About Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality · Mt St Francis, Indiana
Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality, located in Mt. St. Francis, Indiana (near Floyds Knobs), is a Franciscan retreat and spirituality center operated by the Conventual Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Consolation Province. Set on more than 400 wooded acres in Southern Indiana just minutes from Louisville, Kentucky, it offers group and individual retreats, days of prayer, spiritual direction, art classes through the Mary Anderson Center for the Arts, and an outdoor pilgrimage including wooded Stations of the Cross. Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the Center welcomes people of all faiths for spiritual renewal, hospitality, and encounter with God, neighbor, and creation.
- Established
- 1976
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
Why belong here
The Mount offers a rare combination of natural beauty and Franciscan hospitality on more than 400 acres of woods and fields, just minutes from Louisville. Visitors can join daily or Sunday Mass in the historic 1926 Italian Gothic chapel, attend retreats such as Christian Awakening or Cursillo, hike wooded trails and the Stations of the Cross, fish the lake, stay overnight at the Hermitage for solitude, or take art classes at the Mary Anderson Center for the Arts. It is a place set apart — "So That All Who Seek May Find" — where the Conventual Franciscan friars walk with retreatants, pilgrims, and neighbors on a journey toward a deeper relationship with God, neighbor, and creation.
Mass times at Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment with an available friar — call 812-923-8817
Adoration times
- Chapel is open for prayer, Monday–Saturday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Chapel is open for prayer, Sunday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Our Mission and Franciscan Charism
Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality, a ministry of the Conventual Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Consolation Province, exists to provide a safe and welcoming place engaged and responsive to the personal and communal spiritual needs of its diverse community. Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the friars and staff live the Gospel through compassion, prayer, and service. Through retreats, days of prayer, individual spiritual direction, and other programs of vision and hope, the Center walks with its brothers and sisters on their journey toward a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God, neighbor, and creation. In the spirit of fraternity, the friars strive to care for those in need and work collaboratively with others to bring hope and healing to the world.
- Operated by the Conventual Franciscan Friars (OFM Conv.) of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation
- Motto: 'So That All Who Seek May Find'
- Welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds
- Rooted in the traditions and charism of St. Francis of Assisi
History of Mount Saint Francis
The story of Mount Saint Francis begins around 1885, when Mary Anderson (1859–1940), a celebrated Louisville-born actress later known as Mary Anderson de Navarro, donated more than 400 acres of wooded Southern Indiana land to her uncle, Conventual Franciscan priest Fr. Anthony Mueller. In 1896 she formally gave the property to the friars. In 1926 — the same year the Province of Our Lady of Consolation was founded — the Mount Saint Francis Chapel was built under Fr. Paul Vollrath, OFM Conv. The friars operated a minor seminary on the property for decades; the high school seminary closed in 1976, and the 1923 building was repurposed as a retreat center. Since 1976 the Mount has hosted retreats, parish days of prayer, and signature programs like the three-day Christian Awakening (for teens) and the Cursillo (for adults).
- c. 1885 — Mary Anderson donates 400+ wooded acres to her uncle Fr. Anthony Mueller, OFM Conv.
- 1896 — Mary Anderson formally transfers the property to the Conventual Franciscan Friars
- 1926 — Chapel built under Fr. Paul Vollrath, OFM Conv.; Province of Our Lady of Consolation founded
- 1948 and 1951 — Mount Saint Francis minor seminary wins Sectional Basketball Championship
- 1976 — High school seminary closes; retreat center established in the 1923 building
- 1991 — Province Archives founded by Friar Larry Eberhardt
- 2013 — Brother Dennis Moses, OFM Conv., becomes Province Archivist
- 2016 — 40th anniversary celebration ('Live the Fourth')
- 2025–2026 — 50th anniversary and 100th anniversary of Province and Chapel
The Mount Saint Francis Chapel
The Mount Saint Francis Chapel is the heart of prayer, reflection, and community on campus. Built in 1926 under the supervision of Fr. Paul Vollrath, OFM Conv., the chapel features Italian Gothic-style architecture, a striking rose window, and cherished stained-glass artwork imported from Germany. Originally built to form young men preparing for Franciscan life, it has since 1975 served friars, retreat groups, and the faithful from across the region. Daily and Sunday Masses are celebrated here, along with Morning and Evening Prayer in the Friars Chapel.
- Italian Gothic-style architecture
- Rose window and German stained-glass artwork
- Built 1926 under Fr. Paul Vollrath, OFM Conv.
- Daily Mass Mon–Fri 11:30 AM; Sunday Mass 10:00 AM
- Chapel open for prayer Mon–Sat 8:00 AM–4:00 PM and Sun 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Chapel Renovation Campaign (2025–2026)
Ahead of the 100th anniversary of both the Province and the Chapel (1926–2026), the friars have launched a $1.6 million Chapel Renovation Campaign to preserve and renew this sacred space for future generations. The campaign aims to enhance structural integrity while preserving the chapel's historical charm, improve accessibility with ramps and a lift, and restore the historic stained-glass windows to maintain their vibrant colors and intricate details.
