About The Cenacle on the Lake · Metairie, Louisiana
The Cenacle on the Lake is the retreat center of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, located on a scenic ten-acre property on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain in Metairie, Louisiana. Originally opened in 1958 by the Cenacle Sisters (Religious of Our Lady of Retreat in the Cenacle), it is now operated by the Archdiocese and offers Catholic women a quiet, contemplative space for silent retreats, days of prayer, and spiritual direction. The chapel is open for daily Mass at noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and the facility can be rented for private retreats and group events.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Cenacle
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
The Cenacle on the Lake is a place to step out of the noise of daily life and listen for God's voice in prayer and silence. It offers silent weekend retreats for women, the four-day Women of Manresa retreat rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, single Days of Prayer, and a chapel open for noon Mass three days a week. The grounds on Lake Pontchartrain include walking paths, a Stations of the Cross area with a Pietà, and comfortable accommodations — making it a beloved spiritual oasis for women of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Mass times at The Cenacle on the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Welcome & Overview
The Cenacle on the Lake is the retreat center of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, nestled on a beautiful ten-acre property on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Director Aline Harbison invites visitors to come rest from the hustle and bustle of daily life, encounter Christ, and refresh their faith in the peace and beauty of the place. The center provides a quiet, contemplative, sacred space especially for women seeking silent retreats, Ignatian retreats, and days of prayer.
- Director: Aline Harbison
- Property: ~10 acres on Lake Pontchartrain
- Primary audience: women of the Archdiocese of New Orleans
History
The Metairie Cenacle opened in 1958 when the Cenacle Sisters sent ten sisters to staff the new house. For 55 years the sisters welcomed women for retreats. In October 2012 the order announced the closure in 2013, citing too few sisters and rising maintenance costs. The Archdiocese of New Orleans assumed operation, and on February 22, 2014, Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond presided over the Welcome and Rededication Mass of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center, dedicated to Our Lady of the Cenacle.
- 1958 — Metairie Cenacle opens with Sr. Margaret Byrne as Superior
- 2013 — Cenacle Sisters withdraw after 55 years of ministry
- February 22, 2014 — Archbishop Aymond rededicates the center as an archdiocesan retreat house
The Cenacle Sisters (Religious of Our Lady of Retreat in the Cenacle)
The Cenacle Sisters trace their origin to 1826 in the French village of Lalouvesc, where parish priest Father Stephen Terme and a young woman named Marie Victoire Couderc opened a hostel for women pilgrims visiting the shrine of St. John Francis Régis. Their retreat ministry spread to dozens of Cenacle houses worldwide. Marie Victoire became Mother Thérèse Couderc, was canonized on May 10, 1970, and is celebrated on September 26. The first Metairie community of ten sisters arrived in 1958.
- St. Thérèse Couderc — foundress, canonized 1970 (feast September 26)
- Fr. Stephen Terme — co-founder, French parish priest and missionary
- First Metairie community (1958): Sr. Margaret Byrne (Superior), Sr. Mary Louise Moore, Sr. Jeannette Kelly, Sr. Frances Loring, Sr. Dolores Brand, Sr. Cecilia Early, Sr. Sarah Agnes Hall, Sr. Terese Angelica Moreau, Sr. Rosemary Naber, Sr. Ann
Mission & Core Values
The mission of the archdiocesan Retreat Center is to provide a welcoming place for people of all Christian traditions and an environment where all can explore their relationships with God and draw closer to Him; to offer retreat opportunities for women and their families; and to nurture the people of God in mind and spirit so that they may 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ' (2 Peter 3:18).
- Fidelity to the Faith — authentically Catholic, Gospel-rooted retreats
- Sacred Encounters — opportunities for prayer, silence, and spiritual guidance
- Restoration and Renewal — leaving retreatants lighter, freer, spiritually refreshed
Chapel & Mass
The on-site chapel is open for those who wish to spend quiet time with Jesus during the day. Daily Mass is celebrated at noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and is open to anyone who wishes to join.
- Tuesday Mass — 12:00 PM
- Wednesday Mass — 12:00 PM
- Thursday Mass — 12:00 PM
Retreats Offered
The Cenacle on the Lake hosts a year-round calendar of retreats designed to help women encounter Christ in silence and prayer.
- Silent Weekend Retreats for Women — three days of guided silence (e.g., Fr. Bryce Sibley on the Road to Emmaus, October 2025; Fr. Gallagher on Hope, November 2025)
- Women of Manresa Retreats — four-day silent retreat on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola (Fr. Len Kraus, SJ, April 2027)
- Days of Prayer — single-day guided prayer and quiet reflection
- Pope Francis Speaks — series of Days of Reflection viewing videos and writings of Pope Francis, with Fr. Doug and Matt Rousso
Facility & Grounds
The retreat center sits on a peaceful, wooded ten-acre property on Lake Pontchartrain and offers comfortable accommodations, conference rooms, dining, and outdoor spaces. Guests consistently mention the beauty of the grounds, the walking paths, and the outdoor Stations of the Cross with a Pietà.
- Stations of the Cross area with Pietà
- Walking paths and lakeside grounds on Lake Pontchartrain
- On-site chapel, conference rooms, and dining
- Individual rooms, conference rooms, and the whole building available for rental
Renting the Facility
Outside groups may reserve individual rooms (for example, for a meeting with a Spiritual Director), book the conference rooms for larger meetings or prayer sessions, or rent the entire building for an organization's retreat or event. Rental rates and facility details are available by contacting the retreat office.
- Individual rooms for spiritual direction meetings
- Conference rooms for meetings and prayer sessions
- Whole-building rentals for organization retreats and events
- Contact: 504-267-9604 / [email protected]
Visit & Contact
The retreat house welcomes inquiries from individuals and groups. For retreat registrations, facility rentals, or general questions, contact the office by phone or email, or use the online registration links on the retreat calendar.
- Address: 5500 St. Mary Street, Metairie, LA 70006
- Main phone: 504-887-1420 (Fax: 504-887-6624)
- Retreat office: 504-267-9604
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: neworleansretreats.com (also linked from retreats.arch-no.org)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Sr. Margaret Byrne, rc1958 (founding Superior)
Superior of the first Cenacle community in Metairie when the retreat house opened.
- Cenacle Sisters (Religious of Our Lady of Retreat in the Cenacle)1958–2013
Operated the retreat house for 55 years before handing ministry over to the Archdiocese of New Orleans due to declining numbers and rising maintenance costs.
- Archdiocese of New Orleans / Aline Harbison, Director2014–present
Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond rededicated the property as the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center on February 22, 2014.