 Our Lady of Las Polamas Hermitage
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Our Lady of Las Polamas
- a center for renewal, compassion and formation for The Fourth Order of Francis and Clare.
Someone is given a chapel and some land in a small New Mexican bordertown in the middle of the high desert.
What to do?
Kris and Judith Lethin invited The Fourth Order to make a home
at Our Lady of Las Polamas in Columbus, New Mexico.
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Rita Holden and I set out for the high desert of New Mexico. I went upon the invitation of Our Lady of Las Polamas Hermitage to pray about making a home there for the companions of the Fourth Order. Rita went because a ringing in her soul for the life of prayer and community was strong.
The desert of New Mexico sings with the history of the sea - an ocean bottom of sand and flowering cactus. Its critters, abandoned hermitages, replicas of tombs are impressive and remind us that things pass into form and out of form. They change. They grow. They wither and die. They leave seed.
In the desert the open skies, the unrelenting sun of day, the brilliance of the night stars strike chords of vastness, cosmos, and eternity. Like the dove songs of the morning the soul yearns in that immense silence.
Things are quiet in the desert, deeply quiet and the sounds of the soul are heard more clearly - the joy, the mourning, the fear and strength. The early Christians fled to the desert to hear the ancient voice of God. And I am sure they fled from the desert as well in an effort to drown in the clamor of the chaotic world, the sounds of the awakened soul for the soul is mighty and its ways are untamed.
What we found in the desert in the small town of Columbus were beautiful welcoming people, Edith Haines, Mugs and Mirs, Max, the locksmith. Fabulous people who had known the griefs and triumphs of life and were living to the fullest. We found a lovely chapel on land just ripe for community. We found generous shopkeepers and a lovely B and B hostess, the mayor of Columbus, Martha.
We found our interior demons and angels, our attachments to the consumer world, our hopes and fears. We watched them rise and recede like the waves of the sea. We wrestled with the word commitment. We prayed the Long Antiphonal Chant each day, praying for the life of relationship with our Source and all creation. We experienced the presence of our ancestors and remembered and shared their stories of wisdom. We brought our tears that came like unexpected visitors like the illegals.
We experienced the border between Mexico and the United States and heard story after story of the illegals with the frightening sense of their fraity in a world of borders and two nation states with "interests"; in a world where ordinary people on both sides of the border have real and understandable needs to deal with these issues.
Yes, everything was just right in Columbus, New Mexico. The full catastrophe of life was there - beauty, hospitality, quiet, a sense of the enduring eternal, the occasional sound of border patrol sirens, a gun shot in the night. Just the right place to pray.
Next January six Fourth Order companions will begin a month long time of work and prayer. There are shelters to be built, a hall for activities, a community collective craft shop and of course the desert gardens and a sanctuary of the great scriptures.
As we move into the future we remember the past and stand in the precious present. Below is the brief history of Our Lady of Las Polamas Interfaith Hermitage followed by our Mission Statement today.
Peace and all good to you,
Barbara
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The Vision
A small adobe building with a simple arched patio built around an old house trailer in Columbus, New Mexico inspired Richard and Edith Haines with a vision of an interfaith chapel.
The Renovation
The Haines purchased the property in 1981 and began the renovation in 1985 with the help of many local people who donated materials and hours of labor.
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The Early Years - The Evelyn Haines Memorial Chapel
The Evelyn Haines Memorial Chapel was open for worship by any demonination. It was available for weddings, funerals, and memorial services. The chapel has a registered private cemetary. It was privately owed by Dick and Edith Haines who accepted no financial help.
The Dedication of Saint Anthony of the Desert Chapel
On October 4, 1987, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the chapel was dedicated. The Rt. Rev. Richard M. Trelease Jr., D. D. Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rio Grande presided over the dedication of Saint Anthony of the Desert.
The Rev. Montney held Episcopal services at the chapel until ill health prevented her continued ministry. Homer Gillette conducted services until his retirement. Father William Haller of Deming came to the Columbus chapel for Orthodox services.
Rededication as St Francis of Assisi Orthodox Mission
The Chapel was rededicated as an Orthodox mission and Father Haller took up residence. Father Haller donated the altar, lectern, baptismal font, and tabernacle. He served there until his death in 1990. He is buried at the chapel.
After Father Haller's death James Franklin of Columbus conducted interfaith Sunday Services.
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A Renewed Multifaith Vision for Today
Our Lady of Las Polamas Hermitage
In 2000, the Haines deeded the chapel to Kris and Judith Lethin. Kris is an Episcopal Deacon. Judith is an Episcopal priest. The Lethin's incorporated Our lady of Las Palamas as a 501 C3 nonprofit center for prayer and contemplation. They invited others to join them in this work.
(Kris at the door. Yes, he is a big man!)
 In 2004 the Board officially invited the Fourth Order of Francis and Clare into relationship with Our Lady of Las Palamas. Our Lady will become the first center for renewal, compassion and formation for The Fourth Order of Francis and Clare. There is much good work to be done. May we continue to prayerfully be led by Spirit who embraces all.
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Our Mission
Our Lady of Las Polamas Hermitage is a multifaith multicultural community of contemplation, prayer and action committed to the life of simplicity, presence, and service in right relationship.
We believe in
 A God of compassion and wild abundant grace. A condition of interrelationship of being with each other and all creation. The experience of the divine as present, immanent and at play in all creation. The transforming power of divine love experienced through prayer, contemplation, joy, suffering and compassion. The power of simple presence and humility. A brother and sisterhood beyond the boundaries of race, nation, culture, gender, economics/class, politics, sexual orientation and religious differences. A personhood with both rights and responsibilities. The need of self reflection and ongoing transformation. Simplicity of lifestyle, living justly and non-violently. The opportunity of work for all persons. Work is holy- each person’s work and creativity is essential for the well being of community.. Ecology, equality, and just economy: the basic three of sustainability: Prayer and involvement with the issues of our time. We commit to
Providing hermitages for prayer with a peaceful, nurturing atmosphere for individuals seeking closeness with God. Being a center for renewal, compassion and formation for The Fourth Order of Francis and Clare. Mutually supporting one another through sacred conversation, meditation, prayer and contemplation. Practicing, modeling and promoting leadership in living in justice, simplicity and compassion. Practicing and modeling ecologically sound and environmentally friendly methods in construction, maintenance of property and in daily practice. Promoting healthy and sustainable community through education, employment of local people, and cultivating local and cottage industry and training. (to include a gift shop in which local people may market their goods.) Promoting healthy families in the community by offering education and supportive services as appropriate. Networking and collaborating with other organizations to promote a consistent ethic of life and the work of justice and peace. |