- $1.6 million initiative
- Accessibility improvements (ramps and a lift)
- Restoration of German stained-glass windows
- Structural integrity upgrades
Retreats and Programs
Retreats are the heart of the Mount's ministry. The Center offers group and individual retreats, days of prayer and reflection, spiritual direction with the friars, and signature multi-day experiences. The longest-standing programs are the three-day Christian Awakening retreat for high school students and the Cursillo experience for adults. Other programs include marriage encounter weekends, private directed retreats, and special parish, school, and ministry retreats. The Center is also available to host retreats and programs for other organizations whose purpose is religious and human enrichment.
- Christian Awakening — three-day retreat for high school students
- Cursillo — three-day experience for adults
- Marriage Encounter weekends
- Group retreats for parishes, schools, and ministries
- Private directed retreats
- Days of prayer and reflection
- Spiritual direction with a friar (by appointment)
Facilities and Outdoor Pilgrimage
The Center's Main Center offers 49 private rooms (59 beds) across three floors, conference rooms (Al Leis, Cupertino), smaller meeting rooms, multiple dining rooms with professional chefs, and five private suites. The Youth Center offers a large assembly room with breakout spaces. Retreat bathrooms were remodeled in November 2020. Visitors can take a self-guided outdoor pilgrimage through the 400-acre Mount Saint Francis Sanctuary, including the wooded Stations of the Cross, walking trails, fishing at the lake, and the Hermitage — a one-room cabin for solitude secreted away on a small bay at the far end of the lake.
- Main Center — 49 rooms, 59 beds, conference rooms, dining rooms, private suites
- Youth Center — large assembly room with breakout spaces
- Dan Endris Teams Course — low ropes course
- Bookstore and gift shop staffed by volunteers
- Wooded Stations of the Cross and walking trails
- Lake with fishing and the Hermitage cabin
- Shelter houses near the lake and ropes course
Mary Anderson Center for the Arts
Named for Mary Anderson (1859–1940), the Louisville-born actress who donated the Mount's land to the Conventual Franciscans, the Mary Anderson Center for the Arts is part of the Center for Spirituality. It offers a variety of art classes for the community and studio rentals, embodying the Franciscan appreciation for the arts as a path to encounter the Creator.
- Art classes for the community
- Studio rentals
- Named for Mary Anderson (Mary Anderson de Navarro)
Friars and Staff
The Center is staffed by Conventual Franciscan friars of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation. Brother Robert 'Bob' Baxter, OFM Conv., serves as Director of the Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality. Father Ken Bartsch, OFM Conv., ordained in 1975, serves as a Spiritual Director and as a volunteer in the Mission Advancement Office. Brother Dennis Moses, OFM Conv., is the Province Archivist and steward of the more than 1,060 linear feet of archival materials documenting the friars' ministries worldwide.
- Brother Robert 'Bob' Baxter, OFM Conv. — Director
- Father Ken Bartsch, OFM Conv. — Spiritual Director; ordained 1975
- Brother Dennis Moses, OFM Conv. — Province Archivist (since 2013)
Liturgy and Prayer Schedule
The Center celebrates Mass in the Mount Chapel and offers the Liturgy of the Hours in the Friars Chapel. Visitors of all faiths are warmly welcomed at every liturgy. Confessions and spiritual direction are available by appointment with one of the friars.
- Sunday Mass — 10:00 AM (English)
- Weekday Mass — Monday–Friday, 11:30 AM (English)
- Thanksgiving Mass — 9:00 AM
- Christmas Eve Mass — 8:00 PM; Christmas Day Mass — 9:00 AM
- Morning Prayer — Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM in the Friars Chapel
- Evening Prayer — Mon–Fri, 5:30 PM in the Friars Chapel
- Confession and spiritual direction — by appointment (812-923-8817)
Campus Sustainability and Earth Care
As part of the Franciscan Earth Care Initiative, the Mount campus is undergoing sustainability upgrades to model environmental stewardship. The Province Chapter has mandated campus-wide improvements that include solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, and the use of materials and appliances that reduce energy and water waste. The campus will serve as a model for all Franciscan campuses and parishes.
- Solar panels
- Geothermal heating and cooling
- Water- and energy-saving appliances and materials
- Part of the Franciscan Earth Care Initiative
50th Anniversary and 100th Anniversary Celebrations
The Center is celebrating 50 years of retreat ministry (1976–2026) and the 100th anniversary of both the Province of Our Lady of Consolation and the Mount Saint Francis Chapel (1926–2026). Celebrations include a February 1, 2026 Kickoff Celebration with hikes, archives tours, Sunday Mass in the Mount Chapel, and history highlights; the August 8, 2026 'Live the Fourth' reunion and day of spiritual renewal; and a Homecoming on the Feast of St. Francis (October 4, 2026) with guided tours, historical displays, reunion gatherings, and a Franciscan-focused liturgy.
- Kickoff Celebration — February 1, 2026
- Live the Fourth reunion — August 8, 2026
- Homecoming on the Feast of St. Francis — October 4, 2026
Volunteering and Getting Involved
The Center welcomes volunteers who want to share in its hospitality. The volunteer-staffed gift shop is one popular way to serve, and other opportunities exist through the Mount's retreat, hospitality, and grounds programs. Visitors can also support the Center through prayer requests, which the friars lift up in prayer.
- Gift shop volunteer opportunities
- Prayer requests submitted to the friars
- Hospitality and grounds volunteer roles