PRIESTS' RETREAT: "Speak Lord, your Servants are Listening"
2025-05-05 15:00 - 2025-05-09 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
St. Benedict begins the prologue to his rule with the admonition, “Open the ear of your heart”. At this moment in our journey together as Church, we are called more than ever to listen deeply to the Spirit – the quiet whisper of our God speaking within our hearts.
The centerpiece for this retreat will be Listening Together: Meditations on Synodality by Timothy Radcliffe, O.P.

**PRIESTS ONLY RETREAT**

Presenter: FR. JOSEPH BRENNAN has been a monk of Valyermo since 1994 after having served as a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for over 20 years. He is a spiritual director at the Cardinal Manning House of Prayer for priests in Los Angeles as well as St. Andrew’s Sub-Prior.

Lectio Divina: The Ancient Art of Praying the Scriptures (Zoom Option)
2025-05-09 15:00 - 2025-05-11 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Lectio divina, the ancient Christian art of praying the scriptures, allows the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God. In other words, through lectio divina, reading sacred scripture becomes the gateway to contemplative prayer. In this workshop, ancient and modern approaches to the practice of lectio divina and its application to contemplative prayer will be studied and practiced.

Presenter: FR. LUKE DYSINGER MD, DPhil, has been a monk of Saint Andrew’s Abbey since 1980. He studied medicine at the University of Southern California and theology at the University of Oxford. He is professor of moral theology and church history at Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California and has published books and articles in the fields of bioethics, early Christian spirituality and patristics.

*If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting list.

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER WORKSHOP
2025-05-31 09:00 - 16:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Designed for the beginner and offered during Lent, this Quiet Day will explore the history and purpose of Contemplative prayer practices, how contemplative prayer differs from meditation, what contemplative prayer is and isn’t, and offers the space to actually practice several contemplative prayer modalities. An extrovert by nature, Lisa discovered the value of contemplative practices in her journey to a closer connection with God. Come draw away from the chaos of life and learn tools to help you center your heart and experience the presence of God.

Presenter: LISA MARION Obl. OSB, is an oblate of Valyermo and Spiritual Director in Orange County. An energetic leader, she has over 25 years of pastoral experience ministering to people of all ages and stages of life. Leading numerous events both locally and nationally, she conveys her awareness of God and his love with a subtle yet honest sense of humor. Having experienced many seasons of trial and suffering, Lisa is well equipped to journey with others through their own trials and seasons of struggle. Her attunement to the Holy Spirit makes her uniquely gifted for this ministry. For more information about Lisa and her ministry visit: www.dailypax.com – subscribe to join her growing community of those seeking peace and spiritual growth.

*If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and a waiting list.

PENTECOST RETREAT - Sold Out
2025-06-06 15:00 - 2025-06-08 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
This preached retreat is for the oblates of St. Andrew’s Abbey or anyone interested in Benedictine spirituality. The focus is the Rule of St. Benedict and the liturgy of Pentecost.

Presenters: Monks of Valyermo

*If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting list.

*CANCELADO* EL ALMA DESPUES DE LA MUERTE
2025-06-14 09:30 - 15:30 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States

DISCOVERING C. S. LEWIS’S LIBRARY: The Enchanting and Sacramental Role of Books (Zoom Option)
2025-06-25 15:00 - 2025-06-27 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Imagine standing in C. S. Lewis’s personal library as he tells how books enlarged his vision, captured his imagination, and pointed him to Christ. In this workshop, Lewis’s story and the growth of his library are traced, beginning with his first book and early collecting through his academic and writing career, until his library is dispersed near his death. These accounts, combined with Lewis’s views on reading and literature, invite participants to discover the numinous in books, learn through the eyes of others, and experience the same deep joy of seeing God in all of life.

Presenter: DR. ROGER WHITE is Professor Emeritus at Azusa Pacific University where he taught in the College of Education, Seminary, and Honors College. He was founding curator of the C. S. Lewis and Inklings Collection in the University’s Rare Books Department. Additionally, White served as lead editor for the book, C. S. Lewis and His Circle: Essays and Memoirs from the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society (Oxford University Press, 2015) and is currently completing a book about rediscovering C. S. Lewis’s library.

*If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting list.

