Since 1958, the Cenacle Retreat House has served women in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and beyond. The Cenacle was started as a retreat house for Catholic women so they could experience something similar to what men experienced at Manresa. When the Cenacle Sisters stepped away from this ministry in 2013, the Archdiocese of New Orleans assumed responsibility for the Cenacle in order to continue this important ministry. The name was changed to "The Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center, Dedicated to Our Lady of the Cenacle.” After ten years of using that name, the ANORC advisory board recommended renaming the retreat center. In order to connect the rich history of the retreat center with the exciting future ahead, the new name for the retreat center is “The Cenacle on the Lake.” We invite you to refresh your faith at “The Cenacle on the Lake."
“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, All I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me.”
Suscipe Prayer – St. Ignatius of Loyola
“Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:11
“My soul, be at rest in God alone from whom comes my hope. God alone is my rock and my salvation, my secure height; I shall not fall. My safety and glory are with God, my strong rock and refuge. Trust God at all times, my people. Pour our your hearts to God our refuge.” – Psalm 62:6-9
The word retreat means "to surrender" and "to step back from." While this may not be what first comes to mind when you think of an "active prayer life," taking the time to "retreat" from the demands and busyness of daily life is vital to the health of our souls. Scripture reminds us that God's voice is not often found in the loudest and most obvious ways, but in the still small voice and quietness within our hearts. The retreats we offer provide an atmostphere for you to set aside the cares of the world and breathe in deeply the love of God in order to nourish your soul and be better equipped to face the demands of everyday life with God. One retreat experience might be an (eternal) life-saving investment!