Protect the El Retiro Campus from invaders

The Centennial Mass Celebration, a new gala, plus all the wonderful retreats has made for quite a 100th anniversary year for El Retiro — The Jesuit Retreat Center.

In a letter that he sent a few weeks ago, Fr. Chi Ngo, S.J., El Retiro Executive Director, wrote that in this Jubilee Year of Hope, we celebrate this Easter as pilgrims of hope, filled with gratitude and joy. Our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, who has returned to the Lord, left an enduring legacy with his inspired vision of hope, so poignant in a world of uncertainty, chaos, and fear. We are reminded that we are an Easter people, filled with love and hope, called to walk humbly together in the light of Christ.

“El Retiro’s first 100 years enshrined a rich history and thousands of stories of retreatants and their families. As we look to the next 100 years, we are filled with enduring hope, joy, and purpose,” he said.

He also warned of some small insidious invaders that are threatening the Retreat Center. Termites are eating away at the structure of all the buildings in this sacred space.

While all is not dire, El Retiro is asking for help to raise $75,000 to pay for termite tenting. Any donation will be invaluable in protecting our beloved campus, starting with Rossi Chapel, the Hermitage, and Marini Hall as the first set of buildings being fumigated.

You may donate online by clicking Protect the El Retiro Campus or by mailing a check to

The Jesuit Retreat CenterProtect the El Retiro Campus

PERC*

300 Manresa Way

Los Altos, CA 94022

El Retiro welcomes contributions in any amount of cash, securities, pension allocations, negotiable real estate, and estate gifts.

Together we will secure our Chapel and other El Retiro buildings before the damage is too extensive and costly. Please help us preserve our beautiful spiritual oasis as we begin our new century.

Click 100th Anniversary Pictures to view from our Centennial Mass Celebration, which took place on March 15, 2025. These images memorialize the joy of the day as we celebrated a century of offering The Spiritual Exercises to generations of people who desired a deeper relationship with God.

*Protect the El Retiro Campus