Holy Cross Catholic High School has signed a long-term lease with The Way Retreat Center in Midland for its permanent home.
“It’s a blessing; a true blessing to finally have somewhere we can call home,” Head of School Carolyn Gonzalez said.
When the boards of school and the retreat center got together and worked through a deal, Gonzalez said they were able to let their families know that they are at the retreat center for the long term.
Michael LaMonica, a deacon with San Miguel Catholic Church who owns the land the school sits on, said the school and retreat complement each other.
LaMonica, who is an oilfield engineer, said they broke ground on the center in 2016 and hosted their first retreat in 2018.
But when COVID hit, it decimated the center. No one booked any events and everybody cancelled.
“It was terrible. We did not lose anybody. We went through a fundraiser to try to get enough money just to keep the lights on; not lay off anybody. And then we got the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) money. That helped us, too,” LaMonica said.
He added that he was on the steering committee to form a catholic high school 15 years ago and stepped down, but kept track of the efforts from a distance.
Then he was inspired and called Holy Cross to ask what they thought about moving to the center and collaborating.
“The retreat center would not survive without the high school and the high school needed a place. It was very difficult to raise money during COVID, as well,” LaMonica said.
Spokeswoman Stephanie Hill said Holy Cross moved to the Way Retreat Center in January 2020.
“We were operating under a temporary lease and it didn’t take long for both organizations to figure out that this was a great fit that complemented both of us. We’ve just recently signed a long-term lease that will put us here at least for 50 years with renewal options. This is our permanent place and a beautiful place for us to grow and develop …,” Hill said.
As the facility sits today, Hill said they are able to serve 115 students. Their goal is 400 students.
“But in order to do that, we will need to build additional facilities so we are working on a master plan right now and excited to start the development,” she said.
It was a sigh of relief for Holy Cross to have a place to call home.
“Our mission is Christ centered,” LaMonica said. “And there are many roads that lead one to Christ, so our mission … (at) the retreat center was to create an environment where people can get away.”
The architecture is meant to make people feel like they aren’t in West Texas.
“We want people to feel like they’re in an oasis. This is why this looks the way it looks. And because we were nondenominational, we wanted any Christian group to be able to come here and we’ve been very successful bringing in many different denominations. We’ve actually had some pastors who have come here and spend a day in retreat. And so that’s where we were,” LaMonica said.
“We also were a wedding venue. Very few weddings; we cap the number of weddings here because it’s not for weddings, it’s for retreats. But we’ve had those events; had some really cool other events, too, that (were) very different, very unique that being out here in the country it worked out great,” LaMonica said.
Holy Cross currently has 42 students in grades nine through 12.
“This is our first year to have seniors, so this will be our first graduating class. We’re so excited. We also have dual credit options for all of our students, so it’s expected that most of our students will also graduate with an associate’s degree. And we work with Midland College and Odessa College,” Hill said.
In order to serve Odessa and Midland, they have a bus that goes to Odessa, picks them up and drops them off every day, she said.
“… Since we are a little bit outside of town, we also pick up the Midland students if they would like to. We have a time at St. Stephen’s that the parents can drop the students off there and then on the way from Odessa, they stopped by the Midland location and pick up the Midland students,” Hill said.
While the school has halted its capital campaign for a new building, Hill said there are exciting opportunities coming up.
“… We will be building a gym first and that is exciting for both organizations, too, because our students will be using it and it’s also going to be available to the community, just as the retreat center is,” Hill said.
A schedule will be needed.
“I think it’s going to be a popular building for all,” she added.
LaMonica said it is certainly needed.
“And I was very supportive, and still am, for it to be built. The kids need a gym,” he said.
Hill added that the community needs it, too.
LaMonica said a football field also will be added eventually.
“… We do have football, volleyball, basketball,” Hill said.
But right now, students have to go from gym to gym for practices, so they will be ready for it.
“And then eventually, as our student enrollment grows, we’ll need to be looking into additional buildings at that time, too,” Hill said.
LaMonica said the school was going out for contractors now to get a cost on the project.
“… There’s already been that pledge of a million dollars. The estimate is about $3 million, but they really don’t have it nailed yet until they get the contractors responding …,” LaMonica said.
He added that there is uncertainty about the cost because you don’t know whether you can get the materials or what the cost will be.
“That’s a really tough one right now. … I say that and I’ve been here since 1984 and I’ve lived through three booms and busts. It’s nothing really different. …,” LaMonica said.
The way the retreat center is set up is almost like a college campus with separate small houses that are used as classrooms.
There also is a memorial garden built for those who have lost children. LaMonica said it was a gift.
“… It is a healing retreat for those who have lost a child … so there’s a memorial garden out here for them for quiet … It’s very unique. The other thing is that big hill, the hope is that we build a tomb. And it’s just for people, especially teenagers, to go into to reflect on, meditate on, the resurrection of Christ,” LaMonica said.
They also would like to build an amphitheater for outdoor concerts, for example.
“Our goal was to make sure we have high school age, junior high age retreats out here. And now it’s going to lend itself even better, because a lot of things we’ll be building will all enhance that …,” LaMonica said.
