About Emmaus House

Emmaus House, a ministry of the Des Moines Diocese, is one of the oldest retreat facilities in Iowa. In 1974, the Most Rev. Maurice Dingman, Bishop of Des Moines, invited Jesuits to start the ministry in the heart of Des Moines to promote the spirituality to all who request direction and to encourage St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises.  

Emmaus House invites people of all faiths and ages to gather and seek opportunities for meditation, quiet reflection, and faith formation.  The ministry unites people through individual spiritual direction and retreats, and facilitates dialogue about spirituality, social justice, and the environment.

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Participants are not the only ones who glean the benefits of retreats and programs.  As people grow in mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom, they share these graces with their family, friends, workplace, and community.