For nearly 20 years, the Diocese of San Bernardino has offered healing retreats for sexual abuse survivors—for clergy and non-clergy abuse victims— through Restoring Me. This program consists of various one-day retreats designed to accompany participants in their healing journey from their spiritual and moral wounds.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Restoring Me retreats were suspended, but the Diocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection is pleased to announce that they will resume in June.
Restoring Me retreats take place in safe, sacred, and confidential settings where participants can feel welcomed, listened to, supported, accompanied, and know that they are not alone. In a Christ-centered environment, Restoring-Me retreats focus on helping participants grieve, heal, forgive, problem solve, grow, be resilient, and thrive in life.
The team that facilitates these retreats is formed by trained volunteers who offer a compassionate response for our sisters and brothers living in pain from hurtful abuse experiences. The Restoring Me retreat program does not intend to replace any mental health professional assistance, although it is committed to offer spiritual and pastoral support to participants, and to accompany them in their healing process.
Dates for the next group of Restoring Me retreats will be posted through diocesan social media and flyers sent out to parishes by the Office of Child and Youth Protection. For more information on Restoring Me or Grief to Grace retreats, or on how you can help support these programs, contact Elder Samaniego, Director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection, at (909) 475-5127 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also visit the Office of Child and Youth Protection website at www.docyp.org for more information.