La Pairelle or its full name Centre Spirituel Ignatien La Pairelle is a Catholic spirituality and retreat centre in Wépion, Namur, Belgium. It was built in 1932 by the Jesuits and was designed by Albert Ghequière with a chapel built in the Gothic Revival style. It is located off Rue Marcel Lecomte on a hill in the district of Wépion in Namur, overlooking the River Meuse. It is the only French-speaking Jesuit retreat centre in Belgium.
| La Pairelle | |
|---|---|
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 | |
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| Former names | Institut Saint-Bellarmin |
| Alternative names | Centre Spirituel Ignatien La Pairelle |
| General information | |
| Type | Retreat Centre |
| Location | Wepion |
| Address | Rue Marcel Lecomte 25 |
| Town or city | Namur |
| Country | Belgium |
| Coordinates | 50°26′04″N 4°51′33″E / 50.43431°N 4.85916°E |
| Completed | 1932 |
| Opened | 1971 |
| Affiliation | Jesuits |
| Grounds | 17 hectares |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Albert Ghequière |
| Website | |
| csilapairelle.be | |
History edit
Foundation edit
In 1611, the Jesuits arrived in Namur and founded the College of Namur at a site next to current Church of Saint Loup in the centre of the city. In 1773, the Jesuits were suppressed and the college became the Royal College. In 1831, the Jesuits returned and opened Collège Notre-Dame de la Paix on rue de Bruxelles. Over the next 100 years the college expanded with new faculties and programmes, eventually becoming the Université de Namur.[1][2]
In 1932, La Pairelle was built. It was originally the St Bellarmine Institute (French: Institut Saint-Bellarmin). Named after Robert Bellarmine, it was a residence for the training of Jesuits who would study at the Université de Namur. In the building is a chapel in the Gothic Revival style. The building was designed by Albert Ghequière who also designed the Church of the Sacré-Cœur de Saint-Servais in Waterloo and Chapel of Saint-Thérèse in Namur. According to the Inventaire de patrimoine immobilier culturel of Wallonia, the style of the building is "neo-traditional".[3] From 1935 to 1971, as part of the training for Jesuit missionaries in India, an Indological course, which included the teaching of Sanskrit was taught there.[4]
Retreat centre edit
In 1971, the building was no longer used as a formation centre for Jesuits and instead became a retreat centre. Since then it has offered retreats and courses to people in Ignatian spirituality, which is inspired and taken from the Spiritual Exercises by Ignatius of Loyola.[5]
Developments edit
In 1999, the Sisters of Saint Andrew moved into a house called Béthanie, which was once a farmhouse at La Pairelle. They also help with giving retreats at the centre.[5] On 25 September 2022 it celebrated fifty years as a retreat centre with a Mass presided by the Bishop of Namur, Pierre Warin.[6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Namur: 400 ans de présence jésuite, Cathobel, 14 October 2021, retrieved 29 October 2022
- ^ Christian Laporte, Quatre siècles de présence jésuite en terre namuroise, La Libre, 19 October 2021, retrieved 29 October 2022
- ^ 92094-INV-1391-01 from Inventaire de patrimoine immobilier culturel of Wallonie Patrimoine AWaP, retrieved 29 October 2022
- ^ Winand M. Callewart, "Indology Studies in Belgium" in De Jonckheere, Gorisse, Rostalska ed. Puspikã: Tracing Ancient India, through Texts and Traditions: Contributions to Current Research in Indology, Vol. 5, Oxbow Books, Oxford, 2020, p.8
- ^ a b Anne-Françoise de Beaudrap, Agée d’un demi-siècle, La Pairelle invite à jubiler avec elle !, Cathobel, 6 July 2022, retrieved 29 October 2022
- ^ Découvrez la vidéo de la fête des 50 ans de La Pairelle, Cathobel, 6 October 2022, retrieved 29 October 2022
External links edit
- Official website
Media related to La Pairelle at Wikimedia Commons
