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Mesilla Park Retreat And Conference Center History
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Holy Cross Retreat And Conference Center is located in the heart of the historic Mesilla Valley, in southeastern New Mexico, approximately 40 miles northwest of El Paso, Texas and next to the city limits of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
During your visit to Holy Cross Retreat we invite you to become acquainted with our grounds, chapel, gift shop and the historical original house, built in 1913 by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Monaghan.
After several years the property was passed on to Beatrice White Fountain. Mrs. Fountain and her husband Henry lived in the house many years and carried out extensive redecoration and landscaping as well as farming the land.
The adobes for the house were fashioned right on the property by native workmen. When completed, the house contained 14 rooms built around a central patio. The furnishings for the hacienda were brought in by train.
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In the early 1950's, Bishop Sidney M. Metzger, Bishop of the Diocese of El Paso, Texas, of which diocese southeastern New Mexico was then a part, was appealing to various religious communities hoping to find one willing to establish a retreat house in his Diocese.
The Bishop received an affirmative response from the Franciscan Friars, Santa Barbara Province, of California.
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In 1954, with the approval of Bishop Metzger, the Franciscan Friars purchased the home and 19 acres of land, near Las Cruces, New Mexico, from the Fountain family. Many of the unique furnishings were sold with the house, including the hand carved Japanese dining room set, an ebony grand piano and an Austrian grandfather clock.
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Also in the year 1954, Father Owen de Silva was appointed director of the retreat house project and, with the Franciscan Brothers' building crew, moved in and began the construction project that included the kitchen and dining room, conference room and chapel, monastery and 46 retreatant residence rooms.
The title, "Holy Cross" was chosen for the new center. The retreat facility officially opened in 1958. The California Franciscans continued to maintain and staff the Retreat Center until 1979. Due to shortage of personnel, they turned Holy Cross Retreat Center over to the Conventual Franciscan Friars who are presently.
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