Nestled in the majestic Santa Cruz Mountains on 48 acres of magnificent redwood forest, St. Clare’s Retreat has opened wide its doors to generations of retreatants – located in picturesque Soquel – in the Diocese of Monterey. St. Clare’s is owned and operated by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows – now over 70 years – and is the arena for their apostolic ministry in California.
Enjoy the welcoming warmth from the Sisters – experiencing the best in Franciscan hospitality from the moment you arrive until your departure. Our retreatants are family which makes this retreat house extra special! Come and enjoy our comfortable and affordable accommodations on this spectacular hillside retreat property!
Retreatants will find our Holy Spirit Chapel as the very “heart, soul, and center” of this retreat house overlooking the redwoods. There you will find the Divine Presence awaiting you. In the words of Pope John XXIII in praise of the retreat movement:
“…and let us ask God to continue to make it a blessed oasis of prayer and recollection where, in the light of the Blessed Sacrament, all may attain peace, serenity, comfort and spiritual refreshment, renewal and pardon, and holy resolutions to persevere in faithfulness to the Divine Law.”
Breathe in the beauty of nature around you in this most contemplative setting so conducive to raising one’s mind, heart, and soul to God! Out of Infinite Love, God created this mountain setting as an “island of peace in a troubled world” – desiring to pour abundant graces upon all who enter its gates!