Bishop Olson dedicates oratory at Holy Family Retreat Center
Bishop Michael Olson celebrated the Mass of dedication and blessing of the new oratory at Holy Family Religious and Retreat Center in south Fort Worth on May 2, 2026. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
FORT WORTH — In his 40 years in the construction business, Scott Price never encountered a tranquil job site until his company built Holy Family Religious and Retreat House in Fort Worth.
Price, the chief executive officer of Fort Construction, the contractor that built the oratory and nearby residence hall, explained that the project was “unlike any other. Job sites can be hectic and full of anxiety. There’s a peacefulness that happens at that little place.”
In the last several years, many in the diocese have experienced the peace of 130 wooded acres at the southern edge of Fort Worth, and the new chapel and residence hall will provide the opportunity for many more to step away from their daily lives to enjoy a time and place dedicated to the Lord.
Sacred space
On May 2, Bishop Michael Olson was the principal celebrant and homilist for the solemn blessing and altar dedication of the Holy Family Religious and Retreat House, which is run by the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer. Established in 1953, the religious order has its motherhouse in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and maintains a provincial house in Carthage, Missouri.
About 20 CRM priests and brothers traveled from California and Missouri for the first Mass in the oratory, which was attended by many deacons and religious sisters, plus more than 600 faithful.
The congregation began the liturgy outside the oratory for a blessing of the statues, which represent 20 mysteries of the Rosary. While Bishop Olson and Vicar General Jonathan Wallis cut the ribbon, colorful balloons soared into the air and firecrackers exploded.
After the clergy processed inside and the congregants filled the church and narthex, Bishop Olson blessed water, as a symbol of baptism and cleansing, then sprinkled it throughout the altar to sanctify and consecrate it.
Members of the Vietnamese community read the readings, and the choir of Vietnamese Martyrs Parish in Arlington led the singing throughout the Mass.
In his homily, Bishop Olson explained, “As we bless this new retreat house and as we consecrate this altar, may this place be — not a parish — but a place of retreat and recreation for families, for community, because the Lord calls us away from daily life to come to know him better.”
He continued, “The mission of the Church from the very beginning has always involved time away with the Lord, and also followed by service in ministry, particularly to those who otherwise would be overlooked.”
After the prayers of the saints were invoked with the Litany of the Saints, sung in Vietnamese, Bishop Olson anointed the altar with sacred chrism. Then a brazier of burning incense was placed on the altar while he prayed, “As this house is filled with fragrance, so may your Church be fragrant with the aroma of Christ.”
Triumphant music played while ministers wiped the altar, then covered it with cloth and brought up flowers to adorn the altar.
At the conclusion of Mass, Father Philip Thanh Cao, CRM, the director of Holy Family Retreat Center, addressed the clergy, religious, and faithful gathered in the new oratory.
After thanking the bishop, benefactors, and friends, he remarked on the great beauty and joy of the occasion and said, “Today I have seen not what we have done, but what God has done for us.”
A prayerful place
The oratory, which seat about 300, stands on space previously occupied by a four-car parking garage which dates back to the property’s previous owner.
Large white stone statues surround one side of the oratory, and a towering statue of the Holy Family welcomes visitors to its front doors.
Inside the oratory, about ten stained-glass windows depict various scenes from the life of the Holy Family, accompanied by a statue of Joseph with the young Jesus and a statue of Mary.
The wood-planked walls and ceiling add a rustic touch to remind visitors of the rolling Texas prairie outside.
The center of attention, appropriately, is an ornate gold tabernacle, approximately four feet high, flanked by statues of angels.
The windows, sculptures, and ornamentation were imported from Vietnam, along with the marble flooring.
Price, the contractor, recalled, “They’ve had crates and crates sent over from Vietnam during the whole process. We had to hire heavy movers for that solid marble to be rolled in. But it came out beautiful.”
Another unusual aspect of the job was the high level of involvement of the priests and religious brothers, said Price. Landscaping, moving furniture, and setting the flagpoles in concrete were a few of the tasks the CRMs tackled.
He said, “It was good coordination, but they did a lot of work. They put the fountain in — they are very capable. It was sort of surprising what they were able to do.”
The property also has a pond, an outdoor pavilion, cabins, a small chapel, a walking path with Stations of the Cross, and a large hall.
Peaceful property
Lien Van, a parishioner of Vietnamese Martyrs Parish in Arlington, has volunteered at the retreat center since its earliest days, more than 10 years ago.
The CRMs originally considered purchasing a property on SH 360 in Arlington to build a retreat center there.
But the price was a little high, and they found this property for “a really good deal,” Van said. “God and Mother Mary wanted this place. From day one whenever I walked in there, I just fell in love with it. Every time I go, I feel peaceful.”
By having priests in permanent residence at the retreat center, Mass and confession are readily available, she said.
Mydung Nguyen, the leader of the Divine Mercy movement at Immaculate Conception of Mary Church in Wichita Falls, has been coming to the Holy Family retreat center for about six years.
The retreat center has been a meeting ground for the Divine Mercy groups from throughout the diocese. On Divine Mercy Sunday, close to 500 people may attend, she said. She looks forward to future gatherings with the beautiful oratory.
“I love the property,” she said. “It feels holy there, very peaceful, safe. To me, it’s a perfect environment for any kind of religious gathering.”
A view of the new oratory at Holy Family Religious and Retreat Center in south Fort Worth on May 2, 2026. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)