Santa Sabina Center

I really hate to knock this down even a star, but… with the introduction of Wi-​Fi and a new dorm built next door (for the Dominican University campus), the sanctuary feel has faded. I loved going there regularly last decade, but between the temptation of distraction and the very hard beds, it’s not for me anymore. Still, a convenient location for an urban retreat.

I went to their Holy Triduum retreat (Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday) and it was wonderful! Sister Patricia and Fr. Jude provided the spiritual sharings and services with their own experiences and they were very touching. The place is so beautiful — flowers, birds, trees, facilities, food (organic!), hermitage, praying room, chapel, library, grounds and surroundings. It was so peaceful. I felt so blessed and graced to be there and to have experienced the loving presence of God. I would highly recommend this place to someone needing some quiet time, upliftment and even spiritual celebration in your life!

Heaven. Just heaven. When you’re needing solitude, quiet, beauty, this is the place to go.

The fact is, this place used to be a nunnery, which at first may not seem like a plus (especially considering I spent 9 years in Catholic school). But after going to a weekend writing retreat here last summer, I have to say this is a beautiful, wonderful place to regain your inner sense of peace. While the first day of silence drove me a little cuckoo, by the next day I was in that Very Good Zen Place. There’s a library and multiple reading nooks, lots of garden-​y spaces, gurgling fountains, birds chirping, quotes from Buddha posted all over the walls, that kind of thing. It was lovely, lovely, lovely.
Not all retreats are silent ones, and they’re careful to schedule, say the silent writers with the silent gardeners, rather than the marching band or jazz choir groups (not that there were any of the latter there, I’m just hypothesizing). You can just sign up for a night or two for a really low rate of $ 75 (?), I think. Oh, and they FEED you, great organic food, a full meal of entrée, sides, dessert, beverages, 24 hour snacks and tea/​coffee (they have the coffee/​hot water urns in the lobby). It’s SO wonderful. Go to recharge and nourish, restore your faith in the universe.