I was walking the east side of our land a while ago and came upon a father and his two children. The father shared stories of his days as a boy playing on the banks of the Speed River and his early attempts at constructing a cedar log cabin in the woods along the riverbank. He was delighted when I informed him that not only were the remnants of the cabin still there, but that I could take him to the exact spot. Overgrown with brush, the cedar log walls still peeked out from the greenery. The father was delighted to relive and share the memories of building the cabin with his friends. I left my trail mates happy to know that the land still offered fond memories to this father who now shared those memories with his children.

Our land continues to act as the seed of memories for many people. For almost a century this land was farmed and cared for by young Jesuits in training. We have passed that nurturing spirit to thousands of young people who come here throughout the year. Students from the Catholic school board are helping to transform our old villa into a student retreat and ecology centre. The Jesuit community has enjoyed the bounty of the gardens planted last spring by students from St. James High School attending Terra, an outdoor education program. The energy, skill and knowledge brought to our farm by the six organic farm interns of the Community Shared Agriculture have been a great blessing. It is hard not to have their hopes rub off on me - hopes for a future of farming and a more ecologically healing way of life. I remember the excited voices of the young children attending our Cosmic Camp for Kids back in July and shared in the contagious joy of the Willow Road Public School students who planted 1,200 trees on two warm days in early November. I am confident that some of these teens will one day return with their own children, point to the trees and proudly state "I planted those trees, and look at how they have grown!"

As I write, the 40-day Spiritual Exercises Institute is concluding. Our retreat house has been filled with the youthful energy of nine Jesuit novices from Jamaica and Canada. It has been over a decade since Jesuit novices last made their retreat at Loyola House. I remember with fondness the two 40-day retreats that I made at this retreat house, the first as a young novice and the second more than a decade later. Each time I enter the retreat house chapel my mind is flooded with memories. The chapel has become one of my spiritual homes. This land also carries so many memories. When I walk the land I remember planting trees that are now more than a quarter century old. My soul finds rest in this land.

This year has been one marked by much change and renovation. We have completed the transition from a Jesuit novitiate into a full-fledged Ignatian spirituality and ecology centre. In February 2009, we will complete the last of our major works with the opening of the new student retreat and ecology centre at the old villa. We renovated Loyola House and constructed new apartments at Ignatius College for participants of the retreat centre training programs. The Stations of the Cosmos, expected to be completed by spring, will provide a great educational and spiritual tool. We are expanding an integrated ecology-spirituality program. These and other ongoing changes will ensure the future of our property, a future that will hopefully continue to speak something of the glory and beauty of God.

This land defines our identity. It determines who we are. As one of our Board members has remarked:

"This land is special, it draws us here and is an integral part of our work here. This land is central to the apostolic work of the Jesuits in Guelph."

That is true. However, I know that nothing is more central than your prayers and support. Without you, nothing is possible on this land. You gift the land with life and abundance. For that I am deeply grateful. May God continue to bless you. May you continue to bless us.