The current retreat house in Black Canyon City was the vision of Sr. Therese Sedlock, OSF, and was originally established as Our Lady of Solitude House of Prayer and was dedicated on March 19, 1984 under Bishop Thomas J. O’Brien.  Two years later, the hermitages were built, and on October 15, 1988, the Chapel was dedicated.  Sister Therese passed away on July 15, 2004, having served as Director of Our Lady of Solitude for over twenty years.

The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration moved into Our Lady of Solitude in May 2005 at the invitation of Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted as the first step of building a new foundation for their community. Black Canyon City was the home of the “Desert Nuns” for over five years. In October 2010 the Poor Clares moved to their new home in Tonopah, AZ, where a large amount of land had been generously donated to them. They received permission to take the name Our Lady of Solitude with them, and their new monastery is thus called Our Lady of Solitude Monastery.

The next phase of the Black Canyon City property’s history began on February 2, 2011, when Father Eugene Florea, a priest of the Diocese of Phoenix, moved in to begin a contemplative-eremitical life of prayer with the permission of Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted.  Father Florea began offering spiritual direction and retreats for priests early on, and the ministry continued to grow. On May 21, 2013, Bishop Olmsted issued a decree founding the Merciful Heart Hermitage: A House of Prayer for Priests.

On December 1, 2018, Father Florea made a temporary profession of vows as a Diocesan Hermit and received the name Father Eugene Mary of the Trinity, Erem. Dio. On November 20, 2021, Father Eugene Mary made his perpetual profession and was consecrated as a Diocesan Hermit under Canon 603.  Father Eugene Mary lives a hidden life of prayer in the Carmelite tradition while exercising a limited apostolate that is dedicated to strengthening the interior lives of priests.