For 60 years, the Vallombrosa Retreat Center in Menlo Park has provided a place of refuge for people who want to get away from the hubbub of their daily lives. Owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, which covers three Bay Area counties, the center originated as a facility for women but now hosts more than 10,000 women and men a year, said Vallombrosa’s program director Sister Rosina Conratto.
Nestled on Oak Grove Avenue among trees from all over the world, Vallombrosa, which literally means “shady glen,” has emerged as a haven for not only religious groups but also nonprofit and educational organizations.
“I see Vallombrosa as a little treasure, a center for prayer, reflection learning, and growing, hidden in the Silicon Valley and the beauty of Menlo Park,” said Father Patrick LaBelle, a new director of the center.
On Sept. 15 and 16, Vallombrosa invites the public to celebrate its 60-year anniversary with a special benefit dinner and a jubilee liturgy.
Previous directors of the Vallombrosa Retreat Center, including Monsignor Eugene Boyle, Monsignor Warren Holleran and Father Tom Madden, will be honored at the benefit dinner, which will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. and will be preceded by a social at 6 p.m.
Displays of photographs and other memorabilia will be showcased. Proceeds from the dinner will support the current programs and future needs of the center.
On Sunday, Sept. 16, Archbishop George Niederauer will deliver a jubilee liturgy at 11 a.m., which will be followed by a blessing of a new memorial fountain at noon. The Vallombrosa Retreat Association, a volunteer group that supports the center, donated the fountain a few months ago. An open house with refreshments will follow the liturgy and blessing.
A center for women
In 1947, the Archdiocese of San Francisco purchased 17 acres around the area of Oak Grove Avenue in Menlo Park. At the time, the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos was only providing retreats for men, and the Archbishop wanted to create a facility for women, said Sister Rosina.
On Dec.7, 1947, Archbishop John Mitty dedicated the Vallombrosa Retreat Center for the use of women in the then 13 counties in the San Francisco Archdiocese.
Every weekend, retreats would take place for women of the Catholic parishes and organizations such as altar societies, mothers’ clubs and the Young Ladies Institute.
These events were held in the old mansion on the property, built during the Civil War period by Edward Hopkins, the nephew of railroad tycoon Mark Hopkins.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the on-site mansion was renovated and additional buildings were constructed. The “administration” building, which includes a library, dining room and meeting rooms, was built along with 40 double occupancy rooms for retreat goers, said Sister Rosina. These renovations were partly funded by the sale of seven acres of the original property for the site of Nativity School, which is still located at 1250 Laurel St.
Welcoming more
With demographic and sociological changes in the 1970s, the mission of Vallombrosa shifted from serving only women, Sister Rosina noted. The center began running programs for men and women, and started to allow the use of the facilities by outside ecumenical groups, as well as educational and nonprofit organizations.
Various workshops and programs, such as a cancer support group, were made available at Vallombrosa. In addition, the center became the site for retreats for the priests of the archdiocese.
In February 1999, the center hosted a special visitor: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. He stayed in the old mansion for several days while attending a meeting with doctrinal officials from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Today, the retreat spot can occupy up to 100 people at a time. Sister Rosina notes that many groups like to come to the center because they find they are more productive “off site.”
“And there’s always good food,” she adds. “That’s something we’re known for.”
INFORMATION
• To celebrate Vollombrosa’s 60th anniversary, a benefit dinner will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the retreat center, located at 250 Oak Grove Ave. in Menlo Park. It will be preceded by a reception at 6 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $150.
• On Sunday, Sept. 16, a jubilee liturgy will be delivered at 11 a.m.; the public is welcome to attend at no cost. To make reservations for the benefit dinner or the Jubilee liturgy, call 325-5614. For more information about the Vallombrosa Center, go to vallombrosa.org.
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