The Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

General FAQ's

Silent Retreat FAQ's

Non-Silent Retreat FAQ's

Individually Directed Retreat FAQ's

Summer Extended Retreat FAQ's

Recovery (12-Step) Retreat FAQ's

Registration

How do I register?
There are several ways to register for a retreat:

  1. Online: select your retreat from the Retreats Offered page. Then select the blue Register online button. Upon completion, you’ll receive a confirmation of your retreat enrollment by email.
  2. Mail/Fax: download the appropriate form, then print and fill it out. Either mail or fax it to JRC. You’ll receive a confirmation of your retreat enrollment by mail. Fax number: 650-948-0640
  3. Phone: call The Jesuit Retreat Center, 650-948-4491, during business hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You’ll receive a confirmation of your retreat enrollment by mail.
When is the retreat balance due?
As your deposit is paid upon registration, the retreat balance can be paid at any time prior to, or upon arrival to the retreat. Cash, checks or credit cards are welcome. (MasterCard, VISA, or Discover)

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Is there a reduction of price if a room is shared?
Sorry, there is no reduction of price to those who share a room.
What are the Retreat Center office hours?
Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. – noon; 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

General FAQ's

What are typical retreat activities?
Our retreats typically include presentations (offering material for and guidance in prayer), time for silent reflection and meditation, opportunity for a personal conference with one of our Jesuit or lay spiritual directors, and communal prayer (Masses, a Service of Reconciliation with opportunity for sacramental Confession, and more.)

Some retreats, usually those indicated as non-silent, may include interactive presentations or occasions for focused conversation among groups of retreatants.

Depending on the topic of the retreat and format of the retreat (e.g., whether silent or non-silent), the retreat activities may vary.

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Do I need to be Catholic?
Adults of all faiths and walks of life are invited to encounter God and to grow in relationship with Christ here at the Retreat Center. Our mission is to offer the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola to all, so all our retreats incorporate the wisdom of the Exercises and invite the retreatant to share in the Gospel spirituality of the Exercises. Many of our retreatants represent religious traditions other than Catholic, and many who are not Christian have found a welcome opportunity for spiritual renewal here.

Should you have further questions, kindly contact us , phone 650-948-4491.
What do you offer in retreats for married couples?
Our retreats for married couples (usually two retreats each year) invite each couple, and the group as a whole, into prayer and sharing, reflecting on the spiritual gift and invitation of Christian marriage, the privileged encounter with Christ in one’s spouse. These retreats are tailored for and open to those couples united by the sacrament of Matrimony in the Catholic tradition.
What are the rooms like?
Each retreatant is assigned a private room en suite. You will find our bedrooms simple yet comfortable, ready to welcome you, with blankets, fresh sheets and towels, a writing table with chair, a small closet, and a Bible.  Each room has a shower; no room has a bathtub. (Retreatants may ask to share a room.) Although not air-conditioned, most rooms are equipped with a ceiling fan.

All room assignments are planned prior to your arrival. If you have a special need or preference for your accommodations, please advise us when you register.

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What kind of meals are served?
Freshly prepared, seasonally appropriate and generously ample meals are created under the skillful guidance of our Executive Chef, trained at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and in Germany. The meals are served buffet-style in our dining room, which offers a panoramic view of the San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley.

If you require a special diet, please inform us when you register. We try to meet our retreatants’ needs and expectations.
Are snacks available?
Coffee, tea, ice water and juice, fruit and other snacks (often fresh-baked cookies or scones) are available in the main Dining Room from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Bottled water, sodas and snacks are available 24/7 from vending machines on the courtyard exterior of the O’Mara Conference Room.
What are the grounds like?
The Jesuit Retreat Center is situated on 38 wooded acres secluded in the serene, picturesque hills above Los Altos. The Retreat Center's peaceful setting enhances prayer, reflection and inner healing. Colorful scented gardens, the calming Adobe Creek, and tree-lined trails with spectacular views provide solitude for resting or walking.

The outdoor Stations of the Cross, Rosary Walk, and other shrines provide an opportunity to pray and to meditate close to nature. Rossi Chapel, Mary’s Room and the Montserrat Chapel afford quiet spaces for contemplation. See photos

