The Diocesan Youth Retreat Center is nestled in the hills of Lafayette.

By Jacqueline Gilvard Landry
Voice correspondent

It’s only about 17 miles from the main office of the Oakland Diocese in downtown Oakland to the diocese’s Youth Retreat Center in Lafayette, but it feels like it’s a world away.

“It’s a little slice of heaven,” said Tim O’Hara, the center’s manager.

Set in the hills behind Queen of Heaven Cemetery, the center’s Spanish-style ranch house sits on 20 acres looking out at Mt. Diablo. Reportedly the one-time summer home of a wealthy San Francisco shipping family, the adobe building is now the stomping grounds for Confirmation groups, teen ministry programs, and scout troops.

“These kids are just fabulous. They love it here,” said O’Hara, who became caretaker in May after retiring from the Clayton Police Department.

Five cabins, each accommodating 12 to 15 people, are scattered throughout the property.

The teak-beamed living room and bedrooms of the original adobe house are now meeting and break-out rooms, and there is a commercial kitchen and dining area.
Nearby, five 12- to 15-person cabins—one is accessible to the disabled—line the road to a swimming pool. Hiking trails, a basketball court and an open-air stage surround five camp sites.

One repeat customer is Teena Posas, the youth ministry director for St. Joseph Parish in Pinole. For nine years she has been bringing high school students and college chaperones here for Confirmation preparation and peer ministry retreats.

Posas said features like the “cozy dining room” and “down to earth” feel of the main house are conducive to getting the teens to open up during retreat sessions. “Here, youth can focus on faith and grow as a community,” she said.

And the pool and basketball courts don’t hurt. “By Sunday a lot of them are saying ‘I’m not ready to go home,’” Posas said.

Eighth-graders Rosemary Cook and Ashley Westerland take a walk on one of the retreat center’s many paths and trails.

O’Hara, a parishioner at St. Bonaventure in Concord, stressed that priority booking goes to youth groups in the diocese, but the center is not restricted to youth, or even Catholic groups.

To draw in and accommodate more users, especially during the week, O’Hara wants to expand the facilities. “There’s a ton of property and a ton of potential,” he said.

Priorities are a chapel, more cabins and meeting rooms, and an all-weather playing field, he said, adding that working on these and other improvements would be great Eagle Scout and youth projects.

O’Hara would also like to replace the tattered carpet and teen-sullied chairs and sofas in the meeting areas, and said he would gladly come to pick up donated
furniture or carpet. Speaking of which, he said, “We also need a pick-up truck.”
Bill Ford, diocesan CYO director and a board member for the retreat center, said the diocese put about $1 million into renovating the property so youth would have their own place for retreats. It opened in 1984.

“The real value in it,” Ford said, is that “it makes a statement to youth that they are important to the Church.”

Weekend rates start at $75 per person, plus $35 per day per group for use of the kitchen. Most weekends are booked, O’Hara said, but there are always cancellations. For rates and availability, call (925) 934-5802.

ABOVE: The retreat center has a swimming pool, basketball court and five camp sites. RIGHT: Four eighth graders (from left) Rosemary Cook, Kyle Spangenberg, Ashley Westerland and Antonio Costa sit outside the main building.

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