WHO AM I? Meeting the Self in the in the Prodigal Son
2025-06-27 15:00 - 2025-06-29 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
St. Luke, Rembrandt, and Henri Nouwen are our human guides as we examine and discern the different spiritual states revealed in Holy Scripture’s parable of The Prodigal Son. Art, writing, and personal experience combine to help us realize the broader implications of this narrative and how they apply to our lives. Careful attention to art, close reading of texts, personal reflection, and discussion will form the basis of this retreat.

Presenters: Reese Landi, Obl.OSB & Mary Kauffman, Obl.OSB

REESE LANDI is an Oblate of Valyermo. She is a nurse and an artist. Reese completed her Art of Spiritual Direction through LMU and has enjoyed using art to enhance one’s understanding of scripture. Reese is certified in Art for Healing through Brandman University and has worked with a non-profit to practice art therapy.
MARY KAUFFMAN is an oblate of Valyermo. She has an MA in English and has taught ESL, various levels of English and writing, and literature courses at several colleges in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Now retired, she enjoys sharing her love of reading and writing through participation in different reading and literary groups, particularly those with an emphasis on discovering the transcendent and increasing our Christian awareness through exploration of the written word.

*If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and waiting list.

ICONOGRAPHY
2025-06-30 15:00 - 2025-07-06 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
This intensive icon painting workshop will provide an opportunity to experience the process of icon painting. Participants will learn traditional iconographic techniques, working with egg tempera on gesso and the Byzantine four-color (tetrachrome) palette. This practical instruction will be combined with theoretical instruction in the history of iconography, iconographic composition, and the theology of icons. Each participant will work on an icon and take the completed icon home. No experience is necessary. The instructor will provide all supplies and materials.

Presenter: A native of Ukraine, VICTORIA BRENNAN holds a doctorate in Eastern Ecclesiastical Studies from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. Her areas of specialization include Theology of Icons, Byzantine Art and Architecture, Byzantine Spirituality, and Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts. She has taught courses in theology and art at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Ukraine, and St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo where she currently works. In addition to her theological and academic study of Byzantine Sacred Art, Victoria pursues her love of this tradition as an iconographer.

*If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting list.

BENEDICTINE SPIRITUALITY RETREAT: Reflections of the Rule of St. Benedict
2025-07-07 15:00 - 2025-07-11 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
St. Andrew’s Abbey monks invite retreatants to reflect deeply on the Rule of St. Benedict.
Individual monks will offer personal reflections and insights on selected passages of the Rule to further enrich our understanding of the Rule of St. Benedict, explore aspects for daily application, and deepen our Christian commitment to live out the Gospel.

Presenters: Monks of Valyermo

*If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting list.

ANGELS AND DEMONS
2025-07-12 09:30 - 15:30 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Angels are real, spiritual beings who exist as messengers and servants of God. This retreat will provide a general overview of angelology while looking at the writings and teachings of St Thomas Aquinas, Church Tradition, and the Scriptures to “flesh out” these mysterious beings of pure intellect. Utilizing the question/answer format from Dr. Peter Kreeft’s book “Angels (and Demons) – What do we really know about them?”, we will attempt to answer many questions on the matter ranging from “Do angels know our secret thoughts?” to “Why would a good angel choose to become a devil?” This is an important subject in our Christian belief as the existence of angels is a dogma of the Catholic faith.

Presenter: Fr. ANGELUS ECHEVERRY, OSB, has been a monk of Valyermo since 2011. He has a Master’s degree in Classical Music Composition and is currently an Organist and Choirmaster. He has a deep love for what he calls “The four ‘M’s’ of my life”: Music, the Mystical life, the Holy Mystery that we call the Trinity and Mary, the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God. To listen to the Music of Fr. Angelus, visit: www.angelusecheverry.com

*If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and a waiting list.

ST. CLARE OS ASSISI: A HEART FULL OF LOVE
2025-07-18 15:00 - 2025-07-20 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
To enter into a relationship with Clare of Assisi for this weekend retreat is to go forward securely, joyfully, and swiftly, carried by the momentum of a woman burning with love. Clare, a pilgrim of the interior adventure, always re-directs us on the path of prudent happiness. What a paradox: the cloister of San Damiano – a restricted space – opens to infinite love. The loving kenosis of Christ captivates her and incites her to a Passover, brisk as a dance step, into full communion. This love that fills Clare with life springs forth like a fountain in her heart.

