The Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, AZ, offers a restorative style and substance that visitors would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
“People are hungry for the experience we offer,” says Christopher Meyer, the Renewal Center’s Development Director. “The world hungers for a community that welcomes them. Just as the Franciscan friars always have, we offer healing, transformation, and accompaniment.”
Diverse Retreat Offerings
At the place affectionately referred to as “the Casa,” visitors can also gather, engage, and find inspiration in the Casa’s sponsored, hosted non-profit, and private retreat offerings, with guests traveling from every state in the U.S. and dozens of countries across six continents.
In 2024, Fr. Andre Cirino, OFM, and Josef Raischl, OFS, chose the Casa to hold their final U.S. offering of St. Bonaventure’s Journey Into God Retreat. The immersive, multi-faceted 8-day Franciscan experience was professionally filmed for posterity and future online offerings.
“I have facilitated retreats in numerous Franciscan retreat centers across the United States, in addition to several others internationally in Canada, England, Italy, Scotland, Hong Kong, Whales, Ireland, and the Philippines. And by far, the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona exceeds them all because of its striking landscape, supportive staff, delicious and abundant food service, and especially its newly constructed church and separate spherical Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.”
— Fr. André Cirino, OFM
The Casa’s diverse retreat offerings embrace themes of grief and healing, Franciscan spirituality, personal growth, creative expression, prayer, and more. Retreatants describe their time at the Casa as life-changing—moments of renewal wrapped in a sense of welcome, care, and compassion that is rare and genuine.
Inspiring Grounds
“Some people visit to simply spend time on the grounds and in the many prayer spaces to feel closer to God,” says Patricia Lee, the Renewal Center’s Communications Director. “Often, visitors can be found embracing inner stillness surrounded by the peaceful beauty of nature.
“Recently, we had the privilege of meeting Hanna Zack Miley, a Holocaust survivor who visits the Healing Garden seeking spiritual connection and renewal. Accompanied by a film crew, she returned to the spaces that hold special meaning for her.
Her extraordinary journey is the focus of the documentary “i was 8814,” and the filmmakers captured poignant B-roll of Hanna here. The production team held the film’s premiere private screening in our auditorium for a sold-out audience, requiring an encore event. More than 400 people came with open hearts to meet Hanna and hear her story—our community is steeped in a tradition of advocating for social justice and those who suffer.”
This documentary on Hanna’s life captures the high points in Hanna’s personal journey, from hatred and bitterness toward Germans and Germany to the healing and freedom of forgiveness and reconciliation. Hanna and her husband, George, have been world travelers for over 50 years, teaching others about the transformational power of God and forgiveness even in the most painful of circumstances.
Outreach Ministries
Another way people find purpose and connection at the Casa is through more than a dozen Faith in Action volunteer ministries that serve the poor, vulnerable, and families who’ve sacrificed for their country.
“The Casa has a robust Veterans Ministry,” says Patricia. “We were the first faith-based organization to be recognized and accepted in partnership with the Arizona Coalition for Military Families and became a thought leader in how faith-based organizations can respond to the spiritual and emotional needs of service members, veterans, and their families.”
The Casa is at the forefront of both helping and welcoming the marginalized.
“All are welcome,” says Christopher. “We’re an intergenerational community that values all people and their stories and histories. We’re also responsive to societal issues that arise. Recently, we hosted a program on how to heal from divisiveness, led by our Rector, Fr. Page Polk, OFM, and Ryan Sheade, LCSW, our Director of Counseling.
They brought together the use of therapy theory and spiritual connection to become less reactive and more compassionate with each other. It was very well received by the community because while there are differences of opinions, the Casa is a safe place for people to come together and have open hearts and minds.”
The Franciscan Renewal Center continues the 75-year legacy of the friars in Scottsdale, AZ, by fostering a welcoming and healing community and evolving their ministries to best serve those in need. Last year, more than 120 community, staff, and board members, along with friars, entered a rigorous 25-year visioning process to ensure that on the sacred ground of the Casa and beyond, this legacy continues for generations to come.
To learn more about The Franciscan Renewal Center, visit https://www.thecasa.org/