Villa Maria del Mar

Imbued with the Ministry of Hospitality

For over 60 years, Villa Maria del Mar, the SNJM retreat center situated on the shores of Monterey Bay, California, has provided a peaceful, prayerful and renewing space for individuals and groups.

Purchased from the Catholic Ladies Aide Society, who operated the facility as a hotel from 1892 until 1963, the Sisters renamed the building Villa Maria del Mar. On October 31, 1963, Father John Shanks, S.J. and a group of retreatants from Santa Clara University became the first group to experience the new retreat center. Thus began sixty years of ministry.

Today the Villa continues to be a house of hospitality welcoming non-profit organizations, religious congregations, diocesan and ecumenical groups, 12-step programs, worship communities and individuals seeking a beautiful and serene space for prayer, planning, healing, rest and relaxation. The Sisters, Associates and staff at Villa Maria are enriched and inspired by the many guests who experience the Villa for the first time and by others who return for many years of retreat and/or renewal.

The Villa serves as a place of retreat and relaxation for many Sisters of the Holy Names throughout the Congregation. Our Sisters participate in retreats, meetings, conferences and vacations at the Villa.

Located on the property is an original chapel that is used by Villa guests as well as by a worshipping community each weekend. In addition to the weekly liturgy, the Villa Chapel Community participates in food drives and sock and bedding collections for the unhoused in Santa Cruz County and supports the local St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Click here to visit the Villa Maria del Mar website.

Click here to view the Upcoming Retreats page of the Villa website.

Sisters and staff at Villa Maria del Mar work hard to live the value of Hospitality as a Ministry. Here they are, preparing to welcome guests: (left to right) Joanna, Jeff, Mary, Sister Michelle, Alex, Carmen, Sister Mary, Virginia and Sister Mimi.