Jesuits offer to return donations that were earmarked for Staten Island's Mount Manresa (video and photos)

 The Rev. Edward Quinnan, S.J., and board chair Richard Nolan tell the Advance they acted in good faith regarding the fate of Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Fort Wadsworth. (Staten Island Advance/Clement Thiery)






By Maura Grunlund/Staten Island Advance

on August 16, 2013 at 6:00 AM, updated August 16, 2013 at 8:34 AM






Staten Island's Mt. Manresa is sold, not dead, say responsibles
Chairman of the Board Richard T. Nolan and former Director Rev. Edward J. Quinnan discuss the coming sale of the Mt. Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.


STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Jesuits adamantly deny allegations of fraudulent fundraising in connection with their Mount Manresa Retreat House in Fort Wadsworth and have offered to return the contributions of donors who believe they were "mistakenly misled" in the run-up to its closure.


The New York Province of the Society of Jesus says that as part of its mission shift to a community-based Jesuit Collaborative, it's trying to sell the 15.4-acre property zoned for townhouses to Savo Brothers of Prince's Bay for $15 million in cash.

The closing has been delayed by a lawsuit and a complaint to the attorney general's office by the Committee to Save Mount Manresa, which has bipartisan political support.


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