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
