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Ancient Traditions Come Alive at the Franciscan Festival of Fine Arts

New Holy Cross Chapel at Holy Cross Retreat Center in Mesilla Park, NM.
Fr. Tom Smith at KRWG FM studios.

On this edition of PUENTES, bridges to the community, Emily Guerra meets with the Director of Holy Cross Retreat Center, Franciscan Friar Rev. Tom Smith, to talk to us about what is new at the center, as well as ancient traditions.

Nearly 800 hundred years ago in Italy, the founder of the Franciscan Order of Friars, St. Francis of Assisi became a saint. He is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment (The Ecology Saint); and is also the patron saint of the Holy Cross Retreat Center in Mesilla Park.

Franciscans have been patrons of the arts for many centuries. Holy Cross Retreat Center will host the annual “Franciscan Festival of Fine Arts” on Labor Day weekend, September 5th and 6th, at 600 Holy Cross Road. Visitors will be able to experience the old with the new. The original house is over 100 years old, with newly constructed Holy Cross Chapel completed earlier this year ready for use. Part of the Chapel’s landscaping is a rosary garden and labyrinth (a maze-like structure from ancient times used historically for private meditation.) More information about the Center is available online at www.holycrossretreat.org; and visit www.franciscanfestival.org for Festival schedules and artists.