About

Mission Statement

The Assisi Institute is dedicated to supporting individuals who seek a deeper relationship with God. Through the harmonious integration of Kriya Yoga and mystical Christianity, we nurture a sacred community of meditation, contemplative inquiry, and compassionate living.

Vision Statement

We offer a place of stillness, silence, and peace for those who seek a more intimate experience of God-communion—in the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi and Paramahansa Yogananda.

Our Story

On July 1st, 2011, members of the Assisi community gathered in the temple on the third floor of the Blossom Business Center. After a time of silence, they reverently removed the photographs, paintings, and sculptures of the Kriya Gurus and other saints and sages and placed them on the floor in a large group. Circling around the holy objects, the group asked the gurus’ and saints’ blessings in simple, heartfelt words. The Assisi Institute was about to move to its new and permanent home, a historic building at 1400 North Winton Road. Built in 1960, this building had housed a convent, a chapel, and a school for troubled and pregnant young women. Later, it became Hope Lodge, a place sponsored by the American Cancer Society for people who needed a place to stay when they traveled to Rochester for cancer treatments. When Hope Lodge moved to a new location, the building sat empty for several years, until the grace of God and guru brought it to the attention of the Assisi community. On that day in 2011, the community reverently gathered up the photographs, sculptures, and sacred objects and drove them in a caravan to their new home, excited to breathe life into this old building and to further carry out Yogananda’s mission.

The community had come a long way from its beginning! Soon after Isha Das was given permission to teach Kriya Yoga by Roy Eugene Davis in 2003, he and his then-colleague Vickijo held the very first meditation service on Thursday, October 4, the feast day of St. Francis. They met in a spare room in the suite which housed their psychotherapy practices in the Blossom Business Complex on Blossom Road. Four people attended the service that very first week, and the following week they returned, bringing friends. Within a few years, the group had outgrown the space, so the newly-formed board of directors rented a much larger space in the same building, and The Assisi Institute became a not-for-profit corporation and began to offer retreats and workshops. As the community grew even more, it was providential that the perfect building at 1400 North Winton became available at the right time.

The Assisi Institute continues to grow. Today, the former school and convent houses a temple for our services. A thriving yoga program occupies our remodeled yoga studio. Some people have come to live as permanent residents of a spiritual community. Many individuals enjoy retreat days, workshops, and services throughout the year. Thriving practices for psychotherapy, massage, chiropractic, and other healing modalities occupy office space. Individuals and groups from all spiritual traditions come to enjoy the peace of this old building for a day, a week, or longer. Visitors consistently comment on the palpable feeling of peace that fills them as they enter the building. All are invited to come and experience this place of grace and peace.

Leadership and Staff

Isha Das

Isha Das

Co-Director, Minister of Kriya Yoga, Spiritual Director

Vickijo Campanaro

Vickijo Campanaro

Co-Director, Minister of Kriya Yoga

Swami Purnima Walker

Swami Purnima Walker

Administrator, Minister of Kriya Yoga, Spiritual Director

Pooja Sinha

Pooja Sinha

Minister of Kriya Yoga, President, Board of Directors

Herb Tierney

Herb Tierney

Minister of Kriya Yoga, Teacher, Spiritual Director

Mary McFee

Mary McFee

Copy Editor, Teacher, Spiritual Director

Swami Dayamananda Malthaner

Swami Dayamananda Malthaner

Spiritual Director

David Barszewski

David Barszewski

Teacher, Spiritual Director

Stephanie Kelly

Stephanie Kelly

Teacher

Swami Shantima Miller

Swami Shantima Miller

Teacher

Christianne Asper-Contant

Christianne Asper-Contant

Director of Assisi Yoga

Swami Muktima Law

Swami Muktima Law

Blessing Shop Manager

Julie Blue

Julie Blue

Website Content & Social Media Manager

Volunteer Opportunities

In true Franciscan spirit, there are many opportunities to serve with hands and hearts at The Assisi Institute. The first step to service is simply to come join us!​ Come for a service, a workshop or retreat, an event, or a yoga class.

Help With Our Building and Grounds

Includes cleaning, repair work, and gardening.

