Archived News



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Forest Preserve Starts Demolition of Cenacle Buildings


On June 4th, the DuPage County Forest Preserve District sent a letter to the five individuals whose properties abut the Cenacle Retreat Center property, informing them of the demolition and plans to construct a recreational trail on the Cenacle site.

The letter confirms the following:
  • Asbestos materials are currently being removed from all of the structures on the Cenacle property.
  • All structures on the site will be demolished later this year.
  • All parking lots will be removed and restored to open space.
  • The asphalt driveway will be narrowed and converted into a new recreational trail.
  • The bridge over the West Branch of the DuPage River will be left in place for trail users.
  • The Batavia Rd. driveway will be removed and the new recreational trail will intersect with Batavia Rd. at the Rockwell St. intersection.
  • When all demolition activities have been completed, the perimeter fencing will be removed.


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WPIM National Day of Prayer


Click on the image for a larger version

Warrenville Persons in Ministry (WPIM) was founded by the pastor of Community Baptist Church, the oldest Church in Warrenville, more than 25 years ago. It is still vitally alive and has found new energy working on joint projects such as a service celebrating Christian Unity Week in January, the National Day of Prayer in May, and the Chamber of Commerce’s Summer Daze in August. Members either live in or are Christian ministers in the City of Warrenville.

Sister Joyce Kemp came to a meeting with Sister Evelyn Jegen in January 1995 and was immediately chosen to be co-chair with Paul Heidebrecht of Immanuel Presbyterian Church. They began a National Day of Prayer Breakfast for all civil servants in Warrenville that was well-attended by city hall, the police and fire departments, the school and library districts. Last year, Sr. Kemp was chosen to be the leader once again. That means sending e-mail reminders about meetings and setting the agenda. At the same time, the group decided to have a Prayer Service at the Gazebo across from City Hall instead.

This year Lynda Sticklemeier, President of Trinity Lutheran Church, who was in the last stages of a cancer she had fought for 20 years, suggested we serve hot dogs and chips, because more people would come that way. We served grilled hot dogs and cold drinks at 11:30 a.m. at the Gazebo in her memory before the noon Prayer Service. Sr. Kemp says working with the current group of ministers, ordained and lay, is amazing, as the group has grown together and has begun to work more closely with Warrenville Youth and Family Services, a faith-based social service agency, in reaching out to all people living in Warrenville. Jeff Kamphausen said at a meeting, “Why are we working separately when we could work together?”

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The Cenacle Prayer Enrollment Office celebrated its Grand Opening Tuesday, November 18th. Alderman David Schultz, representing the mayor, cut the red ribbon. Chamber of Commerce leaders and members, along with former Mayor Vivian Lund, City Clerk Emily Larson, and the Prayer Office staff were present for the occasion.

Sharing in prayer is an integral part of the Cenacle Sisters ministry, and although the main retreat house in Warrenville has been closed and the property sold to the DuPage Forest Preserve, the Prayer Enrollment Office continues, having relocated to 3S230 Warren Ave. The Prayer Office was delighted to find the space available in the Kleinwachter building on the corner of Warren and Manning, which used to be Tony’s Barber Shop and Salon. Working from this space since April, the staff is delighted to continue to be active in the community working in the heart of old town Warrenville, located just a few blocks away from the former retreat house. Being able to keep the same phone numbers and PO Box 797, was most helpful in the transition.

Prayer Enrollments have been part of the Cenacle Sisters Ministry in North America since 1928 when Mother Mary Shannon suggested that attractive cards be created representing shared prayers for those in need in order to raise money for a new chapel wing at the Boston Cenacle. The Sisters continue to pray for all those enrolled. The most frequent question asked at the Warrenville Prayer Office is “Who is praying for us now that the Cenacle Sisters have left Warrenville?” Prayer Office manager, Cindy Cole replies, “Cenacle Sisters around the world” and there is one Sister still here, Sr. Joyce Kemp, and she prays for all the intentions daily.

We all know the power of prayer, so stop in to see the selection of cards you can share with your family and friends. All our cards can also be viewed and ordered from our web site at www.cenacle.org. Your offering helps support the sisters who have retired and those still actively working to reach out with spiritual direction and programs.

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The Cenacle has closed its doors and all the Cenacle Sisters have moved to their new locations. Sr. Mary Guido will be the local leader in our Cenacle in Houston, TX.

Sr. Laura Koberlein, Sr. Jill Dearmer, Sr. Rita Anne Houlihan, and Sr. Eileen McCabe are now residents of our Cenacle in Chicago. Sr. Joyce Kemp is staying in Warrenville, please read information on Sr. Kemps Korner to read more about her plans for the future.

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DuPage forest district to demo Cenacle buildings


by the Daily Herald on 10/21/08

DuPage County Forest Preserve commissioners voted 6-1 Tuesday to demolish the buildings on the recently purchased Cenacle property in Warrenville and return most of the 42-acre parcel to open green space.

Many commissioners supported the demolition proposal because there are no plans to use the buildings and bringing the structures up to code likely would cost several million dollars. Officials estimate it would cost as much as $750,000 to demolish the buildings.

Only commissioner Roger Kotecki opposed the demolition proposal. He said the buildings could house students and researchers working and studying at forest preserve facilities.

"It's basically a dorm," Kotecki said. "We could charge some type of rent to offset the operating costs."

For more than 70 years an order of Roman Catholic nuns operated a retreat house with 75 bedrooms and several small meeting rooms. In recent years, operations have slowed. The nuns decided to sell the property to the forest preserve in March for $5 million. Much of the property is on a flood plain, but the buildings aren't.

Commissioners recently approved constructing a stream research center nearby, but accessed by roads from adjacent Blackwell Forest Preserve because of the flood concerns.

Justin Frederick, the forest preserve district's director of land management, said there is no set timeline for demolition.

He said many of the proposed uses for the buildings were hindered by the fact that they are only accessible by a narrow wooden bridge that most emergency service vehicles can't utilize. Replacing the bridge would be add even more costs. The bridge also is partially responsible for the high demolition costs, he added.

Forest Preserve Director of Planning Andrea Hoyt said it would cost between $40,000 and $60,000 just to perform a structural analysis of the property.

"Staff recommended demolition because there is no identified use and it's the most fiscally responsible option," she said.

The buildings are utilitarian in design and have almost no architectural value. The features that might be considered valuable are religious in nature and will be taken by the nuns, who are moving to other retreat houses elsewhere. Hoyt said forest preserve staff will go through the buildings before they are demolished to determine if any of the accessories should be salvaged for use elsewhere.


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Many people that visited the Warrenville Cenacle will remember Sr. Cathy since she spent most of her spiritual life at the Warrenville Cenacle Spirituality Center. Although she passed away after several years as a resident of St. Patrick's Residence in Naperville, Sr. Cathy chose to stay close to the Warrenville Cenacle and her many friends that lived in the area.

Sr. Cathy contributed to the Prayer Office by helping to hand paint enrollment cards for many years. We will miss her.