Xavier Center is named in honor of Mother Mary Xavier Mehegan, foundress of the New Jersey branch of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. Our original name was Xavier Center for Insight and Responsibility, and we were challenged to work with others to participate in "refashioning the world we live in."  While it was originally used as a formation center for sisters, Xavier Center is now used for a wide variety of spiritual and educational programs and has been operating as a retreat and conference center since 1970.

The words of Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton, national foundress of the Sisters of Charity, describe how you are received at Xavier Center:

"The front door ...
The back door...
The side door that leads to the Chapel...
The windows upstairs and down ...
All open at your coming."