Journey of Hope Continues: July 2026 Recovery & Rebuilding Update
A New Beginning: Office Wing Blessing
"In the Cross is our hope." - St. Paul of the Cross
Nearly a year and a half after the Eaton Wildfire changed the landscape of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, we continue to witness God's faithful presence through the generosity of so many people, the dedication of our staff and love and care of our friends and retreatants. Every completed project is more than a construction milestone. It is a visible sign that "Hope does not disappoint us."
This month marked a significant milestone in our recovery as we celebrate the completion of our newly restored and renovated Office Wing. Our office staff is moving back into their permanent offices after a year and a half in temporary office space. Thanks to the excellent architectural work of Peter Mitsakos and his team at West Edge Architects, Jon Van Dyke and his team at Vancrest Construction, and Janet Selinske our project manager. It was a pleasure working with them, and they were so cooperative in integrating our spirit and vibe of Mater Dolorosa in their work.
On Thursday, July 2, 2026, we gathered to bless this renewed space, giving thanks to God for bringing us to this important milestone. The blessing marked more than just the opening of an office building; it was a celebration of hope, perseverance, and the countless prayers and acts of generosity that have sustained our ministry throughout this journey.
Rebuilding for the Future
Planning continues for the reconstruction of the South Building and related facilities. West Edge Architects has completed the draft Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which is currently under review with the City of Sierra Madre. We continue working collaboratively with city officials to seek a path that allows us to rebuild these essential facilities while remaining good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.
Restoring Our Sacred Grounds
The healing of our retreat center extends beyond buildings. Work will soon begin on repairing the irrigation throughout the Stations of the Cross, allowing replacement landscaping to move forward once water service is fully restored. Preparations are also underway for repairs to the Garden of the Seven Sorrows and the Amphitheater, both of which sustained significant fire damage.
The Monastery Gardens continue to present unique challenges after both the wildfire and subsequent utility work affected the irrigation system. We are working closely with Toll Brothers to explore temporary water solutions until permanent irrigation becomes available. Although much work remains, detailed landscape and irrigation plans are ready so that restoration can begin as soon as reliable water service is restored.
Work is also progressing on improvements to the Fiesta Grounds, where preparations are underway to create much-needed additional storage space that will better support our retreat operations.
Walking Forward Together
As Passionists, we believe that the Cross is never the end of the story. The wounds left by the fire continue to remind us of our vulnerability, but they also reveal God's enduring faithfulness and the extraordinary generosity of our benefactors, volunteers, retreatants, and friends.
Every restored building, every replanted garden, every repaired pathway, and every retreat welcomed back to Mater Dolorosa bears witness to the hope of the Resurrection. While much work still lies ahead, we move forward with confidence, trusting that the Lord who has guided us this far will continue to lead us into the future.
On behalf of our Passionist Community and the entire Mater Dolorosa family, thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and generous support. You remain an essential part of this Journey.
Fr. Febin Barose, C.P., Ed.D.
Executive Director and Director of Mission and Ministry
January 7, 2026
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year!
One year has passed since the Eaton Fire, an event that, at the time, was frightening, overwhelming, and filled with uncertainty. Today, as we look back, we recognize how far we have come. Over this past year, we have moved from fear to faith, from uncertainty to hope, and from distress to peace. We did not merely survive; we continued the journey with courage, resilience, and renewed trust in God. We stand stronger and more hopeful than ever.
This past year has reminded us that the Cross is not foolishness, but the wisdom of God revealed in each moment to those who have eyes to see and hearts open to grace.
I offer my sincere gratitude to each of you for making this recovery journey smooth, meaningful, and fruitful. The outpouring of prayers, encouragement, and generosity we received from so many has been truly humbling. The journey of recovery under the shadow of the Cross continues, and Mater Dolorosa would not be what it is today without your steadfast support.
We are making steady progress on the reconstruction of the office wing. The recent heavy rains also posed challenges. While unexpected expenses have arisen, as they often do, we are no longer afraid. Our focus has shifted to restoring the essential functions we lost in the South Building. We are in the process of permanently relocating our maintenance and laundry facilities to the Fiesta Grounds area. Landscaping restoration is underway, including irrigation and lighting, and there will be some adjustments as our gates move further up the hill to recreate and enhance Mater Dolorosa's beautiful entrance. We are also delighted to share that our solar project is nearing completion, allowing us to power Mater Dolorosa with clean, renewable energy.