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What is the smoking policy?
Because of high fire danger and for the health, comfort and safety of our guests, smoking is restricted to the covered walk in the central courtyard, adjacent to Loyola Hall. Smoking of cigars is not allowed.
What cell phone etiquette is the norm?
To maintain the tranquil retreat atmosphere that fosters interior silence and awareness, we restrict the use of cell phones to the main dining room when that space is not in use. We ask that other Retreat Center spaces, indoor or outdoor, be respected as a “cell phone free” zone and that cell phones be kept off.
What should I wear?
Casual clothing is appropriate. Since the weather can be varied here, even in the course of a single day, we recommend that you bring a few layers so that you can be comfortable even if the days are quite warm and the evenings quite cool. You may bring comfortable shoes so that you can enjoy walking our trails. Winter rains can sometimes be generous, so check the forecast!
What should I bring?
You are welcome to bring your favorite Bible (a Bible is provided in each room), a journal, an alarm clock, a flashlight, personal toiletries, and any prescription medications you may need. (A small refrigerator is available just outside the main Dining Room should you need to chill any medicines.)  Downtown Los Altos is a pleasant half-mile walk away, should you need to pick up any item you may have forgotten. You are welcome to bring your own bottled water or buy it from the vending machines available 24/7.
Is there a bookstore at the Retreat Center?
Yes. You are welcome to reserve a few minutes of your time here to browse through our well-stocked bookstore. Many of our retreatants find it a valuable resource, as the books have been selected to help retreatants to deepen their relationship with Christ and broaden their lives of discipleship in the world.

Books can also be purchased online.

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Can I be contacted in an emergency?
Yes. Contact information will be provided on the first day of your retreat.
What time should I arrive for weekend retreats?
For weekend retreats, registration takes place between 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
 
Directions from Hwy 280 and Hwy 101

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What we are not.
We are not a spa center. As such, we do not have a pool, sauna, or hot tub. We do not offer massage as a part of any of our retreats or other programs. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

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Silent Retreat FAQ's

What do you mean by "silent retreat?"
Most of us are aware that we live in noisy and distracting times. Exterior and interior silence can help us to open our attention to the whispers of God—and of our own most authentic selves—in our minds and hearts. We invite our retreatants to enjoy here and to provide for one another the exterior silence (of word, gesture, and even glance) that fosters interior silence. On our "silent retreats," this silent time begins after dinner the first evening and continues until lunch on the final day. On our "non-silent retreats," silent times are specified in the retreat schedule.

Non-Silent Retreat FAQ's

What do you mean by "non-silent retreat?"
"Non-silent retreats" may include some times of silence set aside for private prayer. In addition to presentations and liturgies, there may be small group discussion, and there will be opportunity for talking between presentations and at meals. Often retreatants find a “non-silent retreat” ideal for a first-time experience of a retreat.

Individually Directed Retreats FAQ's

How long are individually directed retreats?
Individually directed retreats are ordinarily arranged for as few as three days and as many as eight.
How do I book an individually directed retreat?
Individually directed retreats are booked through Carmel Smith at 650-917-4047 or csmith@jrclosaltos.org. Booking is possible only when we have both space and a director available, so we recommend booking individually-directed retreats well in advance.
How often do I meet with my director?
Ordinarily, you meet with your director once a day, for up to one hour.
What time should I arrive?
We encourage retreatants to arrive when the office is open: 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Other arrangements may be made prior to your arrival.
What time should I vacate my room?
In general, we ask that rooms be vacated by 10 a.m. It is sometimes possible to make other arrangements in advance.
Is there Mass/Eucharist every day?
Mass is available each day for the retreatants who are here.

During most of the year, Mass is celebrated every morning at 7:00 a.m. in Mary’s Room (adjacent to Rossi Chapel) and Monday-Thursday at 5:15 p.m. in Rossi Chapel. Other weekend Mass times depend on the schedule of particular retreats.

During summer and at certain other points in the yearly calendar, that schedule can be interrupted.

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Summer Extended Retreats

What about the 8-day and 36-day retreat programs?
Our summer offerings include a 36-day program (a 30-day silent retreat complemented by four introductory days and two integration days) and three 8-day retreats. Individual direction is provided daily for each retreatant. Since these retreats are longer and more focused, we accept retreatants only through an application and approval process.
Are there laundry facilities for these longer retreats?
Yes, there are laundry facilities available.Laundry supplies are provided; donations are welcome.
For more information:
Online see: 8-day retreats or 36-day retreats or contact us to request information by mail.
Please note that the deposit and balance due dates differ from those of the weekend retreats noted above. Information can be found on the application forms, available on the links above.

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Recovery (12-step) Retreats

Does recovery refer only to recovery from Alcohol?
The Recovery Retreats we offer are of two types, one oriented mainly to those in A.A., the other to those in Al-Anon. Even so, members of other 12-step programs are welcome to share in our Recovery Retreats.
Are the retreat directors in recovery?
The retreat presenters are in recovery, as are many of the retreat team members who are available for personal conferences.
Do we need the Big Book or the 12X12 (for A.A.) or Courage to Change or Paths to Recovery (for Al-Anon)?
The retreat directors present the participants with the materials necessary for the retreat. You may want to bring foundational 12-Step books for your personal use during the retreat.
Are the meetings open during the retreat?
The meetings are open, but only to the retreatants registered to the retreat.
I want to go with a number of people from my home group – can you put us in nearby rooms?
We try to accommodate the room requests of a group. It is easier to do so if the group members register at about the same time and well in advance of the retreat. Otherwise, it is not as likely that we will be able to offer you rooms in close proximity.

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