Faith: Trusting in the God Who Waits for You

For nearly one hundred years the retreats at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center have invited participants into a faithful, trusting relationship with the God who waits for us. Too often we think of faith in terms of a whole set of beliefs, some of which we understand, many of which are simply beyond us. But in this year's retreat, the focus is less on specific beliefs and more on faith as openness to the heart of God who waits long and always lovingly --- to touch our own hearts in deep and abiding relationship.

All men are invited to join us for this year’s retreat. The cost is $315*, which includes the conferences, room and food (which is always excellent).

*PLEASE NOTE: If the cost is out of your range, please do still consider attending. The Passionists want you there to experience the retreat, and they are more than willing to work with individuals to find a cost that is appropriate for their personal budget. Please do not let the expense keep you away.

Questions? Please reach out to our Retreat Captain, Mike Kellogg: (626) 664-4976

To Register: Registration

Here are some memories from past retreats…

Living the Paschal Mystery: Our Holy Hope

The Paschal Mystery - the life, passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ lies at the heart of Christian faith and life.

For one hundred years, the Paschal Mystery - with particular attention to the Passion of Jesus Christ - has been the focus of retreats at Mater Dolorosa. In the spirit of St. Paul of the Cross, Founder of the Passionists, his companions and followers have faithfully implemented his vision. The fruit of centuries of prayer and contemplation finds expression in the theme chosen for this retreat season.

Living the Paschal Mystery calls us to active, ongoing engagement with the Spirit of God in Christ in our hearts, our communities, the church, and the world. St. Paul of the Cross's day was no less confusing and challenging than ours. His message invites a commitment to trust in God's presence within and among us. The abundant love of Christ stirs in us the deepest kind of hope - not optimism -but a Holy Hope. As we anticipate the great Jubilee Year of Hope, this retreat offers an invitation to receive the Spirit's gift of hope at the core of Living the Paschal Mystery.

To Register: Registration

As Jesus made his way to the Place of the Skull, Roman guards took hold of a passer-by and pressed him into service. Reluctant to participate, Simon, the Cyrenian, helped carry the cross of Christ. Little did Simon know that by the time they would get to Golgotha, the site of the crucifixion, his life would be transformed forever.

Perhaps we, too, may be reluctant to attend this All-Night Retreat and maybe have an encounter with Our Lord. We may want to continue on our own path, living our own lives and enjoying the comforts that currently surround us. The last thing we may want is to be pressed into service and be transformed forever.

For more details and to purchase tickets: Overnight Retreat

The Crucified One Lives!

Finding Comfort in the Passion of Christ

This retreat season coincides with the centennial of the arrival of the Passionists in Sierra Madre. What a wonderful, providential opportunity to focus on the Passion of Christ so central to Passionist spirituality and to the mission of Mater Dolorosa.

The Passion of Christ and the sufferings of the members of His Body, the Church, form one mystery. This retreat will provide the opportunity to gain a deeper awareness and understanding of this mystery: The Passion of Christ and the sufferings of his Body - member for member - are one.

The earliest Easter proclamation was "The Crucified One Lives." As the gospel account of "Doubting Thomas" makes clear, he found comfort in the wounds of Christ, Crucified and Risen. And Christ's Body, the Church, still bears wounds.

In the spirit of the Passionists we will consider ways in which we might find comfort in the Passion of Christ. Doing so brings us into closer union with God, invites us to a deeper knowledge of ourselves, and impels us to respond to the needs of others, especially those who are poor, suffering, or wounded in any way.

Registration: St Denis Weekend

Men’s Weekend Retreat

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

Is your heart longing for peace?

The Carmelite Sisters at the Sacred Heart Retreat House invite men to come on a weekend retreat led by Fr. Larry Richards.
This retreat begins on Friday evening and goes into Sunday mid-morning. It is led by a priest retreat master speaking at five conferences and he will also be available for confession. Meanwhile the Carmelite Sisters will lead prayers such as Night Prayer, meditative reflection periods, and the Rosary. All periods between activities will maintain a silent environment intended to support your interior intimacy with Jesus while mealtime conferences help supplement conference material.

We follow County of Los Angeles Public Health guidelines. At this time, we are not requiring Indoor Masks.

If you have any questions, please contact us at (626) 289-1353 x2203

To register: Registration

Who is Jesus Christ? Who am I? Finding the divinity within.

We often try to discover the complex relationship between ourselves and Jesus Christ. We want to know what it should be, how deep it should be, what does Christ want of us, is Christ within us, and if so, where can we find the divine within us? We will attempt to explore all such questions and provide a deep dive to help discover where Jesus Christ resides deep inside us.

This retreat will lay paths for this exploration, and we invite you to join us on this epic adventure to the interior of our souls.

Requested payment is $275, with a $50 deposit at time of registration. Please do not let the cost stop you from attending. The Retreat Center will work with any budget restrictions you might have - they want you to come experience the retreat regardless of your financial situation.

St Denis Weekend Registration: Registration

This Classic Men’s Retreat begins on Friday evening and goes into Sunday mid-morning. It is led by a priest retreat master speaking at five conferences and he will also be available for confession. Meanwhile the Carmelite Sisters will lead prayers such as Night Prayer, meditative reflection periods, and the Rosary. All periods between activities will maintain a silent environment intended to support your interior intimacy with Jesus while mealtime conferences help supplement conference material.

For more information and to register, please visit their website: Registration

Flyer

Embracing God’s Gift of Hope

It was amazing to be back on the beautiful Mater Dolorosa grounds. It was also incredible that after being the first retreat weekend that was cancelled due to the 2020 lockdowns, ours was the first retreat weekend to enjoy some post-pandemic treatment. Masks were optional, and the dining room was open for the first time. We also had two conferences inside. It was such a blessing to be able to enjoy things being so close to “normal”.
St. Denis had the largest representation of men, which was also wonderful, and it was great that Jay was able to make his first retreat with us this year.
The feedback from the men was very positive, and we hope more of our brothers will be able to join us next year!

Inspiration to be Holy Men

Retreat Master: Bishop James Wall

Another wonderful retreat put on by the Carmelite Sisters. It was nice to have multiple men from St. Denis attend this time!

Come Holy Spirit

Rev. James B. Farnan

The Holy Spirit is moving the men in the Church to return to the heart of the matter. The Church needs holy men who will witness to God’s Fatherly love.

Father James will guide your retreat that includes inspiring talks, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, Holy Mass, and time for personal reflection.

Join with other men who are striving to live out heroic virtue and learn how to grow as spiritual leaders in their families.

For information/RSVP: 626-289-1353, ext. 204  
retreatcoordinator@carmelitesistersocd.com

Retreat Flyer

Registration Form

Be Not Anxious!

Another wonderful retreat. There is a new Retreat Director, Dr. Michael Cunningham, and all the guys thoroughly enjoyed his two presentations. It was a beautiful weekend with some great talks on letting go of your anxiety/worry, since most of what we all worry about is over things that won’t even come to pass.

Please mark you calendars for March 20-22, 2020 so you can be sure to join us next year!

Msgr. Eugene Morris will lead this men’s retreat that includes inspiring talks, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, Holy Mass, the Holy Rosary (in this year dedicated to the Holy Family in Nazareth):
“In you, all find their home.” Psalm 87:7

Options are available to stay for the entire weekend at the retreat house, as well as "commuter" and one-day options.