Gethsemane Retreat House

History & origins

The origin of Gethsemani Retreat House is closely connected with the life of Fr. Philip J. Crosbie of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, known in Korea as Fr. Cho Seon-hui Philip. Born in Australia in 1915, he was ordained a priest in 1939 and began pastoral work in the Diocese of Chuncheon in 1940. He experienced detention and expulsion during the Japanese colonial period and, during the Korean War, was captured by communist forces, forced on the “Death March” northward, and held as a prisoner of war for about three years.

Released in May 1953, he returned to his homeland but re-entered Korea in August 1954 and served at Hongcheon Parish. After a long missionary life in Korea he retired in 1989 and, drawing on his own experience of war and division, prepared a place of prayer dedicated to peace and penance.

In 1991 he established the “House of Prayer for Peace and Penance” on the present site, and in 1996 its name was changed to “Gethsemani Retreat House.” The Diocese of Chuncheon notes that the site lies on the 38th parallel and explains its significance as a place Fr. Crosbie created for prayer for world peace and the conversion of sinners. He returned to Australia in November 1998 and died on March 24, 2005.

The retreat house continued after its founder's departure, and with the help of benefactors the present building was completed. It was dedicated on September 14, 2009, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The place of prayer begun by Fr. Crosbie thus developed into a more permanent retreat house that continues his original spiritual intention.