10-23-2024 10:12pm

THE GRAIL CELEBRATING THE PAST--BUILDING THE FUTURE

Beth Callahan Editor

LOVELAND, OH – In celebration of The Grail's 80th Anniversary, all are invited to a festival-style event shining a spotlight on the many community partners that have joined The Grail in shaping a more just, sustainable, and vibrant community. A Celebration of Friends will be held on Saturday, November 2 from 12 to 5 pm at the beautiful Grail Center, Grailville, at 931 O’Bannonville Rd, Loveland, OH.

This free, family-friendly event is an opportunity for you to explore communities dedicated to making a difference in the 􀏐ive key areas of The Grail: women's empowerment, social justice, the arts, spirituality, and environment. Over 20 organizations will share their stories and activities such as sitting poses Loveland Zen Meditation, live music from MUSE Women’s Choir, a live animal from Clermont County Park District, and a stuff-a-van activity from LIFE Food Pantry.

The event will also feature a bonfire, marshmallow stand, kid’s activities, handcrafted goods for sale, Blossim Donuts food truck and a special exhibit highlighting The Grail’s inspiring 80-year journey. For more information, contact The Grail of􀏐ice at 513-683-2340.

Come celebrate 80 years with us, meet our community partners, and see how we’re building a brighter future together!

History of The Grail

Founded by a Jesuit priest, Jacques van Ginneken (1877-1949), The Grail began in Holland in 1921 as a Catholic lay organization. From its beginning, women directed the Grail, which was first called The Women of Nazareth, and worked with young women in Holland, England and Germany.

In May 1940, through the invitation of Chicago’s archbishop, two Dutch Grail women came to the United States and began their work at The Grail at Doddridge Farm in Libertyville, Illinois. Then, In 1944, The Grail moved to a farm, now known as Grailville, located in Loveland, Ohio.

The Year School, which came out of the Catholic Rural Life Conference, created The Year School, which came out of the Catholic Rural Life Conference and Back to the Land Movement. By 1962 an estimated 14,000 women had participated in Grail programs in the U.S. In the 1960-1970, The Grail members became pioneers in Catholic feminist theology. Hundreds of college women from around the U.S. came to Grailville for an off-campus semester of intensive study, group living and work experience from 1968-78.

In the 1990s, programs exploring ecofeminism in theological perspective, summer garden internships, permaculture, wetlands, and other forms of environmental education and action began to spark. In 2014—after 70 years in the U.S.—the women of the Grail in the U.S. made the decision to once again transform to meet the needs of the world. The International Grail is a recognized Non-Governmental Organization with consultative status at the United Nations as granted by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), since 1998.

To learn more about the Grail click here.