Presenter: STEPHEN COFFEY, OSB Cam is an ordained monk of the Camaldolese community of California. He is engaged in extensive retreat ministry as well as spiritual direction for priests, religious, and laity. He formerly served on the staff of Shalom Prayer Center.

*If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting list.

Gonzaga Alumni Retreat July '25
2025-07-23 15:00 - 2025-07-27 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
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CINEMA DIVINA RETREAT: Communicating Hope with Gentleness
2025-08-08 15:00 - 2025-08-10 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Cinema Divina combines film with the form of Lectio Divina. It is a time of prayer, reflection, and conversation to dive deeper into the story and recognize our call. This unique experience takes the participants on a journey through film as we reflect together on our common human experience and the ability to live a virtuous life. The films we will be viewing and discussing are:
Sight ( 2023)
Audrey’s Children (2025)
Arthur the King (2024)

Presenter: SISTER JENNIFER TECLA HYATT, FSP is a member of the Daughters of St Paul, a religious community dedicated to evangelization with the media. She has a BA in Theology and is a Master Catechist in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Currently the Manager of Pauline Books and Media in Miami, Florida, she also is an associate of the Pauline Center for Media Studies. Over the past ten years, she has facilitated various film and Scripture activities for both children and adults, as well as given presentations on media literacy and integrating culture, faith, and media. She is a proud member of the elite Catholic Speakers Organization, CatholicSpeakers.com.

*If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting list.

UNDERSTANDING MIRACLES
2025-08-09 09:30 - 15:30 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
This retreat aims to provide a proper understanding and approach to miracles from the Catholic perspective by separating the authentic from the counterfeit, according to the Scriptures and the Magisterium. We will use the book “A Catholic Guide to Miracles” by Adam Blai to explore specific miracles and provide examples of their demonic counterfeits. If you have ever wondered about miraculous things like eucharistic miracles, levitation, stigmata, and faith healers, this retreat is for you.

Presenter: FR. ANGELUS ECHEVERRY, OSB, has been a monk of Valyermo since 2011. He has a Master’s degree in Classical Music Composition and is currently an Organist and Choirmaster. He has a deep love for what he calls “The four ‘M’s’ of my life”: Music, the Mystical life, the Holy Mystery that we call the Trinity and Mary, the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God. To listen to the Music of Fr. Angelus, visit: www.angelusecheverry.com

*If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and a waiting list.

CELTIC SPIRITUALITY: A Journey into Sacred Living
2025-08-15 15:00 - 2025-08-17 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
That early Irish Christian spirituality and practice is often misunderstood and misappropriated does not negate the fact that it has much to teach us today. This retreat will look at five main areas of Celtic spirituality: pilgrimage, spiritual companionship, “thin places,” penance and monasticism in order to situate them in their historical setting with an eye towards adapting them for our own personal spirituality.

Presenter: REV. DR. GREG PETERS Obl. OSB is an oblate of Valyermo, an Associate Professor of Medieval and Spiritual Theology at Biola University, La Mirada, CA, and the Servants of Christ Research Professor of Monastic Studies and Ascetical Theology at Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Wisconsin. As an Anglican priest, he serves as Rector of the Anglican Church of the Epiphany, also in La Mirada. He is the author of Reforming the Monastery: Protestant Theologies of the Religious Life, The Story of Monasticism: Retrieving an Ancient Tradition for Contemporary Spirituality and The Monkhood of All Believers: The Monastic Foundation of Christian Spirituality.

*If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting list.

THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF STORY
2025-08-21 15:00 - 2025-08-24 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Our modern culture places a high value on non-fiction, deeming it to be the “reality” while largely minimizing or dismissing the rich source of meaning that can be found in fiction, myth, and parables. Through a psycho-spiritual lens, we will explore how the human psyche can experience significant growth through deep interaction with certain forms of fiction that reflect symbolic and archetypal realities; through a literary lens, we will explore the many activities that fall under the one term “reading” and their effects on the mind and spirit, emphasizing, in particular, the role of the fiction novel on individuals and culture. Can a return to the primacy of fiction and its revelation of the transcendent return the culture to wholeness?
Presenters: Mary Kauffman, Obl.OSB & Michael Mullard, Obl.OSB; Ph.D.
MARY KAUFFMAN is an oblate of Valyermo. She has an MA in English and has taught ESL, various levels of English and writing, and literature courses at several colleges in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Now retired, she enjoys sharing her love of reading and writing through participation in different reading and literary groups, particularly those with an emphasis on discovering the transcendent and increasing our Christian awareness through exploration of the written word.
MICHAEL MULLARD is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, emphasizing depth psychology. He has been an Oblate of New Camaldoli Hermitage since 2004 and has been hanging out with Benedictines since 1980. He lives in Southern California.

