Anishinabe Spiritual Centre

Anishinabe Spiritual Centre (Ojibwe: Wassean-dimi-Kaning) is a Roman Catholic centre for Ignatian spirituality and training in ministry run by the Society of Jesus in Espanola, Ontario, specifically for the local First Nation people in the area.

It is situated to the south of Espanola, on the shore of Anderson Lake, just off Ontario Highway 6.

Since it was founded, it has been the only place in northern Ontario that has offered Roman Catholic ministerial training to Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

[1] After the Second Vatican Council, there were efforts made in Canada to increase the number of permanent deacons.

Funds came from the Jesuits, and the Roman Catholic dioceses of Sault Sainte Marie, Hearst and Thunder Bay.

In addition, monthly Ministries weekends are provided at the centre for Roman Catholics across northern Ontario.

[2] In the 1990s, a group of First Nation people from the centre brought the nearby Heaven's Gate trail, back into usage.

[3] From the spirituality centre, the Jesuits travel out to serve various churches in the area,[4] such as: As well as the spirituality centre, the Jesuits serve the Anishinaabe also through the Holy Cross Church in the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Reserve.

St. Raphael Church is for the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, a reserve, west of Sudbury, Ontario.

Holy Cross Church, Wiikwemkoong