About Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House · Sedalia, Colorado
Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House is a Catholic, Jesuit ministry set on 280 acres in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Sedalia, Colorado, at roughly 6,000 feet elevation — about 25 miles south of Denver. Founded in 1959 by Fr. Raphael C. McCarthy, SJ, it is the only Jesuit retreat house in Colorado and an apostolate of the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province. Rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the retreat house offers silent preached, directed, and personal retreats, days of prayer, and the full 30-day Spiritual Exercises, and welcomes people of all faiths for Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration, and guided reflection in a setting of silence and natural beauty.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ (Director)
- Diocese
- Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province (apostolate of the Society of Jesus); works with the three dioceses of Colorado
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is the only Jesuit retreat house in Colorado, offering a uniquely Ignatian program of silent, preached, and directed retreats on 280 acres of foothill beauty about 25 miles south of Denver. Whether you come for a single day of prayer, a preached weekend led by a Jesuit, a personal directed retreat, or the full 30-day Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, the rhythms of silence, Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and one-on-one spiritual direction are designed to help you listen more attentively to God. The retreat house welcomes people of every faith and walk of life — individuals, parishes, schools, and ministry groups — and works closely with all three dioceses of Colorado to support spiritual growth.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available during retreats (Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered as part of the retreat schedule)
- Mentioned during Preached Day of Prayer (alongside Mass and Eucharistic Adoration)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered as part of every retreat (weekend, personal, and day of prayer)
- Mentioned as part of the Preached Day of Prayer rhythm
About Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House
Sacred Heart is a Catholic, Jesuit ministry serving God's people in Colorado and beyond. Founded in 1959 by Fr. Raphael C. McCarthy, SJ, the retreat house sits on 280 acres in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Sedalia, Colorado, at about 6,000 feet of elevation. For nearly seventy years this land has been a place of peace, prayer, and grace, where tens of thousands have come to step away from daily life and attend more deeply to God. It is an apostolate of the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province, working closely with Catholic parishes, schools, and the three dioceses of Colorado.
- Founded 1959 by Fr. Raphael C. McCarthy, SJ
- 280 acres in the Rocky Mountain foothills near Sedalia, CO
- Apostolate of the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province
- Welcomes people of any faith tradition
History
The retreat house was established in 1959 as a place where Colorado Catholics could make silent Ignatian retreats under Jesuit guidance — a tradition that has followed the Society of Jesus across every continent. Over six decades Sacred Heart has expanded its program from simple preached weekends to directed retreats, days of prayer, men's and women's retreats, seasonal Advent/Lenten/Autumn retreats, and the full 30-day Spiritual Exercises. Former director Fr. Oulvey, SJ, described the house as 'a physical location created to deepen the spiritual life.' The current director, Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ, took up the role in August 2025.
- 1959 – retreat house founded and built on the present 280-acre site
- Long-running preached and directed weekend retreats
- Added programs: days of prayer, seasonal retreats, 30-day Spiritual Exercises
- August 2025 – Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ, begins as Director
Mission & Jesuit / Ignatian Identity
Everything Sacred Heart offers is inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. The retreat house welcomes all who come to deepen their knowledge and love of Jesus Christ and of their ecclesial traditions through retreats and other means of spiritual growth. Retreats are given by an experienced staff of Jesuits, women religious, and lay spiritual directors, and are open to anyone regardless of faith affiliation.
- Rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola
- Welcomes people of all faiths
- Staff includes Jesuits, women religious, and lay spiritual directors
Retreats Offered
Sacred Heart offers a full Ignatian retreat program: silent preached weekends, personal directed retreats, private retreats without a director, days of prayer, group retreats for parishes and schools, men's and women's retreats, seasonal retreats, and the full 30-day Spiritual Exercises. Retreatants are invited into silence, prayer, and attentiveness to God, with Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration, and one-on-one spiritual direction forming the rhythm of every retreat.
- Group Preached Weekend Retreat (Fri 7pm – Sun 1pm) — ~$340
- Personal Directed Retreat (with a spiritual director) — ~$190 per night
- Personal Retreat without a director — ~$170 per night
- Personal Day of Prayer (9am–3pm) — ~$75
- Preached Day of Prayer / Directed Day of Prayer
- 30-day Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
- 5-, 7-, and 8-day retreat blocks
- Men's Retreats and Women's Retreats
- Lenten, Advent, and 'Autumn with St. Ignatius' retreats
- Discernment of Spirits programs
Sample Preached Day of Prayer Schedule
According to the Directed Day of Prayer page, guests arrive at 9:00 AM for check-in. The first reflection is offered in chapel at 9:30 AM, followed by quiet prayer, then Mass, lunch, confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and a closing reflection, ending at 2:45 PM.