Help With Our Services

Includes temple set-up, greeting, fellowship assistance, sound-board assistance, and bookstore supervision.

Retreat Center

The Saint Clare Center for Contemplation is a retreat center housed at The Assisi Institute. The center’s facilities include a library and sitting room, a dining room, a large kitchen, and comfortable bedrooms, some with adjoining bathrooms. In addition to the retreat center’s facilities, The Assisi Institute features a meditation temple, fellowship space, a fellowship kitchen, a large multi-purpose room, and a gift shop. Bed and bath linens are provided for each guest. We do not offer meal service, but a well-equipped kitchen is available. Please note that we are a strictly vegetarian community, and no meat or fish are allowed anywhere in the building. Some individuals and groups prepare their own simple meals or bring in prepared food. We are happy to make catering suggestions or direct you to a wide variety of nearby restaurants. Visitor, day, and overnight rates are available. 

The Assisi Institute Fellowship Room  

Also available at The Assisi Institute is our friendly fellowship room and its small adjoining kitchen. This room, which features plenty of seating for up to 50, is perfect for workshops, classes, and day retreats. 

We would love to show you what we have to offer! For inquiries or to book a retreat, email Purnima at info@assisi-institute.org. For tours of our building, email Mary at maryemcfee@gmail.com.

Blessing Shop

The Assisi Institute houses a small boutique offering books, jewelry, teas, food items, clothing, soaps and bath products, CDs, prayer beads, and other informational and devotional materials. The gift shop is open before and after Thursday Kriya Yoga service and other times by appointment. Please stop in!

For more information, please contact Swami Muktima at maureen@assisi-institute.org.

Temple Etiquette

When newcomers enter our temple for the first time, there is so much to see! Images of our beloved Kriya Gurus and saints surround us. These objects have been made holy by our loving devotion and prayers. You will often see people bow before our sacred photographs and statues in a gesture of prayer, love, and respect. Bowing is an individual choice and not mandatory.

A holy temple, even more than many church buildings, offers a noticeable sense of peace and quiet. There are so few places in our noisy world which offer such silence. This sense of peace and the presence of our Gurus grows ever deeper as time passes, nurtured by the meditation and loving devotion of our community. We nurture the peace by remaining completely silent when we pass through the temple doors, avoiding even whispered conversation. To leave the world behind and to show respect for our gurus we remove our shoes, but socks, slippers, and even bare feet are welcome. Some people take a zafu, which are piled near the back on both sides of our temple, and place it under their feet for comfort. We do not bring any food or drink into the temple other than water in a closed container. Of course, cell phones are turned off. As we relax into the silence, we may find that experiencing the inner silence of meditation is easier when we are surrounded by the loving devotion of others. We are pleased to bring newcomers into our building and temple because we know the power and peace of the silence and are happy to share it.  

Testimonials

“Where does one begin when there are no words? Thank you is a modest start, but only a start. I am simply in awe of the way the spirit moves through this beautiful community of souls. Yogananda’s love radiates through in your devotion, words, and loving hearts.

I have searched for this feeling of home all my life, and I know Yogananda has led me through my “dark night” to you.”

“When I say The Assisi Institute has profoundly changed my life, what I am trying to say is that it has saved my life. I can see stars in the darkness now.”

“Thank you for your support, guidance, and empathy on this spiritual journey. I can’t even put into words what Kriya, the path, and everyone at The Assisi Institute mean to me! Lately the doors to my soul have opened; I yearn so much to love God, get right understanding, and walk the talk.”

“After last night’s meditation service I felt overwhelming love and appreciation for The Assisi Institute. I am so grateful I was guided to you. The ways Jesus and Yogananda have guided my life in the last year fill me with gratitude. Thank you for being my gift!”

“I’m extremely grateful for The Assisi Institute in my life and for all of you who keep it flying. It is a haven for so many and certainly a great blessing to me!”

“Thank you immensely for encouraging, supporting, and facilitating my Kriya initiation. It has been my life’s greatest blessing, and I hope that as time goes on, more ways to serve within the Assisi family are revealed to me.”

“The Assisi Institute is where I come to get my spiritual gas tank filled!”