In celebration of Mercy Center’s 40th Anniversary, we present to you Summer At The Center, a 1-2 week long program where you can immerse yourself in an environment rich with the wisdom of spiritual traditions.

Find Your Center

Summer Spiritual Formation

Join us this summer for one week or two and immerse yourself in an environment rich with the wisdom of spiritual traditions.

In-Person at Mercy Center

Mercy Center is a retreat and conference center that provides experiences in meditation, prayer, spirituality, and spiritual formation. We are located on 40 beautiful acres in Burlingame, in the San Francisco Bay Area with a labyrinth and walking paths open to the public.

People of all faith traditions who seek to deepen their experience of spirituality in their own personal life and/or ministry are invited to attend.

The week-long “Summer at the Center’ retreats will provide the opportunity to enter deeply into reflection through daily workshops, rest, and self-discovery.

Beginners and experienced spiritual seekers are welcome.

**Ticket for one person includes the program itself, meals, and lodging. *All participants must be fully vaccinated for COVID 19 and follow our on-site COVID protocol**

Week 1

July 10-15

Week 1: July 10-15 Spiritual Direction

Themes in spiritual direction.

  • Keynote Address: Janet Ruffing, RSM
  • Spiritual Conversations with Children – Lacy Finn Borgo, DMin
  • Remembering What You Never Knew: Discovering Your Ancestral Legacies – Paula Parker
  • Spirituality and Social Justice – Rabbi Amy Eilberg
  • Exploring Your Visual Voice With Abstract Art – Jen Norton
  • Levanté 1 Video Retreat – Michael Fish
  • Taize Prayer

Week 2

July 17-22

Week 2: July 17-22 spiritual Practices

Practical workshops to deepen your spiritual practices and learn something new.

  • Keynote Address: Ana Maria Pineda, RSM
  • Christ of the Forest: Spiritual Practice for Earth Connection – Mary Frohlich, RSCJ
  • The Art of Sacred Words: Writing as Spiritual Practice – Debie Thomas
  • The Spirituality of Dignity – Jon Metz, PhD
  • Levanté 1 Video Retreat – Michael Fish
  • Guest Presentation: Western and Eastern Spirituality: The Book of Job and Ten Ox Herding Pictures – Gabrielle Lou
  • Guest Presentation: Haunted by God: The Life of Dorothy Day – Lisa Wagner-Carollo
  • Taize Prayer

Additional Topics, Descriptions, and Presenters TBA

Guests may choose to attend for either week or both weeks.

Schedule – (All times Pacific)

  • Sunday, arrive after 3:00pm, Dinner at 6:00pm, Retreat Opening begins at 7:00pm

  • Monday -Thursday Daily Workshops from 9am-Noon and 3pm-6pm

  • Optional Evening Gatherings 7-8:30pm

  • Friday Workshop Wrap-ups 9:00am-10:00am and 10:15-11:15am Closing Gathering at 11:30am followed by Lunch

Learning Grants Applications are available upon request at mc@sistersofmercy.org

Our Location

Looking to extend your stay after the retreat? Mercy Center is located only 10 minutes away from San Francisco International Airport, which means we are located in the middle of all the fun! Here are some vacation destinations we have compiled that you may want to add to your bucket list of places to visit while you are here.

Golden Gate Bridge
One of the most famous and beautiful bridges in the world because of its spectacular location, graceful lines, Art Deco detailing, and emblematic color. Today it is San Francisco's #1 tourist attraction, located 45 minutes away!
Lombard Street
Take a drive on San Francisco's most crooked street. Thanks to its famous hairpin bends, it is perhaps one of the most photographed streets in the world, located 40 minutes away!
Muir Woods
Want to get away from the busy city life? Go for a hike and enjoy the nature at Muir Woods, about an hour away from us!
Pacifica Beach
Looking forward to some summer fun? Visit Pacifica beach, it's only 30 minutes away from us!
Palace of Fine Arts
A monumental structure originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in order to exhibit works of art. Completely rebuilt from 1964 to 1974, it is the only structure from the Exposition that survives on site. Located 45 minutes away!
Painted Ladies
A collection of colorful Victorian and Edwardian style houses in the city. They are a wonderful expression of the fashion and history of the Bay Area, located 35 minutes away.
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