*If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and a waiting list.

HEALING OUR WOUNDS: Forgiveness in the Spiritual Life
2025-08-25 16:00 - 2025-08-29 11:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
We give them, we suffer them, and our bodies hold on to them for years: Wounds. We can imprison ourselves in them and wither emotionally for far too long without the transforming power of forgiveness. Divine Love liberates us from resentment, self-pity, and isolation. The love that forgives opens a path to inner freedom. God reveals such love in Jesus. When we experience authentic forgiveness, we begin to live again in hope and gratitude. When we ponder such experiences, we desire to enter more personally into the mystery of forgiveness toward others, to become reconcilers ourselves. The process of forgiveness requires the full engagement of desire, willingness, and courage. The whole person—body, mind, and soul—must engage in this endeavor. Without forgiveness, our Christian life and our emotional well-being are incomplete. This is essential to becoming our most authentic selves, the person God intends us to be.

Presenter: DR. NANCY WALLIS has enriched her vocational life to include special areas of ministry including spiritual direction, guest preaching, and leading contemplative spiritual retreats. Expanding on her 40-year career focused on developing leaders in organizational settings, including her work as a business executive, consultant, graduate and undergraduate business school professor, and leadership development coach, she brings a transformational and loving spirit to the sacred cultivating of richer inner lives. She completed her Master of Divinity degree at the Claremont School of Theology, and training in individual and group spiritual direction at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RETREAT’S ITINERARY: Healing our Wounds-Forgiveness in the Spiritual Life Agenda

*If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and a waiting list.

THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF THE DESERT FATHERS AND MOTHERS (Zoom Option)
2025-08-29 15:00 - 2025-08-31 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
The practical and contemplative wisdom of the Fathers and Mothers of the Desert is part of the spiritual heritage of all Christians. In this workshop, we will focus on their understanding of spiritual progress, particularly the practices and forms of prayer they consider to be the foundation of Christian contemplation. Workshop participants are encouraged to read Sayings of the Desert Fathers, translated by Bendicta Ward and published either by Cistercian Press or Penguin Books.
Presenter: FR. LUKE DYSINGER MD, DPhil, has been a monk of Saint Andrew’s Abbey since 1980. He studied medicine at the University of Southern California and theology at the University of Oxford. He is professor of moral theology and church history at Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California and has published books and articles in the fields of bioethics, early Christian spirituality and patristics.

*If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting list.

PRACTICING SILENCE IN A NOISY WORLD: Moving Beyond Isolation and Loneliness to Fruitful and Prayerful Solitude
2025-09-02 15:00 - 2025-09-05 15:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
This is a retreat for Oblates of St. Benedict, any Christians longing for contemplative prayer and monastic liturgy, and all who seek to deepen their spiritual life through reflections on silence and solitude. How can ordinary people intentionally ‘make room for God’ and incorporate the time-honored practices of silence and solitude within our busy lives? How do we encounter God when we are alone, when God seems far off or silent, when prayer is ‘unanswered’, or when we are burdened with grief or loneliness? *Please note that this is not a “silent retreat”; it will involve presentations and some discussion on silence, and there will be ample time to practice silence.

Presenter: HON. MARY FINGAL SCHULTE (RET.) has been an Oblate of Saint Andrew’s Abbey for 16 years. She has a B.A. in history, with a minor in French, and a J.D. (law degree). She has served as Chairperson of the Ecumenical and Inter-religious Commission for the Diocese of Orange from 1999-2005. She loves proclaiming the word of God and has been a lector in her parish for over 25 years. In addition to her Benedictine spirituality, she participates in a Christian Life Community (CLC) with fellow legal professionals who completed the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She has been a retreat presenter at Valyermo with Fr. Francis Benedict. She is co-coordinator of the Orange County oblate group, and one of four oblate mentors for the Orange County area. She loves to write, and four of her articles have been published in the Abbey Chronicle. She is developing a blog called Ordinary Days with Mary, to share her photography, spiritual writings, musings, and her passion for baking.

