St. Patrick men reflect on Year of Mercy at Hill Country retreat

On Friday, Jan. 29, 18 men from St. Patrick's parish in Corpus Christi traded their busy days and set out on a three-and-a-half-hour drive to “A Little Patch of Heaven" at the Nye Hill Country Ranch. They traded the noise, crowds and everyday life for some peace and quiet, enjoying the scenery and listening to the sounds of nature. This allowed for a weekend of praying, worshiping and brotherly bonding under the spiritual direction of Father Chris Becerra, parochial vicar at St, Patrick's.

Retreat Director Matt Franey had been planning this retreat for more than six months. He has been taking men on the “Hill Country” Catholic Men’s Lenten retreats since 1998. The Nye Ranch House was built in 1992, and is located in the Hill Country between Vanderpool and Leakey, Texas.

“I wanted to get men together to help them continue their spiritual journey and Catholic faith in a ways that most men like, the outdoors,” Franey said.

One of the unique things about the retreat’s location is that there was "zero” cell phone reception. The men were isolated from the outside world and able to focus on getting closer to Jesus. The weekend was full of events for those wishing to start self-healing, experience spiritual awareness, relaxation and bring about positive changes in their lives.

The retreat, this year, was based on Pope Francis' book "The Holy Year of Mercy". During the retreat, the men discussed different aspects of the book and had an opportunity to discuss the passages with each other. Father Becerra helped interpret and understand the information provided in the book.

The day began at 6:30 a.m. and ended around 10 p.m. Attendees participated in a living Rosary and the Stations of the Cross. On cross-station number one, which is located at the bottom of a hill, past the stone arch are the words “The Way of The Cross”. All 14 cross-stations are symmetrically placed on the hill and are lighted for nighttime use, with station 14 ending at the top of the hill, adjacent to the chapel.

The ranch's stone, Nina’s Chapel, is located at the top of a hill and provides an intimate prayer space for 30. While sitting inside the Chapel, one faces an easterly direction and is able to observe a magnificent view of the sun rising during Mass. The beautiful handcrafted woodwork and design of the interior of the church is also stunning.

Reconciliation and daily Mass are other events, which took place during the weekend. Men in attendance cook for themselves. On Saturday, they have free time to read, go hiking, fishing, enjoy the outdoors or relax on a hammock soaking up the sun. Enjoying the natural beauty of the countryside and the steams had a calming effect.

At the end of the day, while enjoying the cool evening, men sat around the fireplace, inside the Nye Ranch House, to unwind before calling it a night. On Sunday, the retreat ended with a final discussion of the book, and a Mass. Then it is time to pack up, clean the house and head home to families. Many know this as the Nye Ranch, but the Nyes call it "a little patch of heaven on earth."

Photos by Ervey Martinez