Below is a list of retreat centers local to Southern California that I have visited, with my recommendations.
St. Andrew’s Abbey
31001 N. Valyermo Road
Valyermo, CA 93563
661-944-2178
www.saintandrewsabbey.com
Tucked away in the San Gabriel Mountains, the monks of Saint Andrew’s Abbey offer retreats year round. Different monks are available for Spiritual Direction and guidance.
Daily Mass at noon with lunch to follow is a special treat. Saint Andrew’s offers a rustic, desert environment with out-door stations of the cross, a large duck and coy fish pond. Crowned with a remarkable hilltop cemetery.
They have a lovely gift shop and a used book store. The food is excellent, with a chef on staff. You may journey up to Saint Andrew’s and enjoy the grounds at any time. The gate is open and all are welcome. One may join the brothers for lunch for a $10 donation. One or two are welcome without reservations. For a larger group one should call and make arrangements to be included in the lunch count.
This abbey has a year-long calendar of retreats that one can participate in. Costs vary for these “preached” retreats. Click here for a list of current retreats being offered.
Prince of Peace Abbey
650 Benet Hill Road
Oceanside, CA 92058
760-967-4200
http://princeofpeaceabbey.org
Atop the hills to the south of Camp Pendleton, Prince of Peace is a parish church. The monks do not offer formal retreats, but over-night visits and spiritual direction can be arranged in advance by calling. The outdoor Stations of the Cross (a one-mile walk) offers a distant vista of the Pacific Ocean.
Visitors are welcome but you must call ahead and check-in with Br Porter on arrival. Daily Community Celebration of Mass is offered at 11 am (10:30 am on Sundays). A buffet lunch is served at noon in the dining hall. A separate quiet dining room is available for those observing silence. A donation of $10 is requested for lunch.
Prince of Peace houses a pleasant sized library, a book store, in-door and out-door stations of the cross, an exquisite altar icon of Christ as described in the Book of Revelation, and a Tabernacle chapel which holds a full-sized replica of the Arch of the Covenant. Huge colored glass panels provide the back two walls to the church.
Mission San Luis Rey
4050 Mission Avenue
Oceanside, CA 92057
760-757-3659
www.sanluisrey.org/retreats/
On the grounds of the historic mission of San Luis Rey, they offer a myriad of retreat and reflection opportunities. All visits must be arranged at their website. “Quiet Days” are especially refreshing, as one is given a guest room for the day as well as access to the gardens and grounds. A monthly email is sent out to highlight offerings for contemplation and spiritual growth. A quiet gem amid the California Mission locations.