Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center

What Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center does

Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center is a nonprofit Catholic retreat center located at 700 N. Sunnyside Avenue, Sierra Madre, California, situated on a 45-acre property at approximately 1,200 feet elevation in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Founded in 1924 and operated by the Passionists of Holy Cross Province, the center has hosted weekend retreats since 1926, making it the first Passionist monastery in Holy Cross Province built specifically for the men's retreat movement. The facility comprises 68 single and 20 double guest rooms (108 guests total, 3 ADA-accessible), four conference spaces (De Loor Hall, Founders Hall, Moran Library, Possenti Hall), a 106-seat chapel, Monastery Gardens (Garden of Seven Sorrows, Sacred Heart Plaza, Amphitheater), and a 14-station outdoor Stations of the Cross path.

The core offering is weekend spiritual retreats for men, women, married couples, young adults, and individuals in 12-step recovery, offered in both English and Spanish. Supporting programs include a youth segment under 18, individual private retreats, recovery and 12-step retreats facilitated by external recovery groups, a Food Ministry producing approximately 250 meals per week for St. Francis Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the Perpetual Prayer League. The center serves 10,000+ individuals annually, with Good Friday alone drawing 2,500–3,000 visitors. Distribution is direct: website registration, phone/email through the Weekend Retreat Coordinator, and group bookings via a parish captain and co-captain volunteer network.

The business model is donation-based and multi-stream. Earned revenue comes from retreat fees ($215/night hosted programs, $170/night private guests with meals, $315 suggested donation per weekend retreatant, $140/night students, $65/day-use with lunch) and bookstore/gift shop sales. The dominant revenue source is charitable contributions: one-time and recurring donations via Pushpay, the Sponsorship Circle and Century Club tiered annual memberships ($100–$10,000), memorial gifts, bequests and planned gifts, vehicle donations, and grocery community rewards programs (Ralphs, Food 4 Less). The center is a 501(c)(3) public charity with Federal tax ID 87-0758476, governed by a board and reporting to the Holy Cross Province Provincial Superior. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center

Legal name

Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Inc.

Website

https://materdolorosa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center is a 100-year-old Catholic retreat center in Sierra Madre, California, operated by the Passionists of Holy Cross Province. It serves 10,000+ individuals annually through weekend retreats, recovery programs, youth programs, and spiritual hospitality on a 45-acre, 108-guest facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Retreat Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Conference Retreat Hotels (THAGALAG)

Keywords

• Catholic retreat center
• Spiritual retreat programs
• Religious hospitality services
• Addiction recovery retreats
• Christian retreat ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Sierra Madre

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Retreat Fees: Weekend and individual retreat fees charged per person per night, including accommodations, meals, and program access. Revenue is recurring based on retreat schedule bookings.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Major revenue stream including one-time donations, monthly recurring donations via Pushpay, Century Club membership, Sponsorship Circle, memorial gifts, and bequests/planned gifts. Tax-deductible charitable donations supported by matching gift programs.
3. Food Ministry: Preparation and packaging of meals for St. Francis Center in Downtown Los Angeles, generating revenue through food donations and cost recovery.
4. Bookstore/Gift Shop Sales: Sale of prayer cards, religious items, and centennial merchandise through on-site bookstore.
5. Vehicle Donations: Acceptance of vehicle donations (cars, boats, motorcycles, trucks) with free towing and tax deduction benefit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center operates a 45-acre Catholic retreat facility in Sierra Madre, California, hosting spiritual retreat programs centered on the Passion of Jesus Christ. The center provides overnight accommodations for up to 108 guests, conference and meeting spaces, chapel access, and outdoor sacred gardens, offering weekend retreats for men, women, married couples, young adults, and individuals in recovery, delivered in English and Spanish. Revenue is generated through suggested retreat donations, recurring giving programs, an on-site bookstore/gift shop, a food ministry serving homeless clients, and various membership and sponsorship tiers.

