Hanti Retreat Center

History & origins

Hanti Retreat House was established as part of the broader development of Hanti Martyrs’ Shrine. Pilgrimages to Hanti began in 1967, and in 1983 the regular commemoration of the martyrs was accompanied by the purchase and investigation of shrine land. The discovery of unidentified martyrs’ graves in 1988 made the need for a more systematic place of pilgrimage and commemoration even clearer.

The Archdiocese of Daegu began construction of the Hanti Martyrs’ Shrine retreat house in February 1990, and the building was completed on September 29, 1991. It provided the infrastructure for pilgrims not simply to visit the graves and leave, but to remain for prayer and retreat. Further facilities supporting pilgrimage and spiritual programs were added in stages, including an information office in 1995 and a spirituality center in 2000.

A separate “Pilgrims’ House” was built in 2004, and in 2016 the Hanti Pilgrimage Trail linking a number of Catholic historical sites was opened. The retreat house is therefore distinct from the pilgrim facilities added later, yet it has remained a central place connecting the shrine’s history, burial grounds, and pilgrimage routes with a spirituality that can be experienced through an extended stay.