*If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting list.

DEALING WITH DEATH
2025-09-12 14:00 - 2025-09-14 14:30 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Death is never easy. We all struggle to make sense of it. It is difficult to process because we weren’t designed to die. We were designed to live in peace in a garden forever. The promises of eternal life are found throughout Scripture. This retreat will allow you the time and space to contemplate these promises. Come, rest, and think on eternal things. Process in a safe place, allowing the truth of Scripture to inform your thoughts about death.
Being well acquainted with death and the process one must journey through to find peace, join Lisa in this uniquely restful opportunity. Whether you’re struggling with processing the death of a loved one or your own death, come and find answers in God’s promises. Please note that Lisa will be available for private Spiritual Direction.

Presenter: LISA MARION Obl.., OSB is an oblate of Valyermo and Spiritual Director in Orange County. An energetic leader, she has over 25 years of pastoral experience ministering to people of all ages and stages of life. Leading numerous events both locally and nationally, she conveys her awareness of God and his love with a subtle yet honest sense of humor. Having experienced many seasons of trial and suffering, Lisa is well equipped to journey with others through their own trials and seasons of struggle. Her attunement to the Holy Spirit makes her uniquely gifted for this ministry. For more information about Lisa and her ministry visit: www.dailypax.com – subscribe to join her growing community of those seeking peace and spiritual growth.

*If the event is listed as sold out please call us at 661-944-2178 for real time availability and waiting list.

Gonzaga Alumni Retreat September '25
2025-09-18 15:00 - 2025-09-21 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States

SILENT RETREAT (Bilingual)
2025-09-26 15:00 - 2025-09-28 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Do you long for a few days of emotional and spiritual tranquility? Are you looking for a few moments of silence in your life? Do you need to be alone with the Lord through meditation and contemplation? If this is what your heart desires, we invite you to our silent retreat in the small oasis offered by the Benedictine Community of the Abbey of Saint Andrew, located in Valyermo.
Remember that this silent retreat is an opportunity to pause along the way, to take some time to reflect, meditate, and internalize profound truths that cannot be clearly contemplated in the midst of noise and everyday life.
¿Añoras unos días de tranquilidad emocional y espiritual? ¿Buscas unos momentos de silencio en tu vida? ¿Sientes la necesidad de estar a solas con el Señor a través de la meditación y contemplación? Si así lo desea tu corazón, te invitamos a nuestro retiro de silencio que se llevará a cabo en el pequeño oasis que ofrece la Comunidad Benedictina de la Abadía de San Andrés, ubicada en Valyermo.
Recuerda que este retiro de silencio es la oportunidad de hacer un alto en el camino, con el fin de tomarse un tiempo para reflexionar, meditar e interiorizar verdades profundas que en medio del ruido y la cotidianidad no es posible contemplar con claridad.

Presenter: CARLOS OBANDO Obl., OSB was born in Costa Rica and has lived in the United States since 1966. He is married with three children and three grandchildren. In 2009, he earned a Master’s degree in Pastoral Theology from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, and is an instructor at the School of Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese of Orange. He has been a Spiritual Director for over 25 years. He has worked with the Hispanic community since 1979 in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, training leaders and giving retreats for youth, adults, and married couples. He currently coordinates the Spiritual Exercises for Aspirants and their Wives through the Office of the Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Carlos Obando nació en Costa Rica y vive en Los Estados Unidos desde 1966. Está casado, tiene tres hijos y tres nietos. En el año 2009 obtuvo una maestría de la Universidad de Loyola Marymount, Los Ángeles, en Teología Pastoral, es instructor en la Escuela de la Renovación Carismática en la Diócesis de Orange. Ha sido Director Espiritual por más de 25 años. Trabaja con la comunidad hispana desde 1979 en los condados de Los Ángeles y Orange en la formación de líderes y dando retiros a jóvenes, adultos y matrimonios. Actualmente coordina los Ejercicios Espirituales para los Aspirantes y sus Esposas a través de la Oficina del Diaconado, en la Arquidiócesis de Los Ángeles.

*If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and a waiting list.

