RETREATS

MONASTERY  OF THE RISEN CHRIST 
 
 
SEE LIST BELOW OF OTHER RETREAT HOUSES IN CALIFORNIA AND NEARBY AREAS

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WHAT IS A RETREAT? Copyright © 2007 Kay Murdy

A retreat is a withdrawal from ordinary activities for a period of time to commune with God in prayer and reflection. Jesus spent forty days in the desert in prayer and fasting before entering his public ministry. In the early Christian era, the desert, mountains and other remote areas provided places for prayer. Later, people sought solitude in monasteries and convents. In the late 16th century, retreat houses were established and continue to operate today. The liturgical season of Lent with its emphasis on prayer, fasting and almsgiving prepares us for the celebration of Easter. Lent is regarded as a forty day retreat for the whole church.

Chapel at Augustinian Retreat House, Orlagh, Ireland

A retreat might be designed around a theme of scripture or some spiritual writing that seems suited to the needs of the individuals involved. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola enable retreatants to consider creation, repentance for sin and redemption. They contemplate the life of Christ, his passion and resurrection. Through prayer and discernment they come to a realization of and surrender to God's great plan of salvation in Christ. This structure follows the three traditional ways of spiritual growth: the purgative, the illuminative, and the unitive way.

Another form of retreat is based on the daily Scripture readings assigned in the Lectionary of the Roman Missal. Some make charismatic retreats opening themselves to the gifts of the Spirit. In Cursillos an overview of the Catholic way of life is given, and community is formed.

There are three general formats for retreats: preached, directed, and private. In a preached retreat, there is a leader who offers conferences each day, leads prayer and is available for private counseling. In directed retreats, each person meets with a spiritual director who may suggest scripture passages for prayer and reflection. Private retreats are made without a leader or director.

In most retreats, some degree of silence is maintained and there is an emphasis on the practice of a healthful lifestyle in regard to food, relaxation, and exercise. Many enter a retreat in order to make a serious decision or commitment, or to take the opportunity to examine the quality of their spiritual lives. Retreatants hope for a deeper conversion, purification, and spiritual growth.
 

RETREAT CENTERS
in California and Nearby Areas

CARDINAL NEWMAN RETREAT CENTER
24-A Ursuline Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
A diocesan facility available to parish groups or diocesan programs for the purpose of retreats, gatherings, meetings, workshops and seminars. For Reservations call 568-6822

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT, Orange, CA
714-744-3175

CLARETIAN RETREAT CENTER, Los Angeles, CA
323-737-8464


DE PAUL EVANGELIZATION CENTER 
1105 BLUFF ROAD
MONTEBELLO CA 90640
Phone 323-721-6060
Fax 323-887-0765

EL CARMELO RETREAT HOUSE, Redlands, CA
909-792-1047

HEART OF JESUS RETREAT CENTER, Santa Ana, CA 714-557-4538

IMMACULATE HEART CENTER 
FOR SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
888 San Ysidro Lane
Santa Barbara CA 93108
Phone 805-969-2474
Fax 805-565-2156
e-mail: ihccenter@aol.com

IMMACULATE HEART RETREAT HOUSE
Los Angeles, CA 323-664-1126


JESUIT RETREAT HOUSE
300 Manresa Way
Los Altos CA 94022
Phone 650-948-4491
Fax 650-948-0640
e-mail: elretiro@retreat.scu.edu 
Website: www.elretiro.org

LA CASA DE MARIA 
La Casa de Maria 800 El Bosque Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
805-969-5031 fax: (805) 969-2759
http://www.lacasademaria.org/
The Immaculate Heart Community is an ecumenical community
where people of all faiths can seek and find nourishment.

MARIANIST CENTER
22622 Marianist Way
Cupertino CA 95014
Phone 408-253-6279
Fax 408-253-1834
e-mail: marcenter@aol.com

MARY AND JOSEPH RETREAT CENTER
5300 Crest Road
Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275
Phone 310-377-4867
Fax 310-541-1176
e-mail: maryjoseph@earthlink.net 
Website: www.home.earthlink.net/maryjoseph

MATER DOLOROSA PASSIONIST RETREAT CENTER
700 North Sunnyside Ave.
Sierra Madre CA 91024
Phone 626-355-7188
Fax 626-355-0485
e-mail: materdolorosa@compuserve.com

Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center Website
www.materdolorosa.org

