Catholic Retreat, Christian, house, center, florida

“Pax et Bonum” (Peace and all Good) Franciscan greeting

"Cead Milte’ Failte" (A Hundred thousand Welcomes) Gaelic Greeting

"The Open Gate is an invitation to adventure." "The Open Gate is the call to explore new areas of yourself and the world around you." "What we have to learn is to recognize when an open gate is presented to us." "The gate of glory is already open and He is inviting us to enter into it."
Excerpts from "The Open Gate" by Rev David Adam

The Center is located on 23 rolling acres in the beautiful horse country of North Central Florida. Weaving together three of the great strands within the Catholic tradition, we seek to provide a unique place of welcome where the Franciscan, Benedictine and Celtic are integrated. Though our base is Catholic, we extend the ecumenical branch of peace, community and hospitality to all who seek Christ.

The retreat house and chapel is not as a destination but a spiritual reststop. A place to make “Space for God” as the author Don Postema so well stated on your journey toward God. We humbly invite you to come and rest for a little while and pray that our greetings from these woven traditions reflect our intent as hosts and facilitators during your stay.

Well Ministry Retreats

Based on our experience and what we believe to be an ongoing discernment of serving our fellow ministers, The Open Gate is introducing a retreat program titled the "Well Retreat" series for those in parish ministries. The Well Retreats will be an opportunity for parish lay ministers in Bereavement, Ministry to the sick, Prison Minsitry, Eucharistic Ministry, Liturgists, Catechists and RCIA facilitators to name a few to come and have your own water buckets refreshed spiritually from time to time. Please contact us to arrange a personal visit from your parish or church group to discuss a Well Retreat designed to feed the members of your community. Please see our Program page for further details