JESUIT RETREAT CENTER OF THE SIERRA

Jesuits and retreats have had a long association with one another. St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, is the patron saint of retreats. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius have provided countless retreatants the opportunity to encounter God in a highly personal way that for many has been a life-transforming experience. The mission of the Jesuit Retreat Center of the Sierra is to bring spirituality to life by offering people and organizations a special place to reflect, learn, recreate, and pray. The Center itself does not offer programs, but rather focuses on providing accommodations, meals, and meeting places in a beautiful and tranquil setting in which guests conduct their own programs. The Center is especially interested in serving the spiritual needs of people of modest means who would not otherwise be able to go on retreat. Unlike the majority of retreat facilities, the Center welcomes families with children.

The Jesuit Retreat Center of the Sierra serves as an affordable, family-friendly retreat center for Jesuit and primarily Catholic-affiliated groups. The Center is decidedly rustic, yet comfortable. Extensive remodeling of the chapel and dining room was completed in 2007, and a new meeting and confernce center has replaced an old lodge. With these improvements, the Center can better accommodate the Province’s Jesuit ministries and Catholic groups in California’s Central Valley.

LOCATION

The Jesuit Retreat Center of the Sierra is located just off Interstate Highway 80 next to the village of Applegate near the North Fork of the American River, about 50 miles northeast of Sacramento. Nestled in the foothills of California’s historic Gold Country, the Center is situated on 350 acres covered with oak and pine trees. It offers 4 miles of hiking trails overlooking the American River. The area provides a natural environment for rest, reflection, and spiritual renewal.

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AVAILABILITY

The Center is available by reservation for public use year-round with the exception of one week in August.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The Center can accommodate up to 120 people for day-use only and 72 overnight guests. Overnight meetings require a minimum of 22 people. Additional lodging and a hospital are available 8 miles away in the historic city of Auburn.

Oak Lodge

This newly built facility includes 12 rooms, each containing one double and one single bed, plus three conference rooms for meetings.

Redwood Lodge

On the second floor, there are 18 rooms, each containing two single beds. On the ground floor, there is a 3,000-square-foot conference/recreation room.

Gatehouse

This facility includes 5 rooms, each with one double and one single bed, plus a small conference room.

Creekside Cabin

The cabin has 2 rooms, each with two single beds.

MEETING FACILITIES

Conference Room

In addition to meeting facilities in the lodges and gatehouse, there is a free-standing 2,600-square-foot conference room that can accommodate 106 people. The building includes a small kitchen with a refrigerator but no stove.

Chapel

The 3,600-square-foot chapel holds 115 persons and can also be used to accommodate meetings.

CAFETERIA

The cafeteria with a full-service kitchen offers three freshly prepared meals each day.

COST

Weekend overnight rate is $150 per person based on double occupancy or $180 single occupancy, including five meals (dinner on Friday, three meals on Saturday, breakfast on Sunday). Lunch on Sunday costs extra.

Weekday overnight rate is $65.00 per person, including three meals.

Day-use rate is $15 per person, plus the cost of meals (breakfast $9.00, lunch $10.50, dinner $15.00).

COMMUNICATION

Wireless Internet is available.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For reservations and information, contact Ron Weingart, Resident Manager, by calling (530) 878-2776 or via e-mail appvilla@pacbell.net

Correspondence can be addressed to:

Jesuit Retreat Center of the Sierra
P.O. Box 128, 1001 Boole Rd.
Applegate, CA 95703