For some, a retreat is an ongoing priority. Evelyn Razon has brought her family to the annual family retreat at the Sacred Heart Retreat Camp in Big Bear Lake for the past six summers.
“The retreat provides a really good reminder on how to survive in the world we live in where it’s pretty chaotic and complicated,” said Razon. “It reminds us to keep Christ in the center of our lives. We take what we learned from the camp and apply it to our daily lives. My husband and I communicate better because our relationship is stronger and the kids see that. They’re happier because mom and dad are happier. They understand what’s important to our family so they’re excited to go on retreat every year.”
Father Tomas Guillen, newly ordained in May, used a silent retreat as a way to listen to God more clearly before embarking on his journey to the priesthood.
“It was an interesting weekend for me and in the end I realized that part of me listening to God was that I had to be silent and listen. Really listen,” said Fr. Guillen. “That’s what really helped me grow over the years.”
Anne Salas describes a retreat as “essential” for her family. They have been going to the family retreat at Sacred Heart Retreat Camp for the past nine years.
“The distractions of the schedule, the activities that the children are in or work that parents have, emails, texting, grocery shopping, laundry, all that is gone,” said Salas. “You’re just existing together and the whole purpose is to be with God and with each other and have fun.”
The Diocese contains seven retreat centers for Catholics to rest and refresh before returning to their normal routines. There are also different types of retreats offered by each facility and each is a unique experience.
“If you’ve never done a retreat before, start out with a one-day or weekend retreat,” advises Fr. Guillen. “Don’t do a long retreat. Get yourself used to that environment. One of the first retreats that I remember, I went because someone invited me. So if someone invites you, I think maybe God is trying to speak to us in a certain way, so I would say, don’t be afraid if someone invites you to a retreat. Just take that up and dive into the experience.”
Divine Word Retreat Center, Riverside, CA
Located in the City of Riverside, the center is easily accessible from the 91 Freeway. The large campus is set against a hill with large trees and offers many peaceful walking areas. It is tranquil and separated from the city noises. The main retreat center has 125 beds and St. Joseph Hall has 13 rooms with 2 beds in each room. There are multiple conference rooms, a large dining area, industrial size kitchen and three chapels. Although the retreat center does not provide retreats, it offers the facility to groups organizing large retreats.
El Carmelo Retreat House, Redlands, CA
Surrounded by orange groves and avocado trees, the El Carmelo Retreat House offers 50 private rooms, meals, a chapel and a conference room. It has been owned and operated by the Discalced Carmelite Friars since 1952. The retreats incorporate the Carmelite spirituality in seeking God through prayer and finding God in the silence, so the retreats offered here are silent ones. When people arrive on Friday night, they are served dinner followed by an orientation and then the silence begins and continues throughout the weekend until after Mass on Sunday afternoon.
“I often tell people that they’ve made great sacrifice to be here,” said Father Adam Gonzales, OCD, Superior and Retreat Director. “It’s expensive, we charge $170 to $190 per person for a weekend depending on whether or not they share a room. They are away from their family, their spouses, maybe family gatherings, away from their parish on Sunday.
They’ve proven to God that they’re open to hearing His voice and hearing His will just by the very fact that they’ve come. So when they arrive they have to go the extra step and be willing to listen to Him. Silence in the retreat experience or in the spiritual sense is a disposition. We teach them how to find God in their ordinary life, at work, at home, in school.”
Sacred Heart Retreat Camp, Big Bear Lake
Operated by the Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart (SDSH), the retreats are centered around their charism of bringing forth the love of God in a dynamic and personal way. This retreat camp is located near Boulder Bay at Big Bear Lake and has three lodges nestled between tall pine trees and large rocks. There are many opportunities to hike and play games as a family. Participants can also bring their RVs or tents to camp.
“We have the beauty of creation present up here and that often really speaks to people,” said Sister Rachael Gleason, SDSH. “A lot of times the youth who come to a place that is so beautiful and so different from their parish or the number of people that come and see snow for the first time is a really beautiful experience for them.”
St. Anne in the Mountains Retreat Center, Running Springs
This retreat center offers their facility to groups facilitating their own retreats. It has stunning views of the valley and is near Snow Valley Mountain Resort. The campus includes a private chapel, dorm style sleeping for up to 60 people, commercial kitchen, meals, shower and bath house and a large conference room.
Vina de Lestonnac Retreat Center, Temecula
This retreat center has beautiful views of the Temecula wine country. It can host overnight groups of 70 people or day retreats of 100 people. Meals are included in overnight stays and will sometimes incorporate the fruits and vegetables grown on the estate. The facility is operated by the Sisters of the Company of Mary.
Other retreat centers in the Diocese include Kkottongae Retreat Camp in Temecula that is operated by the Congregation of Kkottongnae Sisters of Jesus, and the Oasis of Peace Retreat and Cultural Center in Palm Springs.
Malie Hudson is a Riverside-based freelance writer