From holiday palace to retreat house

After the death of her husband, Phyllis Kalil was at a loose end. Prayer and a priest’s visit led her to open the Galilee Spiritual Growth and Healing Retreat House in Ballito, near Durban, in June. WINNIE GRAHAM reports.

Almost 2,000 years ago, Christ told his followers: In my Father’s house there are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you. Phyllis Kalil, a devout Catholic from KwaZulu-Natal, has taken these words from the Gospel of St John to heart. They inspired Mrs Kalil to convert her son’s home at Ballito, north of Durban, into the Galilee Growth and Healing Retreat House, a Catholic facility that provides participants with a spiritually uplifting experience.

Five day retreats are held in the multi-roomed mansion overlooking the sea. The house was a popular holiday home for upcountry visitors. But when Mrs Kalil’s son, Jerome, learned of her plan, he helped turn it into a place of retreat where all who are weary and overburdened can find rest.

The transformation of the luxury house into a haven for the spiritually weary is both an uplifting and moving story brought to fruition through the power of prayer. And Phyllis Kalil is the centrepiece.

The concept of a retreat came to her mind sometime last year. She dreamed of creating a place where the lonely, downhearted and spiritually weary could find consolation. In other words, when an answer to her prayer came, she knew she had to create a place of prayer and reflection.

But there were problems to overcome. How and where could she start?

Then Mrs Kalil heard of an ancestral healing day through forgiveness at the Maronite Catholic church. She went along and found more than 800 people crowded into the church. The interest was obvious.

It was there that I realised how many people are in need of healing, she says. I learned of abuse in the family, of young girls being raped by family members, of Aids, cancer, diabetes, drug and alcohol abuse, and parents battling to deal with their children, she recalls. Some youngsters have even been involved in satanic murders. I heard of parents burying their children. Unemployment is a major issue. Some 90% are on anti-depressants. People are angry with God. They no longer believe.

As she always does, Mrs Kalil turned to prayer. I kept asking Our Lord to guide me, she says.

Then, in August last year, Fr Colin Bowes [of De Aar] came to visit my son, Jerome, and his family. Fr Colin laid his hands on my son and prayed for him. A new person emerged, Mrs Kalil said.

Jerome had been renting his house out to holidaymakers, but [now] said I could take it over for God’s work, she says.

I spoke to many of my priest friends who were very excited at the prospect of a spiritual retreat. They said they would help me.

So it was that Mrs Kalil started working closely with a number of priests. Among them were Ballito parish priest Fr Nkosinathi, Fr Allan Moss OMI of Pietermaritzburg, Fr Bowes, Fr Christopher Neville OFM of Durban, Fr Michal Wojciechowski of Umzimkulu, Fr Barney McAleer of the bishops’ Department for Evangelisation, Fr Graham Bouwer OFM of Pretoria, Fr Peter Switala of Pretoria, Fr Gerald Hattingh of Johannesburg, Fr Joseph Wilson MSC?of Johannesburg, Fr Maurice Chidiac ML of Johannesburg as well as Fr Emil Blaser OP of Radio Veritas in Johannesburg.

Mrs Kalil opened the Galilee Spiritual Growth and Healing Retreat House in June this year. She has converted her sons home into a place where people in need of spiritual reflection can come together in prayer, a retreat where they can meditate and discuss issues that concern them with priests.

Her faith is based solidly on the New Testament. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ said: Come all you who are weary and are overburdened and I will give you rest. This is what Mrs Kalil says she is trying to do.

The subjects discussed are wide ranging. In June, for instance, Fr Moss addressed the issue of the family in crisis, Fr McAleer handled Drug and alcohol abuse in the family. Other discussions have focused on Abortion and adoption guilt, Thinking of leaving the Church?, Bereaved parents, Bereaved spouse, Abuse in the family, Depression, Terminal illness and Dealing with spells, curses and witchcraft.

Currently Fr Neville is presenting a retreat on Terminal illness. Afterwards, for the rest of August, Fr Bowes will lead separate retreats on Healing of memories and curses.

Masses are celebrated daily, and amid a rich spiritual programme, there are opportunities to take walks on the beach.

The Galilee Spiritual Growth and Healing Retreat House, comfortable as it is, may not contain as many mansions as God’s, but it has place for 12 who yearn for time to reassess their lives and spend time in prayer and reflection.

There is a modest charge to cover costs of meals and overheads.

For further information visit www.galileehealing.co.za. Bookings can be made through the website or by phoning Cheryl Kalil at 083 244 6628.