Desert House of Prayer

Desert House of Prayer is a center for contemplative prayer in the Christian, Catholic tradition. Located on 31 acres of Sonoran Desert outside Tucson, Arizona, Desert House of Prayer, founded in 1974, is a place and community committed to silence. Surrounded by three mountain ranges, the natural beauty of terrain evokes an awareness of God's grandeur. The conditions are ideal for fruitful solitude, in which "all things find their just emphasis." (Rilke)

Desert House of Prayer comprises several buildings, each one opening directly onto the desert: 4 hermitages and 10 rooms with separate entrances and private baths; a chapel, a library, and a central dining area. The accommodations are named after the saints of the mystical tradition (Francis, Teresa, Juan de la Cruz, etc.) and suggest the spirit of the same by simple works of art and decor. Each space is revered as a silent area except during times designated for conversation.