ENTENDIENDO LOS MILAGROS
2025-10-04 09:30 - 15:30 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
El objetivo de este retiro es proporcionar una comprensión y un acercamiento adecuado a los milagros desde la perspectiva católica, separando lo auténtico de lo falso, según las Escrituras y el Magisterio. Usaremos el libro “Una guía católica de milagros” de Adam Blai para explorar milagros específicos, además de brindar ejemplos de sus falsificaciones demoníacas. Si alguna vez te has preguntado acerca de cosas milagrosas como los milagros eucarísticos, la levitación, los estigmas y los curanderos por la fe, este retiro es para ti.

Presentador: P. ANGELUS ECHEVERRY OSB, es monje de Valyermo desde 2011. Tiene una Maestría en Composición de Música Clásica y actualmente es Organista y Maestro de Coro. Tiene un profundo amor por lo que llama “Las cuatro ‘Emes’ de mi vida”: la Música, la vida Mística, el Santo Misterio que llamamos Trinidad y María, la Santísima Virgen, Madre de Dios. Para escuchar al Música de P. Angelus, visite: www.angelusecheverry.com

*Si el evento figura como agotado, llámenos al 661-944-2178 para consultar la disponibilidad en tiempo real y una lista de espera.

STILL FULL OF SAP, STILL GREEN: A Spirituality of Aging
2025-10-06 15:00 - 2025-10-09 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
This retreat will be inspired by many writers’ reflections on spirituality for the “second half” of life, writers including Sister Joan Chittister (The Gift of Years) and Parker Palmer (On the Brink of Everything). Creative living within the season of wisdom, greater and ongoing maturation, and positive transformation of the inner life will be some of the meditations for a full life in the Spirit. Experiencing limitations during one’s aging process will be explored as opportunities for transcendence and spiritual fecundity that could not be profoundly realized in earlier seasons of growth.

Presenter: HON. MARY FINGAL SCHULTE (RET.) has been an Oblate of Saint Andrew’s Abbey for 16 years. She has a B.A. in history, with a minor in French, and a J.D. (law degree). She has served as Chairperson of the Ecumenical and Inter-religious Commission for the Diocese of Orange from 1999-2005. She loves proclaiming the word of God and has been a lector in her parish for over 25 years. In addition to her Benedictine spirituality, she participates in a Christian Life Community (CLC) with fellow legal professionals who completed the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She has been a retreat presenter at Valyermo with Fr. Francis Benedict. She is co-coordinator of the Orange County oblate group, and one of four oblate mentors for the Orange County area. She loves to write, and four of her articles have been published in the Abbey Chronicle. She is developing a blog called Ordinary Days with Mary, to share her photography, spiritual writings, musings, and her passion for baking.

*If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and a waiting list.

AUTUMN ARTISTS' RETREAT
2025-10-27 15:00 - 2025-10-31 10:00 | CA
This retreat is open to artists at all levels, including beginners. Photographers, sculptors, and writers are also welcome to come and experience the colors and beauty of the high desert in the setting of the monastery. Escape the stress of daily life while deepening a spiritual vision in your art. (A materials list will be provided.)

Presenter: GREGORY MICHAEL HERNANDEZ is a landscape-based visual artist living in Pasadena, CA. His paintings, photography and sculptures explore the religious and political dimensions of land use. Growing up in Hesperia, CA, cemented his lifelong connection to the Mojave Desert. See his work at www.gmhstudio.com.

*If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and a waiting list.

EDITH STEIN: Her Journey from Darkness into Light *CANCELLED*
2025-11-07 15:00 - 2025-11-09 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Join us as we reflect on the life and times of Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, a brilliant philosopher and poet, a mystic and searcher of the truth, and a Jew — a daughter of Israel. Her encounter with the cross in the life of a Christian friend sparked an inner transformation that led to her baptism into the Catholic faith. Her reading of the life of Teresa of Avila brought her to the door of the Cologne Carmel, where she began her contemplative journey as a Carmelite nun. Her Jewish identity and her Catholic faith collided with the oppressive Nazi regime and led to her martyrdom at Auschwitz.

Presenter: FR. JOSEPH BRENNAN OSB has been a monk of Valyermo since 1994 after having served as a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for over 20 years. He is a spiritual director at the Cardinal Manning House of Prayer for priests in Los Angeles as well as St. Andrew’s Sub-Prior.