- 9:00 AM – Check-in
- 9:30 AM – First reflection in chapel
- Mass, lunch, Confession, Eucharistic Adoration included
- Closing reflection; day ends 2:45 PM
Personal Retreat Schedule (2026 sample)
Personal retreats (with or without a director) are scheduled in blocks throughout the year. Sample 2026 dates published on the site include April 20–24, April 27–30, May 4–8, May 11–14, May 18–22, May 26–29, June 29–July 2, July 6–9, July 13–19, August 1–7 (Jesuits only), August 10–15, August 17–21, August 24–27, September 21–27, September 28 – October 4, October 5–9, November 2–6, and December 7–16.
Upcoming Weekend & Seasonal Retreats
Sample scheduled weekends include a Midweek Retreat (May 18–21, 2026, 7:00 PM–8:00 PM), Men's Retreats (Feb 27 – Mar 1, 2026, and Sep 18–20, 2026, both Fri 7:00 PM – Sun 1:15 PM), the Lenten Retreat with St. Ignatius (Sep 11–13, 2026), the Directed Weekend Retreat (Oct 16–18, 2026), Advent with St. Ignatius (Dec 3–6, 2026), and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (Sep 18–20, 2026).
Meet the Jesuits & Staff
Sacred Heart is staffed by Jesuits who live on the property together with lay spiritual directors and administrative staff. Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ, became Director in August 2025; Fr. Warren Broussard, SJ, and Fr. Dan White, SJ, are listed as Jesuit retreat leaders. Deacon Tom Sandusky serves the Central & Southern Province, overseeing retreat houses and parishes. Lay spiritual directors Mika Rizzo and Kelly Quinones accompany retreatants in one-on-one direction and supervise formation for new directors.
- Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ — Director (since August 2025); author; formerly national director of the Pope's Prayer Network
- Fr. Warren Broussard, SJ — ordained 1988; accompanies longer (5-, 8-, 30-day) Ignatian retreats
- Fr. Dan White, SJ — served as pastor in St. Louis and Belize; leads weekends and days of prayer
- Deacon Tom Sandusky — oversight of Province retreat houses and parishes
- Mika Rizzo — spiritual director and formation supervisor
- Kelly Quinones — spiritual director
Facilities & Grounds
The property offers 50 private retreat rooms, a spacious chapel for communal and personal prayer, quiet lounges for reading and reflection, a warm welcoming dining room, a fitness room (treadmill, hand weights, rowing machine), a small bookshop, and two 'Monks Cabins' for hermitage-style stays. Meals are prepared by Chef James — fresh, healthy, and delicious — and the entire house is intentionally kept calm and reverent. Set on 280 acres, the grounds offer trails and open areas for walking, prayer, and quiet contemplation, with sweeping views west to the mountains, east across rolling valleys and mesas, and south toward Castle Rock and Pikes Peak.
- 50 private retreat rooms
- Chapel with colored glass windows
- Quiet lounges and a warm dining room
- Fitness room and small bookshop
- Two 'Monks Cabins' for additional privacy
- Meals by Chef James
Getting Here & Practical Information
Sacred Heart is approximately 1.5 miles west of Sedalia, Colorado, easily accessible while remaining set apart from daily noise. The retreat house is about 15 minutes south of C-470, 40 minutes south of downtown Denver, 45 minutes southwest of Denver International Airport (DIA), and 55 minutes north of Colorado Springs. Retreatants must be 18 or older unless attending as part of a supervised school or parish group. Firearms, fireworks, drones, open fires, tobacco, drugs, alcohol, and pets (except registered service animals) are not permitted. If cost is a concern, the office invites retreatants to contact them — financial assistance is available so that no one is turned away.
- 15 minutes south of C-470; 40 minutes south of downtown Denver
- 45 minutes from Denver International Airport (DIA)
- 55 minutes north of Colorado Springs
- Adults 18+ (school/parish groups with supervision welcome)
- No weapons, tobacco, alcohol, or pets (service animals excepted)
- Financial assistance available — 'If cost is a concern, please contact us and know that you are welcome.'
Spiritual Direction & the Spiritual Exercises
Through Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration, and guided reflection, retreatants are invited to encounter the love and mercy of Christ in a spirit of reverence and quiet. Sacred Heart offers one-on-one spiritual direction throughout the year, and the full 30-day Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are available for those undertaking the longer retreat.
- One-on-one spiritual direction year-round
- 30-day Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
- Daily Eucharist celebrated in the chapel
- Eucharistic Adoration as part of each retreat
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Raphael C. McCarthy, SJ1959 (founder)
Founded Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House in 1959 on the present 280-acre site near Sedalia, Colorado.
- Fr. Oulvey, SJ
Mentioned as a recent director in a feature article on the retreat house.
- Fr. Joe Laramie, SJAugust 2025–present
Former national director of the Pope's Prayer Network; author on the Sacred Heart and St. Ignatius; ordained 2011, entered the Jesuits in 2000; featured on the Hallow app, EWTN, Busted Halo, and in America magazine.