MERCY CENTER
2300 Adeline
Burlingame CA 94010
Phone 650-340-7474
Fax 650-340-1299
e-mail mc@mercy-center.org

MISSION RENEWAL CENTER
Santa Barbara, CA 805-682-4713


MISSION SAN LUIS REY RETREAT CENTER
4050 Mission Ave
Oceanside CA 92057-6402
Phone 760-757-3659
Fax 760-757-4613
e-mail: slretreat@sanluisrey.org

For Web Page 
MONASTERY 
OF THE RISEN CHRIST 

P.O. Box 3931
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-3931
Phone/Fax: 805-544-1810
Women's Line: 8-5-544-7808
 

 

 

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MOUNT CALVARY RETREAT HOUSE & MONASTERY
2500 Mt Calvary Rd
Santa Barbara CA 93102
Phone 805-962-9855
Fax 805-962-4957
e-mail: mtcalvary1@aol.com
Website: www.mount-calvary.org

The Palisades
Archdiocesan Retreat & Faith Formation Center
4700 SW Dash Point Road #100
Federal Way WA 98023
(206) 748-7991 - Local

(800) 330-7622 - Toll Free
(206) 382-3482 - Fax
Email: Palisades@SeattleArch.org
website: www.SeattleArch.org/Palisades

POVARELLO OF ASSISI RETREAT HOUSE
San Fernando, CA, 818-365-1071

PRESENTATION CENTER
19480 Bear Creek Rd
Los Gatos CA 95030
Phone 408-354-2346
Fax 408-354-5226

PROSANCTITY SPIRITUALITY CENTER, Fullerton, CA, 714-956-1020

RETREATS INTERNATIONAL
E-Mail: retreatsintl@luc.edu
P
hone: (312) 915-7970
10 E Pearson Street, Chicago, IL 60611 www.retreatsintl.org

SACRED HEART RETREAT CAMP, Big Bear Lake, CA, 909-866-5696

SACRED HEART RETREAT HOUSE
Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles
920 E. Alhambra Road
Alhambra, CA 91801-2799
Phone 626-289-1353
Fax 626-281-3546
Carmelite Sisters Website
http://carmelitegeneralate.homestead.com

SAN LORENZO SEMINARY PRAYER AND RETREAT CENTER, Santa Ynez, CA 805-688-5630

SERRA RETREAT CENTER, Malibu, CA
310-456-6631

SPIRITUAL MINISTRY CENTER
4822 DelMar Ave
SAN DIEGO CA 92107-3407
Phone 619-224-9444
Fax 619-224-1082
e-mail: spiritmin@aol.com

ST. ANDREW'S ABBEY RETREAT HOUSE AND YOUTH CENTER, P.O. BOX 40, Valyermo, CA 93563-0040, 661-944-2178
Fax 661:994-1076
e-mail retreats@valyermo.com
Abbey Web Site: www.valyermo.com

ST. FRANCIS RETREAT CENTER
PO BOX 970
San Juan Bautista CA 95045
Phone 831-623-4234
Fax 831-623-9046
e-mail: stfranret@aol.com 
Website: stfranciscans.org

ST. JOHN'S ABBEY, COLLEGEVILLE, MN
56321; Tel. 320-363-2011; Fax 320-363-2504
www.saintjohnsabbey.org

ST. JOSEPH'S CONFERENCE AND EVANGELIZATION CENTER, Alhambra, CA 626-289-0223

ST. JOSEPH'S SALESIAN YOUTH RENEWAL CENTER
8301 Arroyo Drive
Rosemead, CA 91770
Phone 626-280-8622
Fax 626-280-0545
e-mail: stjosephrc@aol.com

ST. MARY'S SEMINARY, Santa Barbara, CA 805-966-4829

ST. VINCENT'S RETREAT CAMP, Los Angeles 323-224-6213

VALLOMBROSA CENTER
250 Oak Grove Ave
Menlo Park CA 94025
Phone 650-325-5614
Fax 650-325-0908
e-mail: host@vallombrosa.org 
Website: www.Vallombrosa.org

VINA DE LESTONNAC RETREAT CENTER
39300 De Portola Road
TEMECULA CA 92592
Phone 951-302-5571
 

Whispering Winds Catholic Camp and Conference Center
8186 Commercial Street, La Mesa, CA 91942
office: (619) 464-1479, fax: (619) 464-4491
website - www.whisperingwinds.org

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