Supporters of the Hesychia House of Prayer, a retreat center in the Ozark Mountains, gathered June 21 to celebrate the newest development on the 300 acres — the new Hesychia Holy Place outdoor prayer space, renovated from the center’s former dairy barn.
The Hesychia House of Prayer and Retreat Center was opened 11 miles east of Subiaco by founding director Sister Louise Sharum, OSB, in 1981, but the land that Hesychia is on has been owned by the Benedictines of St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith since 1879.
The latest development — the renovation of a dilapidated dairy barn into an open-air prayer space — began over the past few years, as the barn was in desperate need of repair.
“Over time, the sisters moved to having beef cows instead of dairy cows. So the dairy barn was used for a variety of different things,” said Sister Lisa Atkins, RSM, director of Hesychia House. “They stored extra hay in there and had a maintenance shop in there over the years.
“It was a beautiful building in its day, and it still remains beautiful, even though it started to decay over the last several years.”
In 2020, the roof of the old dairy barn, which was built in 1908, was becoming too run-down.
“When heavy rains or wind would come, pieces of metal would fly off, and it could have been dangerous,” Sister Lisa said.
The Knights of Columbus in Scranton volunteered to help remove the roof from the second floor of the dairy barn, removing the second floor as well over the course of several weekends, leaving the walls of the first floor standing with no roof.
“Then they came back and also helped us to clean out the material that’s been in there for a very long time,” Sister Lisa said. “And then they came back several months ago and actually helped us clean around the outside of the dairy barn.”
Soon, Sister Lisa, Sister Louise and Sister Anita DeSalvo, RSM, assistant director of Hesychia House, began to pray about the future of the structure.
“We sensed that God was inviting us to maybe think about how we could turn this building into a place where people could have the opportunity to experience God,” Sister Lisa said.
Soon, the sisters had received a grant for $4,600 from Sister Teresa Kelone, RSM, her family and the Sisters of Mercy to make changes to the dairy barn.
The sisters were talking with Benedictine oblate Annie Woody and discovered she was an artist. Woody offered to paint spiritual murals on the walls of the roofless barn to see how the Holy Spirit moved and guided their decisions.
Soon, Woody painted seven murals on the walls, reflecting themes of slowing down and taking time to look at the beauty of creation, wisdom, healing and reasons visitors stay at the retreat center. The sisters also used grant money to buy rocking chairs and tables to place near the murals.
“We also have a special cross that is in one of the corners of the dairy barn, and it’s in the same room that we had the Blessed Mother and Jesus in a mural,” Sister Lisa said. “And, of course, we have a picture of St. Benedict up on one of the doors.”
Sister Lisa said the goal when redesigning the old dairy barn was to “create an environment where people can look up and see the sky, see trees, see the sun.”
“There are wildflowers and wild vines and blackberries growing in there. So it’s a way in which people can experience the beauty of creation, and at the same time, have some quiet in a different way when they’re out at the hermitage,” Sister Lisa said. “It’s a way for them to be recharged in the beautiful creation of God. … We’ve left the walls the way they are, and it’s rock that is native to this local area. … And so the inspiration we really feel was directed by the Holy Spirit, and it nicely came together.”
The sisters also used grant money to fill in and level the floor and purchased a solar-powered garden fountain and windchimes made by Quaker communities to create a relaxing environment in the new space.
“There are these deep sounds, and that tone helps you get centered in God,” Sister Lisa said. “It’s just beautiful. It’s simply Benedictine … we are conscious of St. Benedict’s rule … one of the first things he talks about is encouraging all of us to listen to God. And so it was out of that prayer, out of that listening to God, out of the charism of the Benedictine sisters, that this project got underway with the grace of God and the generosity of so many people. People like the Knights of Columbus, Annie Woody, the grant that we received.”
As renovations came to completion, the sisters prayed to discern a name for the new space.
“We said to Sister Louise, what do you want to call this? It seems like now that we’re … almost finished, what would you like to call it? And so she prayed about it. And she suggested that we call it the Hesychia Holy Place.”
The sisters used grant funds to have a stone plaque made at the entrance of the Hesychia Holy Place, which says “1908 Dairy Barn, 2024 Hesychia Holy Place.” The plaque also has the Benedictine cross carved into it.
At the dedication and blessing June 21, Sister Kimberly Prohaska, OSB, prioress of St. Scholastica Monastery, provided a reflection and prayer.
“It was a lovely day to bring those who are connected to Hesychia together to thank them for their care and support of Hesychia,” Sister Kimberly said. “We invite you to visit Hesychia House of Prayer and The Holy Place for prayer, rest, renewal and an encounter with the holy in life.”
For the sisters, the latest development is a blend of Hesychia’s rich Benedictine history and contemporary architecture.
“Hesychia in Greek Scripture means ‘resting in God.’ When Sister Louise named it Hesychia, and the sisters named it Hesychia, the premise behind that is that most people who come to retreat usually come exhausted, dealing with a fast past life,” Sister Lisa said. “And so once they come to Hesychia, how can we help facilitate an environment where people can begin to slow down and notice God or allow God to create an environment where people can easily and slowly slow down and notice God?
“One of the ways in which most people can slow down and notice God very easily is by noticing the beautiful trees and flowers that the sisters have planted for so many years. Notice the cattle and see how the cattle care for each other — and it reminds them of how God cares for us. Where you notice a beautiful flower, you can’t help but think of God.”
For more information on the Hesychia House of Prayer and retreat center, visit seektheholy.org.
