. Louis, MO Jesuit retreat house offering preached retreats, spiritual direction, and Ignatian formation programs. Closely comparable because it shares the Jesuit sponsor model, Ignatian retreat focus, and operates a multi-building residential campus for individuals and groups.
• Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House: Barrington, IL Jesuit retreat house offering Ignatian preached and directed retreats, spiritual direction, and youth ministry on a residential campus. Most directly comparable peer - same Jesuit tradition, similar program mix, and overlapping Midwest geography (the Jesuit Spiritual Center's own Mission Coordinator, Fr. Paul Macke, previously served as Bellarmine's Executive Director).
• Jesuit Retreat Center of Cleveland: Parma, OH Jesuit retreat center offering Ignatian retreats, parish missions, and youth ministry in Ohio. Highly comparable as a same-tradition peer operating in the same state with overlapping Catholic school and parish customer base.
• St. Francis Retreat Center: Easton, PA Catholic retreat center (Capuchin friars) offering directed and preached retreats in the Ignatian tradition on a residential campus. Comparable retreat ministry serving overlapping Catholic retreatant demand.
• Loyola House Retreat Centre: Guelph, Ontario Jesuit retreat center offering Ignatian preached and directed retreats in a residential setting. Comparable as a Jesuit-sponsored retreat house rooted in the Spiritual Exercises, though operating across the border rather than within US Midwest.
• Maranatha Retreat Center: Center Lovell, ME non-denominational Christian retreat center offering individual and group retreats on a residential campus. Comparable as a retreat-venue operator with similar lodging, dining, and programming structure, though not specifically Jesuit/Catholic.

Emerging players

• Soul Shepherding: Christian ministry focused on spiritual direction training and contemplative retreat programs for pastors and leaders. Comparable as a training-focused ministry in spiritual direction but operates without a dedicated residential retreat campus.

Regional players

• Christ in the Wilderness Retreat Center: Bandera, TX non-denominational Christian retreat center offering individual and group retreats on a residential campus. Comparable as a retreat ministry but operating in a different region and broader Christian tradition rather than specifically Catholic/Jesuit.

Others

• Society of Jesus USA Midwest Province: The sponsoring religious order of the Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford. Comparable as the governing body overseeing multiple Jesuit ministries and as a partner ecosystem that could channel retreatants, donors, and program collaborations to Milford.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/JSCMinistry
• Facebookfacebook.com/JSCMinistry
• Instagraminstagram.com/JSCMinistry
• Xx.com/JSCMinistry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jscministry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford