What began as a mission of gratitude and faith years ago has become a place of service.
St. John’s Hermitage, a place of sanctuary and rest for priests, deacons and seminarians, will continue serving members of the clergy at its new location in Mount Vernon.
An open house and blessing of the new St. John’s Hermitage, located in the heart of Knox County, was held Friday, June 13. Bishop Earl Fernandes was present to bless the house and grounds that afternoon.
The Hermitage was formerly located in McDermott in Scioto County. While the former site offered a remote, beautiful and quiet haven, the location was a two-hour drive from Columbus and two hours from Cincinnati.
The new Mount Vernon site, in contrast, is about an hour from Columbus and based at the crossroads of Ohio’s northern dioceses: Toledo, Cleveland and Youngstown. The location will help the Hermitage achieve its mission to serve not only clergy in the Diocese of Columbus but the wider Church.
“St. John’s Hermitage is, at its heart, a place of service,” explained Chris Crum, president of the board. “Our mission is to aid priests, deacons and seminarians by providing a place of respite and renewal in a quiet pastoral setting.” The site allows members of the clergy to come rest and recharge at no cost.
The Hermitage was founded by Jerry and Janet Henderson after years of discernment and prayerful conversations. In 2006, their son Jonathan, at age 22, battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Priests accompanied them along the difficult path, offering comfort, anointing and reminders of Christ’s love and mercy.
At the same time, the Hendersons, grateful for priestly guidance, witnessed a priest friend of theirs nearly broken by the weight of his ministry. They wondered, “Who will care for those who care for us?”
St. John’s Hermitage was born from prayerfully discerning the answer.
The new location combines tranquility with connectivity, Crum noted in his remarks after the Hermitage’s blessing. “The move is driven to better meet the needs of a rapidly changing priesthood.”
National surveys point to a consensus that priests are experiencing significant burnout. American clergy have reported unprecedented stress. Younger priests are shown to be more likely to suffer burnout than older ones.
“In our own diocese, between 2010 and 2019, we ordained 24 priests. Twenty-one of them have already served as pastors or administrators. Today, only 12 remain in those roles,” Crum shared.
“Consider the class of 2018: five priests ordained – all have become pastors. Today, only two still serve as pastors.
“By moving to Mount Vernon, we sought dramatic change to address this burnout now, to provide a space priests can truly use before burnout becomes breakdown. St. John’s Hermitage exists in direct response to this urgent need.”
The new St. John’s Hermitage site features several attractions nearby. Apple Valley Lake and Golf Club is located five minutes away, and Mohican State Park is about a 15-minute drive north.
The Mount Vernon home formerly belonged to a young couple, Adam and Maria Bremerkamp, and their five children. They relocated to St. Louis to serve as missionaries with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) apostolate, which primarily serves college campuses.
The Bremerkamps held FOCUS men’s and women’s Bible studies in the home. They had a vision for the future of the property, and upon learning about the Hermitage’s needs, they found its mission closely aligned with theirs. The couple extended the first offer to St. John’s Hermitage.
The home was in good condition and simply needed furnished.
“We’re working on accessibility issues and outfitting the Hermitage with everything one might need for a pleasant stay,” said Deacon Lou Griffith, vice president of the board. “We’re planning on an outdoor Stations of the Cross walking path along with dedicated spaces for reflection, like our Marian shrine. With almost 10 acres, there’s plenty of quiet space to experience.”
The original Hermitage property in Scioto County – two adjacent parcels of land – was sold. One parcel, which featured a cabin on 66 acres of wooded hills, had belonged to founder Jerry, who died in June 2022, and was sold first.
The other parcel, also about 60 acres, was owned by the Hermitage’s board. There were ideas to build on that land, but after finding the Mount Vernon site with a home built and ready for occupation, the remaining parcel of land in Scioto County was sold.
Selling the former property will help finance the new location. All members of the clergy – priests, deacons and seminarians – from Ohio dioceses and in neighboring states are invited to stay free of cost.
The site offers silence, solitude and serenity, Griffith explained, promoting reflection and refreshment. It allows clergy to heed Christ’s command to “come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31).
“(Pope) St. John Paul II insisted that priests should have times of ‘rest, prayer, reflection and fraternal exchange,’” Crum added. “In offering this tranquil haven, we respond to those teachings and to Jesus’ own example.”