• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center

Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center

Mater Dolorosa Logo
  • About
    • Welcome & Mission
    • Team
    • Covid Policy
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Bookstore/Gift Shop
    • The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
    • Safety
    • Housing Development Project
  • Retreats
    • Retreat Signup
    • Retreat Theme
    • Retreat Guide
      • Retreat Payment
      • Retreat Groups
      • Retreat Group Photos
      • Captain’s Corner
    • Married Couples Retreats
    • Young Adult Retreats
    • Individual Retreats
    • Recovery & 12 Step Retreats
    • FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
  • News & Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Fiesta
    • Eaton Fire Updates
    • Solar 
    • Stations of the Cross
    • LARCC
    • Passionist Daily Reflections
  • En Español
    • Retiro para Hombres
    • Retiros Para Mujeres
  • Facilities
    • Facility Information
    • Facility Inquiry
    • Visit Mater Dolorosa
    • Photo Gallery
    • Contact Us
  • Support Us
    • Donate Now
    • Donate Monthly
    • Century Club  
    • Other Ways to Give
      • Sponsorship Circle
      • Bequests/Planned Gifts
      • Solar 
      • Food Ministry
      • Memorial Gifts
      • Prayer Cards
      • Volunteer
      • Ralph’s and Food 4 Less
      • Matching Gifts
      • Donate Your Vehicle
      • Harvest on the Hill
DeLoor postEaton
DeLoor3

Picture credits: Ricardo Solda, Marta Salgado-Niño, Katie Twomey, and Fr. Febin Barose, C.P.

Donate Today

May 5, 2025 - Eaton Fire Recovery Update: A Milestone Reached

"We continue our Journey of Hope under the Shadow of the Cross."

We are filled with gratitude and joy as we share a significant milestone in our recovery from the Eaton Fire: DeLoor Hall has been rebuilt!

DeLoor Hall, one of the structures lost to the fire, is once again ready to welcome retreatants, serve as our registration center, and gatherings.

This moment would not have been possible without the generosity of our friends, donors, and supporters. Your prayers and contributions have carried us through. We especially thank Mike Rotolo, TG Construction, Inc., for their dedication and excellent work bringing DeLoor Hall back to life.

As we move forward, we remain hopeful and open to the blessings still to come. Thank you for walking with us on this journey.

Fr. Febin Barose, C.P.

February 14, 2025

Dear Friends,

One of the readings for this year's retreat season is from Romans 5:4, which states, “We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us for God’s love has been poured into our hearts.”

Our endurance during this challenging situation has instilled hope and reason to celebrate. We reopened our retreat center last Friday, February 7, one month after the Eaton fire devastation. We welcomed around 42 men for the weekend retreat, our first after the fire.  This reaffirmed our mission statement to provide a peaceful environment for prayer and reflection.

I want to highlight the indoor and outdoor measures we implemented to ensure the safety and comfort of guests before reopening. We completed extensive cleaning and restoration at the retreat center, including using air scrubbers to remove soot and ash, thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces and furnishings, and servicing HVAC systems with new filters. Mattresses, bedding, drapes, and towels were replaced or sanitized, and the kitchen underwent deep cleaning. The City of Sierra Madre certified the water as safe for use. Fire-damaged structures have been secured, walkways repaired, and lighting restored. The affected gardens are being cleared. These efforts create a safe and welcoming environment for all visitors. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Here are a couple of comments from the retreatants after the reopening:

“The bedroom was very neat and clean. The shower was nice and hot, and walking the environment, even amongst the charred grounds, was very peaceful.”

“I commend the retreat team for being resilient and forward thinking in allowing the retreats to go on in spite of the fires. Sempre Adelante, as St. Juniper Serra would say!”

Now, we are excited to announce that we are fully reopening and invite you to a special Homecoming event on Ash Wednesday, March 5. Our staff and volunteers will lead you to receive ashes, pray the Stations of the Cross, and visit the grounds after the fire.

After completing the cleaning and clearing process, we are moving forward to rebuild what we lost. As we progress, we are reminded of the words of St. Paul: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). We can’t thank all those who have supported us enough. With your continued support, we can ensure this sacred ground remains a beacon of hope for future generations.

On this Valentine’s Day, may we be reminded that God’s love is the foundation of all love—a love that strengthens, sustains, and never fails. May His love continue to unite us as we rebuild, bringing hope and renewal to our hearts and community.

Hope does not disappoint us; a journey of hope under the shadow of the Cross continues.

May the Passion of Christ be always in our hearts!


Fr. Febin Barose, C.P., Ed.D.
Retreat Center Director and Director of Ministry

Additional Photos
PHOTO-2025-01-19-15-53-48-2

January 23, 2025 Retreat Center Update

Read More
5d0c0ed4-3a62-40d2-b963-f6e01e86cb88

January 14, 2025 Retreat Center Update

Read More
EatonFire2025

January 8, 2025 Retreat Center Update

Read More

Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center

700 N. Sunnyside Avenue Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Directions
626.355.7188 Phone
626.355.0485 Fax
materdolorosa@materdolorosa.org
Privacy Policy
SecurityMetrics Credit Card Safe

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About Us

Calendar of Events

Donate

Captain’s Corner

Team

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

Privacy Policy