The Hermitages at Holy Cross Retreat Center in Las Cruces, NM are unique and peaceful spaces for those seeking solitude and quiet reflection. The Hermitage offers individual, private accommodations for guests seeking a deeper spiritual experience. Each hermitage is equipped with basic amenities, including a comfortable bed, a private bath, and a small kitchenette. The peaceful surroundings, combined with the solitude of the hermitage, provide an ideal environment for quiet contemplation and reflection.   In honor of the “Canticle of Creatures written by St. Francis of Assisi, “one of them is called “Brother Fire Hermitage” and it has a fire pit next to the porch.  The other unit is called “Sister Water Hermitage” and has a water fountain which attracts birds and animals.

Guests at the Hermitage can participate in the center’s programs and services, as well as spend time in nature, in prayer, and in reflection. The Hermitages at Holy Cross Retreat Center are places of spiritual renewal and rejuvenation, where individuals or couples can deepen their connection with God and find peace and renewal in the midst of a busy world.

Who comes to the Hermitage?

• Individuals who are in transition in their lives and discerning the next step in their journeys;
• Those searching to deepen their faith life with extra quiet time.
• Religious women and men, lay and ordained ministers, rabbis, people in healing professions, educators, writers, and others who need time away from their very busy lives of service.
• Persons who feel something is missing—or are experiencing emptiness—and want to explore ways to live a more caring and fulfilling life.
• Writers looking for a beautiful, comfortable place to focus
• Artists who are looking for a time of creativity without interruptions.
• People who do not know what they are looking for but know they need more silence and space to discover what they are seeking.
• Persons who like to meditate in peace.

Hermitage Brochure Download

Why go to a hermitage or make a private retreat?

The desire to find a quiet place to prayer, often in the desert, is a long tradition. Moses went up Mount Sinai, Elijah heard the voice of God in the silence of a mountain, John the Baptist and Jesus went to the desert to pray. St. Anthony the Great lived in the desert of Egypt.

The hermitage at Holy Cross provides a place of quiet and some isolation in the desert, with a view of the Organ Mountains. Individuals come to listen to the voice of God, to relax and help discern the direction of their lives, and to nurture the inner call to solitude. Some also come for meditation or for creative expression. Occasionally a couple comes together to deepen their shared faith as well.

Give yourself time to be still. To “be” more than to “do.” St. Francis of Assisi often took extended times of prayer alone, to guide his active ministry.

Consider spending a few days to let your-self be at peace, and feel the richness of a hermitage experience.

“Come away to a deserted place.” Mark 6:31