A SPIRITUAL retreat centre rejoiced in a celebration to mark 100 years since its foundation.

The Loreto Centre, in Llandudno, held a special day and Mass in the Church of Our Lady, Star by the Sea on Saturday, September14.

The centre was formed in 1919 by a group of Loreto Sisters from Manchester.

It is run by the Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as Loreto Sisters.

The centre, near the West Shore, started out as a day and boarding school.

Over time, it has evolved into a residential and non-residential spiritual retreat centre for all.

The special day was marked by the attendance of the Rt Rev Peter Brignall, Bishop of Wrexham, Fr James Champney SJ, and Fr Moses Amune MSP, wand several other ministers.

The pews were filled with well-wishers from the Loreto community and pupils of the former Loreto College.

The occasion attracted enquiries from as far away as Zimbabwe.

At the centre there was a large display of exhibits from the history of the Loreto Centre, and there were talks given by Clare Walsh, the Loreto archivist, and by Sisters Magdalen O’Neill and Eileen McConnon, on the history of the Centre and of the College.

One of the exhibits was a doll, “Sister Gaudete,” who was dressed by a Sister of the Loreto Convent, in Manchester, in about 1900. It was designed for a meeting in Rome.

The doll wears the habit and accessories as worn by the Sisters of Loreto Convent, of Hulme, in Manchester.

Also on display were College blazers, one being modelled by a former pupil.

To find out more about the Loreto Centre see: http://www.loretocentre.org.uk