Our History

     Our story began eight miles away from here.
     While visiting a chapel in Massachusetts, Sister Margaret Catherine Sims received a calling from God. He asked her to build a spiritual life center and bring souls to Him.
     The request came late in her life. Retirement was on her mind. She had been working as an educator with the Sisters of Saint Joseph. After hearing God's call, Sister Margaret agreed to the undertaking.
     Where to build? She visited nearby towns. A parcel of rural land piqued her attention.
     In the meantime she learned about Maria Esperanza, who as a child witnessed a Marian apparition in Venezuela. Esperanza had since established in that country a pilgrimage site called Betania.
     The two women met. A friendship blossomed.
     Sister Margaret brought Maria Esperanza to the rural site in Massachusetts. Esperanza churned a stick into the soil, loosening a rock. They marveled at it. The granularity in one part of the rock resembled the face of Jesus. This discovery--perhaps a miracle--suggested that God wanted this land for the center. (The rock is displayed for public view here at Betania II).
     The women fulfilled God's request. We opened our doors in 2004.
     Our guiding principles: Betania II is a Catholic Mission for Spiritual Renewal. Our goal is to promote the work of Servant of God Maria Esperanza in leading others to Jesus through Mary. In this place the Holy Spirit pours out gifts of love, conversion, and healing, uniting the family of mankind. The four pillars of Betania are prayer, meditation, penance, and the Eucharist.