Today, Mater Dolorosa stands beautiful, proud, and strong.
As we look ahead to 2026, we do so not with fear, but with hope, a hope that does not disappoint. In this new year, we are ready to welcome you, our retreatants, friends, and all who seek renewal to these sacred grounds.
May the Passion of Christ be always in our hearts.
Fr. Febin Barose, C.P., Ed.D.
Retreat Center Director and Director of Ministry
December 2025
Although the main Retreat Center building was largely spared by the Eaton Fire, our administrative offices were damaged; we're excited to start the remodel of the administrative wing! The project is estimated to take 4 - 5 months to complete. Staff has been using converted retreatant bedrooms this year and we are looking forward to being in proper offices again! It will take several years to fully recover, but this is a major step forward. Thank you for your continued prayers for Mater Dolorosa's fire recovery!
October 2025
It has been 11 months since the devastating Eaton fire changed everything in an instant. Each day, we are making impressive progress in rebuilding what was lost, focusing on the future with renewed hope and purpose. Under the steady presence of the cross, we are moving forward together, embodying resilience and unity.
On behalf of the entire Mater Dolorosa community, I want to sincerely thank each of you. Your generous gifts of time, talent, and treasure, along with your unwavering prayers, have made an immense difference throughout this challenging year. Your support has not only been motivating but also intensely uplifting. Together, we're creating something more than just mere structures; we're fostering a vibrant community filled with love, strength, and hope. Let's keep this incredible journey going!
Cleanup and rebuilding are progressing well; we repaired DeLoor Hall this spring and are planning to start several large projects soon. We just received permits to begin rebuilding our administrative offices and hope to start shortly.
As you may know, much of our outdoor space was damaged: irrigation lines were melted underground, electrical lines were destroyed, and many plants and trees died. We are working with a landscape architect to replant with fire-resistant, drought-tolerant plants and trees that comply with the new fire codes.
Insurance and disaster assistance have helped us begin repairs, but they will not cover most of our outdoor repairs. Century Club membership funds outdoor fire recovery projects, as well as ongoing needs such as replacing vehicles and installing solar-powered energy systems (MaterDolorosa.org/Solar). Please become a member of our Century Club today to help rebuild and maintain our beautiful, peaceful grounds!
You can join or renew your Century Club membership by visiting MaterDolorosa.org/Century-Club. Please feel free to contact our Development Director, Melanie Goodyear, with any questions at 626-355-7188 x103. Thank you so much for your support in so many ways!
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. Febin Barose, C.P.
Retreat Center Director & Director of Ministry
Eaton Fire Recovery Update: From Challenges to Dreams Achieved and Still to Come…
"To provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isaiah 61:3)
We continue our Journey of Hope under the Shadow of the Cross. It is always uplifting when someone says, "This place looks like it never even happened." These words are a testament to the incredible progress we've made after the fire, thanks to the grace of God and the support of our community.
We have cleared a significant amount of burned brush and trimmed the trees throughout our grounds. Although challenges remain-particularly in restoring irrigation, lighting, and planning-we continue our commitment to return our sacred grounds to their full beauty and peace.
We are especially happy to share that our beloved statues have been restored. Take a look at St. Paul of the Cross-he now wears a polished, renewed Passionist habit, gleaming with hope and resilience.
The restructuring of our office spaces is progressing well and remains on track. We humbly ask for your prayers for the successful and safe completion of this project.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun debris removal from the South Building and other fire-damaged areas. We are deeply grateful for their dedicated service. We are also working closely with FEMA to support our long-term restoration goals.
We stand in solidarity with others who are navigating similar challenges. Disasters bring pain and loss, but they also reveal the healing and helping hands of God-hands that never tire of lifting us up and carrying us forward.
Thank you to all who love, pray for, and support Mater Dolorosa during this time. Your generosity and faith sustain us. We continue to walk forward-step by step, in faith.
Let us also keep the people of Texas in our prayers.
May the Passion of Christ be always in our hearts.
Fr. Febin Barose, C.P.
Picture credits: Ricardo Solda, Marta Salgado-Niño, Katie Twomey, and Fr. Febin Barose, C.P.
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
January 23, 2025 Retreat Center Update
January 14, 2025 Retreat Center Update
