Sacred Heart Retreat Center:
A Hidden Treasure

Sister Mary Mattias Ward Sacred Heart Retreat Center Mission Statement Rooted in the tradition of the southwest, and holding to Christian and family values, Sacred Heart Retreat and Conference Center offers and hosts programs in a desert environment of peace and tranquility for people of all ages and faiths. The Center is open to spiritual, educational, cultural, business and civic groups who are searching for growth in wholeness and holiness.

By Sister Mary Matthias Ward
Special to the Independent

This article is prompted by the following happening on June 19, 2008. Sacred Heart Retreat Center hosted three area groups: Indian Health Services, Four Corners’ Writing Group and Tourism of the City of Gallup. One of the men at the tourism session said to me, “I have lived in Gallup all my life and never knew until today that this place existed. What a marvelous facility!” My thoughts were, either my public relations or tourism has been amiss. Perhaps both…

Sacred Heart Retreat Center, located just south of the city limits of Gallup, was founded thirty years ago on March 19, 1978. There are still many persons, both in the civil sector and the religious sector who have never been on the grounds, have never known that we exist.

It was shortly after Bishop Jerome Hastrich came to the diocese that he concluded a retreat center, a place of spirituality was needed. In 1977 the work was begun.

Reports say that hardly a day went by without Bishop Hastrich overseeing the work. He had received funding from the Rance Foundation and also had some private funding.

The first directors were Sisters Rose Marie Holden and Angela Aldi. One needs to hear their stories of “wheeling and dealing” with many of the Gallup businesses and their own religious community, the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, for supplies, furnishings and monies to get this great center under way. Who know better than sisters that buildings alone don’t get the job done! St. Jerome Parish was being built about the same time.

The facilities available at Sacred Heart Retreat Center consist of Drexel Hall, which has 12 rooms with twin beds and private bathrooms. There are five hogans, four of which have three bedrooms and a common bathroom.The largest hogan, named after St. Joseph, has seven bedrooms with twin beds and private bathrooms. It also houses a spacious lounge in the center of the building.

The main building, Tekakwitha Hall, consists of a dining room, which also serves as a lounge and a conference room.

Our offices are located in this building as well as four bedrooms with double beds. On the East side of campus is a large conference room known as Marian Hall. There are two smaller conference rooms located in Drexel Hall and Tekakwitha Hall. Also we have a hermitage, which is usually used by priests, sisters and deacons for retreat. A beautiful chapel, the former St. Jerome Church, adorns our grounds.

One may walk the Way of the Cross or have a spiritual experience in walking the labyrinth here on our grounds. As one turns into the driveway of the center, both can be seen on the right as one approaches the center.

Over the three decades of operation, Sacred Heart Retreat Center staff has witnessed a growing interest in spirituality. It is truly a spiritual center for the Diocese of Gallup.  Bishop Donald Pelotte encouraged and supported Sacred Heart Retreat Center. Bishop Thomas Olmsted has put his stamp of approval. After reading our program booklet, one can see the support of the priests and sisters who help so much in presenting programs. It is indeed the work of many people in the Diocese of Gallup.

Why would anyone want to finance a retreat center today?

As I sit in the chapel at Maple Mount, Ky. reflecting this, I dare to say there is a more urgent need today than ever. People are seeking spirituality more than ever.

Just what is a retreat? Why would the diocese provide a place for us? Most of us have the use of an automobile and know that periodically we need to service them, sometimes overhaul them. Such are our bodies and souls in need of being examined, to have time alone with God. A retreat is an aspect of spirituality, which emphasizes time away with God. Just as Jesus needed time in a deserted place to think and pray, every human needs time away from daily routine in which to commune with the Creator.

We need time with God to assess our relationship. We spend time with the people we love, cherish and respect. We nourish our spiritual life in an environment away from the ordinary distractions of life.

The psalmist says, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Here at Sacred Heart Retreat Center, we sponsor many retreats, many days of prayers and many evening programs of prayer. We have brochures. We have program booklets and materials. Call the center if you want something and it will be mailed to you.

We aren’t a hotel and we aren’t a party place. By reading our mission statement you know you are welcome on our Holy Ground.

Sister Mary Matthias Ward is an Ursuline Sister of Maple Mount, Ky.  She is the delegate to Bishop Thomas Olmsted for the women religious of the diocese and is the director of Sacred Heart Retreat Center. She can be reached at (505) 870-5679 or 722-6755.

This column is written by area residents, representing different faith communities, who share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues. For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at The Independent: (505) 863-6811 ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.