By the mid 1980s, the number of priests wishing to take advantage of the House of Prayer exceeded the small gatehouse’s capabilities. Spatial limitations not only hampered quiet and reflection but were not conducive to confidentiality and personal counseling. Moreover, they prevented Father McAnulty from offering overnight accommodations on short notice or providing meeting rooms for prayer and/or support groups.

As a result, in 1987, then-Archbishop Roger Mahony initiated a series of conversations concerning expanding the House of Prayer in order to better meet the spiritual needs of the priests. The Cardinal also realized that such an undertaking would require a substantial and continuing income stream. Therefore, it was necessary that the new House of Prayer become an archdiocesan entity, funded by the Archdiocese itself, rather than by personal contributions from individual priests.

During the next five years, plans for the new facility gradually fell into place. By 1993, the Archdiocese had arranged to lease the necessary land from the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart. Blueprints had been drawn to accommodate the needs of the priests, and funding, thanks to the generosity of Sir Daniel Donohue and the Dan Murphy Foundation as well as others, was in place. Ultimately, the new House of Prayer would consist of three structures: The original gatehouse would be renovated and expanded to include a larger chapel; a second building would provide accommodations for 20 guests; and the third building would house two additional chapels as well as meeting and dining rooms. On October 4, 1993, ground was broken for the new complex.

Despite problems inherent in most construction projects, the work was completed by early 1995. On February 15, in the presence of many priests, benefactors and friends of the Archdiocese, Cardinal Mahony formally dedicated the Cardinal Timothy Manning House of Prayer for Priests, so named in recognition of his predecessor’s deep love for his brother priests and his continuing concern for their spiritual formation.
 
During Cardinal Mahony’s conversations regarding reactivating the Order of St. Gregory, another area of concern had surfaced – a matter also felt by the Knights themselves. Once they were invested, the men never met as a group nor did the members seem to have any sense of direction or focus. Consequently, in August 1993, the Cardinal hosted a luncheon for the 22 existing Knights, a function which he described as a “re-gathering” since it was the first time the men had come together since the last investiture eleven years earlier. In the course of the meeting, the Cardinal proposed that the Knights pledge their support, both spiritually and materially, to the new House of Prayer for Priests, which was then under construction. “You are appointed,” he had challenged, “directly by the Holy Father. This appointment gives you a unique opportunity to be of service to the Church.”

The Cardinal’s mandate was essentially two-fold. First, the Knights were to care for the spiritual well-being of the priests. Second, the members were responsible for the operation and maintenance of the House of Prayer itself. In a sense, these two goals were interlocked since the environment offered by the House of Prayer would certainly contribute to the well-being of its guests.

Over the years, Knights and Dames of St. Gregory have demonstrated their commitment in a number of ways. In 1997, Kenneth Olsen, the first chairperson of the Order in the Archdiocese, pointed out the lack of an outdoor area which the priests could use for meditation or limited exercise. By the following autumn, a beautiful meditation garden filled the area west of the buildings, funded by a challenge grant from the Doheny Foundation and matching contributions from the members of the Order. Over the next fifteen years or so (1995-2011), other embellishments were added to both the grounds and the buildings.
 

Groundbreaking - October 4, 1993

The most extensive project undertaken by the Knights and Dames, however, took place in 2007 and was known as “The House of Prayer Renovation Project.” Within the next twelve months, the kitchen was expanded and the equipment upgraded. In addition, several rooms were soundproofed and an exercise area set up. Along with new furniture for the bedrooms and conference room, the purchase of new bedding and linens plus new dishes, flatware, and glasses contributed to a more home- like atmosphere. Best of all, the cost of the entire project -- $700,000 – had been underwritten by the members of the Order of St. Gregory rather than by the Archdiocese itself.

The support of the Knights and Dames has also been apparent in other ways. Since the Order of St. Gregory is a papal order, it is not proper to raise funds by collecting annual dues. Therefore, in 1995, members began the practice of making an annual contribution (in whatever amount they wished) to offset the House of Prayer’s operation and increase its endowment. In 2010, an Advisory Board was put in place in order to further support the administrative staff. This arrangement would draw upon the resources and talents of, first and foremost, the members of the Order of St. Gregory, and then eventually other laypersons in the Archdiocese itself.

On March 1, 2011, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez succeeded Cardinal Mahony as Archbishop of Los Angeles. He states: “I’m grateful for the House of Prayer for Priests and the support it offers to our priests. The ministry of the priest is born of love. And our love must always be renewed and refreshed. This is the work of the House of Prayer for Priests. Here our priests can come to have their hearts refreshed and their spirits renewed. Because of the House of Prayer for Priests we have joy-filled priests who can accompany us, and bring us closer to Jesus.”