Programs

Personal Retreat

Flexible Dates

Visitors from around the world come to Mercy Center Burlingame for private retreats. All of our bedrooms are individual occupancy for complete privacy. We offer silent dining room space for all meals. “Come away by yourselves…and rest a while.” (Mk. 6:31) Private Retreats provide time in a supportive and contemplative atmosphere, with opportunities for prayer […]

East-West Intensive Contemplative Holy Week Retreat

With Nona Strong

April 17 - 20, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

We invite you to join us for this silent, contemplative retreat to be held at Eastertime. Our retreat begins on the evening of Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) and will end on Easter morning. This silent retreat will be a time of deepening our intimacy with the Divine through contemplation, meditation, and the practice of sitting, […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - May 10, 2025

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

May 10, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Living the Fruits of the Spirit For Deep Nourishment: A Day of Prayer

With Colette Lafia

May 24, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

“The Fruits of the Spirit are indications of God’s presence at work in us,”                                                                                                 -- Thomas Keating Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Goodness, Patience, and Self-Control—these Nine Fruits are God’s gift to us and offer us a way to live our lives rooted in the Spirit. During this Day of Prayer, we will […]

Introductory Wisdom School: A Wisdom Way of Knowing

With Cynthia Bourgeault

May 25 - 30, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

“Wisdom Schools are a format for integral learning that’s based in some of the deepest roots for transformation and change in the Christian tradition. Wisdom Schools are about awakening the yearning for a different kind of presence in the world and then developing the skills and the knowledge base to apply that, to transform your […]

Introductory Wisdom School: A Wisdom Way of Knowing (ONLINE VIA ZOOM)

With Cynthia Bourgeault

May 25 - 30, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

“Wisdom Schools are a format for integral learning that’s based in some of the deepest roots for transformation and change in the Christian tradition. Wisdom Schools are about awakening the yearning for a different kind of presence in the world and then developing the skills and the knowledge base to apply that, to transform your […]

Lo Cotidiano, Historias Sagradas, Camino Sagrado

With Ana Maria Pineda, RSM

June 13 - 15, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

[caption id="attachment_973" align="alignleft" width="300"] ‘Rutilio Grande and Óscar Romero’ © Peter Bridgman Paintings (2018)[/caption] Cada una de nuestras vidas parece ser tan ordinarias. Nos encontramos prestando atención a una multitud de tareas cotidianas. Pocos de nosotros creemos que nuestras vidas son extraordinarias. Pero la verdad es que al vivir nuestras vidas llenas de alegrías, luchas […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - June 14, 2025

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

June 14, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Summer Zen Sesshin

With Nona Strong

June 19 - 23, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

We invite you to take a few days’ retreat from your daily routine and come share with us the sacred silence of the beautiful Rose Room at Mercy Center, Burlingame. During this Thursday through Monday sesshin (three full days), you will have the opportunity to sit in silent contemplation within your own space and with […]

Grace and Gratitude: Cultivating the Belief that Enough is Enough

With Christine Jurisich

June 20 - 22, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

It is easy to be grateful when life is going your way. How do you cultivate gratitude during a stressful time? Is it possible to find beauty in the middle of suffering? In this retreat, you are invited to discover God's Grace in your most ordinary, painful, and joyful moments. Recognize what prevents you from […]

Introduction to Enneagram: Seeing and Being Seen Through the All Loving Eyes of God

With Colleen Gregg, MA

July 11 - 13, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Cultivating the spiritual life will always draw one deeper into the meaning and mysteries of life, of self, of God. This workshop will be introduction and exploration into the Enneagram Defense System that is identified with our personality types. The Enneagram offers an awakening to the stumbling blocks that hold us back from living out […]

Encontrando a Dios en todos los eventos de la Vida

July 18 - 20, 2025
Virtual por Zoom

Un retiro que da la experiencia de los ejercicios de San Ignacio con acompañamiento espiritual personal: Nuestra humanidad quebrantada y la misericordia de Dios El seguimiento de Jesús Viviendo el misterio de la pasión, muerte y resurrección de Jesús   Dónde: Virtual por Zoom Cuando: Fin de semana 18, 19, 20 de Julio 2025 Empieza: […]

Sacred Unfolding: Writing as Spiritual Discovery

With Colette Lafia and Debie Thomas

August 8 - 10, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Writing is a gentle, yet profound and powerful way to listen to the stirrings of your heart and soul. It can illuminate what lies within, helping give voice to your innermost thoughts and feelings. When approached with intention, writing becomes a spiritual encounter—an invitation to deepen your relationship with the Sacred. During this retreat, we […]

Finding God in All Things: Silent Retreat

With Joseph McHugh, S.J., Bernadette Hart, RSM, Mary Ann Clifford Rodriguez, RSM and Sharon Chiarucci

August 11 - 17, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Finding God in All Things Ignatian spirituality is summed up in this phrase. It invites a person to search for and find God in every circumstance of life, not just in explicitly religious situations or activities such as prayer in church (e.g., the Mass) or in private. It implies that God is present everywhere and, […]

Centering Prayer and the Reality of Being: A Silent Centering Prayer Retreat

With Rev. Amber Sturgess and Catherine Regan, Ph.D.

August 15 - 17, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

"Christ is the Reality." Col. 2.17 How do we show up in the world?  What kind of presence and attention are we able to bring to our daily living? How can we begin to cultivate presence and come from a place of true being in the midst of a world in chaos? The practice of […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - August 16, 2025

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

August 16, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - September 13, 2025

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

September 13, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Wisdom School: Sacred Movements as Medicine for Ourselves, Each Other, and the World

September 18 - 22, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Sacred gestures and movements have been a part of every sacred tradition. They are considered a means by which ancient Wisdom is preserved and passed down to future generations. Through their embodied symbolic language beyond our thinking mind, a deeper perception arises. This perception is anchored in our inner center, in our hearts. In this […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - October 11, 2025

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

October 11, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Awakening Feminine Wisdom

With Cindy Rasicot

October 31 - November 2, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Join us for an inspiring weekend of meditation, walking the labyrinth, and honoring the feminine. Cindy Rasicot is a spiritual teacher who brings women together in healing circles to explore their creative potential. Through a series of guided visualizations and writing prompts we will begin to tell our stories of healing and transformation. We will […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - November 8, 2025

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

November 8, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Seeing and Being Seen: Enneagram Insights for Living in Healthy Relationships

With Colleen Gregg, MA

December 5 - 7, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

One indication that we are moving towards an integrated self is the discovery and embrace of the rejected and shadow parts of the soul. It is from here that we awaken to the multidimensional nature in all persons and the misconceptions that are cause for difficulties in relationships. The focus of this workshop will be […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - December 13, 2025

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

December 13, 2025
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - January 10, 2026

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

January 10, 2026
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - February 21, 2026

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

February 21, 2026
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - March 14, 2026

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

March 14, 2026
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - April 11, 2026

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

April 11, 2026
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - May 9, 2026

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

May 9, 2026
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - June 13, 2026

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

June 13, 2026
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - August 8, 2026

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

August 8, 2026
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - September 12, 2026

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

September 12, 2026
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - October 10, 2026

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

October 10, 2026
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - November 14, 2026

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

November 14, 2026
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]

Sacred Circle: Small Group Faith-Sharing - December 12, 2026

With Barbara Howing and Karen Brugge

December 12, 2026
Mercy Center Burlingame

Are you looking for a place to connect in community? Seeking a place where you can talk about your faith in an open and non-judgmental environment? Join us for Sacred Circle, a small-group faith sharing experience. It is your chance to carve out a special time each month to draw on God’s comfort and strength […]