The Retreat Center for the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, located in Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, approximately 65 miles outside D.C. | Offering opportunities for a wide variety of retreats and days of reflection for groups and individuals. During calamitous and world-shaking times 800 years ago a rich, spoiled, slightly neurotic little man sought a quiet place to pray to make sense of
all that was going on around him (and within him). Jesus Christ spoke to the discouraged man in the broken down San Damiano Chapel just outside the walls of Assisi. Our Lord's voice sounded through a crucifix which hung on the wall… “Francis, rebuild my church, which as you see is falling into ruins!”
The rest is history. Clare, and her Poor Clare Nuns -- was an essential force in the great renewal and reform of the Church in the 13th century. At our Diocesan Retreat Center, San Damiano we offer a quiet place for people to “come aside and rest awhile” (Mark 6:30-32); to read and think and pray in silence and solitude at the feet of our Eucharistic Lord in our chapel and while wandering about our 100+ acres of rolling green grounds in the Shenandoah Valley not far from the Blue Ridge mountains.
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More about San Damiano:
• San Damiano is located in Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, approximately 65 miles (1 hour) outside the Washington, D.C. Capital Beltway.
• The Center, situated on 150 acres of rolling countryside, offers easy access to Route 50 as well as Interstate 81.
• The Center featured extensive renovation in 2009.
• The chapel, which can accommodate approximately 100 guests, provides the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist or simply offers a sacred place to reflect on God's presence in our lives.
• Enjoy beautifully landscaped gardens and courtyard.
• A variety of meeting rooms that can accommodate small or large groups for overnight or day retreats as well as workshops and training courses are available. All meeting rooms are spacious and available with sound and audio visual equipment.
• Our dining room has complete food service.
• The library houses a diverse selection of books covering topics on spirituality, lives and writings of the saints, theology, history of the Church, and many more areas of interest conducive to enhancing one's spiritual life.
• 31 guest rooms provide a variety of accommodation options. Sixteen rooms are furnished with 1 full and 1 single bed; 15 rooms are furnished with a single full bed, and 1 room has a single twin bed thus providing occupancy for 48 individuals. All rooms are carefully and beautifully appointed to provide our retreatants with a peaceful and comfortable environment.
• The Center is handicapped-accessible.