Product overview

Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center offers a comprehensive suite of spiritual retreat programs and hospitality services at its 45-acre facility in Sierra Madre, CA. The core offering consists of weekend retreats for men, women, married couples, young adults, and recovery groups in both English and Spanish. Supporting facilities include overnight accommodations (108 guests), four conference spaces, a chapel, and outdoor sacred gardens. The center also operates community outreach programs including a Food Ministry and Perpetual Prayer League. Fundraising programs (Sponsorship Circle, Century Club) subsidize retreats for those with financial need. The center is part of the Los Angeles Retreat Center Community (LARCC) collaborative network and is currently undergoing major sustainability improvements including a solar energy project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weekend Retreats Three-day weekend retreats for men and women held throughout the year following Passionist traditions of preaching, hospitality, and compassion, with accommodation, meals, and spiritual programming included.
• Married Couples Retreats Weekend retreats specifically designed for married couples seeking spiritual growth and renewal together in a Passionist setting.
• Young Adult Retreats Retreats designed for young adults seeking spiritual nourishment and community in a Passionist setting.
• Individual Retreats Private time at the retreat center for personal spiritual reflection, available Monday through Thursday evenings based on space availability.
• Recovery & 12 Step Retreats Weekend retreats for individuals in addiction recovery programs, facilitated by recovery groups and available for both men and women throughout the year.
• Retiro para Hombres (Men's Spanish Retreat) Spanish-language men's retreat held during Lent (Triduo Pascual) and other seasons, providing spiritual programming in Spanish.
• Retiros Para Mujeres (Women's Spanish Retreat) Spanish-language women's retreat offered annually, providing spiritual programming in Spanish for Hispanic retreatants.
• Hosted Group Program Facility rental for organized groups including use of conference space, guest rooms, and dining, with a minimum of 20 persons for weeknights and 50 persons for weekends.
• Overnight Accommodations Guest rooms with private bathrooms including 68 single rooms and 20 double rooms (including 3 ADA accessible), accommodating up to 108 guests total.
• Conference Facilities Four conference spaces available for retreat and group use: De Loor Hall (up to 50 people), Founders Hall (up to 80 people), Moran Library (up to 12 people), and Possenti Hall (up to 106 overnight/150 day guests).
• Food Ministry Community outreach program preparing and donating nutritious meals, currently partnering with St. Francis Center in Downtown Los Angeles to provide approximately 250 meals per week to homeless clients.
• LARCC (Los Angeles Retreat Center Community) Collaborative regional network of six Catholic retreat centers in the Los Angeles area offering retreats and ministries across multiple campuses.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 10,000 individuals served annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• JNG PowercoreTechnology or IntegrationDeveloper and contractor for the large solar installation project. Handling construction of 448 solar panels across upper and lower parking lots, battery storage systems, and 4 EV charging stations. Total project cost approximately $1.3 million.
• TG Construction, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction company that rebuilt DeLoor Hall after it was damaged in the Eaton Fire. Credited for excellent work bringing the hall back to operational status for retreat use.
• West Edge ArchitectscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitectural firm led by Peter Mitsakos providing design work for office wing renovation and reconstruction planning. Responsible for Conditional Use Permit (CUP) drafting for South Building reconstruction.
• Vancrest ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction team led by Jon Van Dyke working on office wing restoration and renovation project.
• Toll BrothersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome builder working with Mater Dolorosa to explore temporary water solutions for Monastery Gardens irrigation until permanent irrigation is restored following Eaton Fire damage.
• St. Francis Center, Downtown Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization receiving approximately 250 prepared meals per week from Mater Dolorosa's food ministry for distribution to homeless clients. Mater Dolorosa reduces costs by incorporating leftover food donations from retreat meals.
• Los Angeles Retreat Center Community (LARCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network of six retreat centers in the Los Angeles region providing mutual support, joint programming, and regional retreat ministry coordination. Members: Holy Spirit Retreat Center, Mary & Joseph Retreat Center, Sacred Heart Retreat House, Santiago Retreat Center, and Serra Retreat.
• PushpaycoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform powering Mater Dolorosa's mobile app, online donations (one-time and recurring), event registration, and giving statement management. Handles payment processing and donor management.
• Ralphs and Food 4 LessminorOthersGrocery store community rewards programs where shoppers can designate Mater Dolorosa to receive a portion of eligible purchases at no extra cost to the shopper.
• Holy Cross Province (The Passionists)coreOthersParent religious organization of the Passionist order. Owns the property and provides Passionist clergy and community leadership. Provincial Superior Fr. David Colhour, C.P. participating in centennial celebration.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos: Catholic retreat center in Los Altos, California operated by the Society of Jesus. Offers weekend retreats, individual retreats, and directed retreats with similar donation-based pricing model, though serving Northern California rather than Southern California region.
• St. Francis Center (Los Angeles): Catholic social services organization in Downtown Los Angeles that partners with Mater Dolorosa for food ministry. Operates broader homeless services and community programs funded by charitable donations similar to Mater Dolorosa's funding model.

Direct peers

• Serra Retreat: Catholic retreat center in Malibu, California operated by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and LARCC member. Offers weekend retreats, youth programs, and recovery retreats with similar facility-based spiritual programming.
• Mary & Joseph Retreat Center: Catholic retreat center in Rancho Palos Verdes, California and LARCC network member. Provides weekend retreats, day retreats, and recovery programs with similar Ignatian/Passionist influences, competing directly for Los Angeles-area retreatants.
• Holy Spirit Retreat Center: Catholic retreat center in Encino, California and member of the LARCC network alongside Mater Dolorosa. Offers similar weekend retreats based on spirituality and serves the same Los Angeles Catholic market with comparable facility-based programming.
• Santiago Retreat Center: Catholic retreat center in Silverado, California and LARCC member. Specializes in men's and women's retreats in a natural setting similar to Mater Dolorosa's offerings, with religious order affiliation and donation-based model.
• Sacred Heart Retreat House: Catholic retreat house in Alhambra, California and LARCC member. Offers silent retreats, preached retreats, and recovery programs in the same general Southern California market with comparable pricing models and donor-supported operations.

Regional players

• Mount Saint Mary's University Retreat Center: Faith-based retreat and conference facility in Los Angeles area. While primarily a university, it offers retreat programming serving Catholic communities in the same Southern California region with similar spiritual retreat offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MaterDolorosaRetreat
• Facebookfacebook.com/MaterDolorosaRetreatCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mater-dolorosa-retreat-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/mdcpretreatcenter

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center