Restoring the Soul: Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center a hidden gem in Temple
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos courtesy of CEDARBRAKE CATHOLIC RETREAT CENTER
If you are looking for a quiet place to rest your body and nourish your soul, you don’t have to look far. The Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center, of the Diocese of Austin, located on 75 wooded acres in west Temple, is a little-known gem in our community that provides peaceful walking paths, a religious library, two chapels, 48 private bedrooms with individual bathrooms, a quiet hermitage, and a spacious five-bedroom house for groups.
Established in 1973, the retreat center has been a place of solitude, healing, and connection for many people across Central Texas for more than 50 years.
“We are here to serve all Catholics and Christians who desire to draw closer to Christ,” said Brian Egan, Cedarbrake’s director. “You don’t need to be Catholic to come here. Our motto is ‘Encountering Christ in Word, Nature, Eucharist and Silence’ and we do our best to provide an atmosphere that encourages our guests to connect in all those ways.”
Recent and ongoing retreats sponsored by the retreat center vary in length from a few hours to several days and include topics such as navigating grief, setting boundaries, family relationships and spiritual growth. They also offer an annual silent retreat in the summer and are working on adding more Spanish-speaking retreats, including marriage retreats, to their schedule. In addition, the center is open to youth groups once a month.
For longer youth retreats, the lodge offers 18 youth bunk beds and opens to St. Carlo Acutis Park, a two-acre park with a basketball court, a volleyball court, playground and a gaga ball pit. Future plans include adding a summer camp program for children.
“We welcome individuals, families and groups to stay for a day, a weekend or longer,” Egan said. “We sponsor our own retreats, but folks can come and do their own retreat, too. Or do nothing — simply rest in a peaceful setting. We’ve had writer’s groups, families, crafters, churches, youth groups … you name it. We desire that all who come here and experience God’s love will in turn go and witness this love to all in Central Texas and beyond.”
The Santa Cruz Prayer trail, a favorite among retreatants, leads to a cross that overlooks Cox Hollow, a scenic canyon. The Good Shepherd Prayer Trails, with verses from Psalm 23 posted along the paths, are also well-used by those seeking peace and comfort. A lovely version of The Stations of the Cross is easily accessed outside, as is The Stations of Light, which highlights the joy and hope of Christ’s resurrection. A peaceful water feature has been added recently, adding to the quiet yet joyful beauty of the grounds. A large labyrinth, used for prayer and meditation, is located nearby under the shade of live oaks.
One of the newest additions to the retreat center is Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel, which seats up to 100 people. Twelve specially designed stained-glass windows and plenty of natural light combine to make the chapel an inspiring and welcoming place of worship, with Mass celebrated twice a week. In addition, the smaller St. Clare’s Prayer Room nestles next to an inviting meditation garden, where flowers bloom and wildlife is welcome. Cedarbrake is open daily, and the public is welcome to explore, pray in the chapel, and walk the trails any time the gates are open.
“Ideally, we hope that we here at Cedarbrake get out of the way,” Egan said. “We want to let each person come to know God a bit more each time they visit, enjoying and embracing the silence that invites one to encounter God’s love.”
IF YOU GO
Address: 5602 Hwy 317 N, Temple, TX 76502
Telephone: 254-780-2436
Email: cedarbrake@austindiocese.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Cedarbrake
Mass Schedule: 11:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin includes 129 parishes, missions and university Catholic centers in 25 counties. The diocese stretches from the town of West (just north of Waco) in the north to San Marcos in the south, to the Bryan/College Station area in the east, to Mason in the west. Its largest metropolitan areas are Austin, Bryan/College Station, the Killeen/Temple/Belton area and Waco.
