Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Manes.
Hi Aaron , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For the first fifteen years of my career, I worked in the music industry in marketing and communications. I had the opportunity to work with artists, labels, and entertainment companies, helping tell stories and connect people with music that mattered to them. It was creative, fast-paced work that taught me a great deal about communication, leadership, and building community.
Over time, and due to a move back to Texas for personal reasons, I began to sense that I was being drawn toward work that was more directly connected to purpose and transformation. That led me into the nonprofit world, where I spent the next chapter of my career serving mission-driven organizations through communications, fundraising, and community engagement.
Alongside that work, I found myself increasingly drawn to the contemplative life. I completed my training as a spiritual director through Perkins School of Theology and became an Accredited Professional with the International Enneagram Association.. Through spiritual direction, teaching, and coaching, I’ve had the privilege of accompanying people as they navigate seasons of growth, transition, and deeper self-understanding.
Looking back, what seemed like several different careers now feels like one continuous journey. Whether I was helping tell an artist’s story, communicating the mission of a nonprofit, or sitting with someone in spiritual direction, the common thread has always been helping people connect more deeply—with themselves, with one another, and with what gives their lives meaning.
That journey ultimately led me to Retreat House. In June, I stepped into the role of Executive Director, where I have the privilege of bringing together all of those experiences. Retreat House is a place that creates space for the inner life through spiritual companionship, contemplative practice, and meaningful community. It feels like the natural convergence of everything I’ve been learning and everything I care most deeply about.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think anyone’s path unfolds in a straight line, and mine certainly hasn’t. There have been seasons of uncertainty, wondering what was next, whether I was making the right decisions, and trying to trust a path that wasn’t always clear.
Looking back, I can see that those moments became an important part of my own spiritual formation. I like having a plan, but life has repeatedly invited me to let go of the need to know exactly what’s ahead. I’ve learned that discernment is often less about having certainty and more about paying attention; taking the next right step and trusting that the path becomes clearer as you walk it.
In many ways, those experiences have made me a better spiritual director and leader. They remind me that uncertainty isn’t something to avoid; it’s often where some of our deepest growth takes place.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Retreat House Spirituality Center?
Retreat House is a contemplative community dedicated to creating space for the inner life.
In a world that often values busyness, productivity, and constant noise, we offer something different: a place where people can slow down, pay attention, and reconnect with what matters most. Through spiritual companionship, retreats, workshops, contemplative practices, and meaningful community, we help people cultivate lives of greater presence, purpose, and compassion.
One of the things that sets Retreat House apart is that we welcome people from many different faith backgrounds, traditions, and life experiences. Some come seeking spiritual direction. Others are looking for community, personal retreat, or simply a quiet place to reflect. We believe that everyone has an inner life worth tending, and we strive to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and welcomed exactly as they are.
We’re also building a growing community of spiritual guides, directors, chaplains, coaches, and contemplative practitioners who accompany others through seasons of change, discernment, grief, growth, and transformation. In many ways, Retreat House exists not only to serve those seeking support, but also to support the people who spend their lives caring for others.
What I’m most proud of is the culture we’re cultivating. Retreat House isn’t simply a place that hosts events. It’s becoming a place where people experience genuine hospitality, courageous conversation, deep listening, and meaningful connection. Our hope is that everyone who walks through our doors leaves feeling a little more grounded, a little more hopeful, and a little more attentive to the life unfolding within them.
At its heart, Retreat House is creating space; for rest, for reflection, for spiritual companionship, and for the quiet work of tending the inner life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.retreathousecommunity.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retreathousecommunity
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retreathousecommunity