*WE WILL RESCHEDULE THE RETREAT FOR AUGUST 2026.* Look out for the retreat once the calendar 2026 is published.

ÁNGELES Y DEMONIOS
2025-11-08 09:30 - 15:30 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Los ángeles son seres reales y espirituales que existen como mensajeros y siervos de Dios. Este retiro proporcionará una visión general de la angelología, mientras analiza los escritos y las enseñanzas de Santo Tomás de Aquino, la Tradición de la Iglesia y las Escrituras para “dar cuerpo” a estos misteriosos seres de intelecto puro. Utilizando el formato de pregunta/respuesta del libro del Dr. Peter Kreeft “Ángeles (y demonios) – ¿Qué sabemos realmente sobre ellos?”, intentaremos responder muchas preguntas sobre el tema, que van desde “¿Conocen los ángeles nuestros pensamientos secretos?” a “¿Por qué un buen ángel elegiría convertirse en demonio?” Este es un tema importante en nuestra creencia cristiana ya que la existencia de los ángeles es un dogma de la fe católica.

Presentador: P. ANGELUS ECHEVERRY OSB, es monje de Valyermo desde 2011. Tiene una Maestría en Composición de Música Clásica y actualmente es Organista y Maestro de Coro. Tiene un profundo amor por lo que llama “Las cuatro ‘Emes’ de mi vida”: la Música, la vida Mística, el Santo Misterio que llamamos Trinidad y María, la Santísima Virgen, Madre de Dios. Para escuchar al Música de P. Angelus, visite: www.angelusecheverry.com

*Si el evento figura como agotado, llámenos al 661-944-2178 para consultar la disponibilidad en tiempo real y una lista de espera.

PRIESTS' RETREAT: "Speak Lord, your Servants are Listening"
2025-11-10 15:00 - 2025-11-14 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
St. Benedict begins the prologue to his rule with the admonition, “Open the ear of your heart”. At this moment in our journey together as Church, we are called more than ever to listen deeply to the Spirit – the quiet whisper of our God speaking within our hearts.
The centerpiece for this retreat will be Listening Together: Meditations on Synodality by Timothy Radcliffe, O.P.
*(Priest ONLY Retreat)

Presenter: FR. JOSEPH BRENNAN, OSB has been a monk of Valyermo since 1994 after having served as a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for over 20 years. He is a spiritual director at the Cardinal Manning House of Prayer for priests in Los Angeles as well as St. Andrew’s Sub-Prior.

*If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and a waiting list.

Silent Retreat
2025-11-15 15:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Do you long for a few days of emotional and spiritual tranquility? Are you looking for a few moments of silence in your life? Do you need to be alone with the Lord through meditation and contemplation? If this is what your heart desires, we invite you to our silent retreat in the small oasis offered by the Benedictine Community of the Abbey of Saint Andrew, located in Valyermo.
Remember that this silent retreat is an opportunity to pause along the way, to take some time to reflect, meditate, and internalize profound truths that cannot be clearly contemplated in the midst of noise and everyday life.

Presenter: Carlos Obando Obl., OSB, was born in Costa Rica and has lived in the United States since 1966. He is married with three children and three grandchildren. In 2009, he earned a Master’s degree in Pastoral Theology from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, and is an instructor at the School of Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese of Orange. He has been a Spiritual Director for over 25 years. He has worked with the Hispanic community since 1979 in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, training leaders and giving retreats for youth, adults, and married couples. He currently coordinates the Spiritual Exercises for Aspirants and their Wives through the Office of the Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

EXPLORING TEILHARD’S HUMAN PHENOMENON
2025-11-17 15:00 - 2025-11-21 10:00 | Saint Andrew’s Abbey, 31001 N. Valyermo Road, Valyermo, CA, 93563, United States
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s book The Human Phenomenon developed many fundamental scientific concepts of his evolutionary thinking. They provided the foundational ideas for his integration of evolution with Christian theology and spirituality. This retreat will explore connections between Teilhard’s evolutionary scientific ideas and his spirituality and theology.

Presenter: FR. STEPHEN COFFEY, OSB Cam is an ordained monk of the Camaldolese community of California. He is engaged in extensive retreat ministry as well as spiritual direction for priests, religious, and laity. He formerly served on the staff of Shalom Prayer Center.
