Friars from each of the OFM Provinces in the United States are at Holy Cross Retreat Center in Mesilla Park, New Mexico, this week. They were the first to celebrate Eucharist in the new Chapel. Four of the friars are from the Santa Barbara Province in California – the Province that built the Retreat Center in 1956. The OFM Friars ran the Retreat Center until 1980 when it was placed into the hands of the Conventual Franciscan Friars.

OFM Friars celebrate the Eucharist in the new Chapel.

The Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation have rededicated themselves to ministry in the southwest United States by completing in 2014 the construction of a new friary at the Retreat Center and breaking ground for the new Chapel. Friars currently serve as retreat and spiritual directors, as hospice chaplains, in ministry to young Catholics, and at the parish of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Tortugas, New Mexico.

A view of the interior of the Chapel. The first five Stations of the Cross will be installed this week.

For more information about Holy Cross Retreat Center, please visit holycrossretreat.org.