Short Journey Retreat Center

Short Journey began as a one room, one teacher frame school building serving the African American community. The school received its name because it was only a “short journey” to Wesley Chapel Church, which still exists one mile east of Short Journey. The present building, completed in 1926, was made possible through the efforts of the Rosenwald Fund. The local community was successful in raising $500 to match the funding necessary to construct the new school. The school operated for forty-four years before closing with desegregation after the 1969-70 school year. Eva Cooper was principal for all forty-four years!

In 1983, the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh purchased the facility to serve the needs of it’s youth, young adult and campus ministry programs. On May 1, 1988 Short Journey Retreat Center in Smithfield was dedicated as “the home for Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Raleigh which encompassed 86 parishes from Burlington to the coast” For over 25 years, Short Journey has served the young people of the Diocese of Raleigh. Countless young people have had their lives forever impacted by their experiences at weekend retreats, Search, Jamboree, Disciples on the Journey and Faithful Servant. Many of the young people who have come through our doors are now in fact parents of the next generation of Short Journey participants.