Group Apostolate — Casa Romero Renewal Center

Casa Romero Renewal Center

The Ramos Community embraced Casa Romero as its group apostolate in the Spring of 2003. Since that time IAs have contributed in ways ranging from development and organization of its library, periodic spring cleanings, assistance with mailings, hospitalityincluding transporting retreatants and cooking meals for them, editing of a newsletter, and leading groups in the Spiritual Exercises in the “Promise to Resurrection” retreat series. Another example is the contribution by seven IAs, who accepted an invitation from Fr. Shields to form an ad hoc planning committee for Casa Romero, whose recommendations integrated business, development, and strategic planning. Securing a grant from the Non-profit Management Fund in Milwaukee led to further assessment with provision for training and growth of the Board. Currently Ignatian Associate Paco Martorell is president of the Board of Directors, two other Associates, Maureen Coffey and Margadette Demet, are members of the board, and many in the Ramos Community are staffing the newly formed committees.

Even before Casa Romero became the group apostolate of the Ramos Community, the Associates were deeply committed to the project when it was merely a dream in the heart of its founder, Fr. David Shields, SJ, and well before its opening in 2001. Prior to that year, IAs had been involved with the rehabbing of the building putting in hundreds of hours of manual labor.

Casa Romero Renewal Center, located in a growing Hispanic neighborhood, is a Catholic retreat center extending services to the urban poor. Eight nearby Hispanic parishes of the Milwaukee Archdiocese will be able to utilize Casa Romero as a spirituality center. Casa Romero provides a welcoming space for groups of many faiths. The programs focus on families, especially on parent-teen relationships, adult formation in spirituality, and various ways to offer the Spiritual Exercises. Two-year-long programs for spiritual mentoring are offered in both Spanish and English. The Center provides opportunities for those who had never before experienced a retreat experience to participate in programs which have the possibility of changing their lives, bringing their families closer together, and helping them to become better parents.

The Ramos Community of Ignatian Associates gathers regularly at Casa Romero for its meetings, formation events, and faith sharing.

Agreement with Casa Romero

On May 13, 2003 the Ramos Community agreed that our desire for communal apostolic activity would best be expresssed through collaboration with the mission and ministry of Casa Romero:

Desiring to deepen and extend its mission of service, Casa Romero Renewal Center gladly collaborates with various civic and religious groups, non-profit organizations, and others to attain its purpose. Keeping in mind the individual contributions of Ignatian Associates in the past, Casa Romero recognizes and appreciates the potential fruit to be gained from a closer bond of collaboration with the Ignatian Associates Ramos Community. Such closer collaboration would build a platform for common apostolic activities.

Some of the reasons Casa Romero Renewal Center would profit from this relationship with the IA Ramos Community are as follows:

  • IA are a group of talented and mission-oriented people who can contribute to current programs and initiate new ones.
  • IA, as active members of diverse archdiocesan parishes, represent the potential for initiating and executing new parish outreach programs.
  • IA bring widely varied background experiences and a rich cultural diversity apt for involvement in the Center’s programs.
  • IA involvement at Casa Romero will promote the Center’s mission while giving the Ignatian Associates a visible platform for their own mission.
  • IA will continue to be involved with the Center through membership on the Board, on committees, and participation in the individual programs.

This mutual collaboration does not impinge on the distinct identity or purpose of either entity, nor imply an exclusive relationship, rather, it simply expresses a commitment to share a common platform for apostolic activities according to the mission and vision of each.

Casa Romero and the IA Ramos Community will reflect on our collaborative relationship yearly.

Casa Romero Project Form
In order to provide more complete information for the Ramos Community as well as for David Shields, S.J. to review a proposed project, please use and complete our online project form.

Casa Romero Project Submission & Blessing Process
Ramos community members affirmed the process described when proposing a project for Casa Romero on January 13, 2004.