Mercy Center

I still stand by everything I said prior. I do want to add:
If you are looking for a place where you feel as though you are tucked away in nature, this is not the retreat center for you. There is one walking path down by a stream so that does redeem it a bit but it’s right in the middle of a very rich neighborhood with normal neighborhood sounds and make sure your retreat is not when school is in session because outside time will be accompanied by the sounds of Mercy High School – perhaps not the most reflective of sounds. The nature on the grounds is nice (they have a labyrinth) and it’s all very well groomed but it feels more suburban than out in true awe inspiring nature.
Perhaps there is a better spot for a review of their first Friday Taize services? Until I figure it out, I will put it here:
I am a bit of a Taize snob having spent a week praying in Taize during my semester abroad. I think one of the most important aspects of Taize prayer is that it is a meditation. Similar to the rosary – each song is played for a long time to let you really sink into the repetitiveness of the music and sink into meditation. The Mercy Center doesn’t do that. Each song is very short – no time to sink in.
It is very dark in the chapel, so dark that many people had flashlights in order to see the song sheet. Originally, I thought I wouldn’t need a flashlight because in Taize, France I could easily hear what words were being sung and the songs were simple enough that after one or two repeats I could join in. Here, not the case. None of the singers had microphones and none of them had the lungs to project very well at all. Additionally, I could not for the life of me make out what they were singing – I could here their quiet notes but that was it – and I have young ears and do not go to concerts. Thus, I had to follow along with the song sheet using my flashlight. Because of the poor song leading, everyone seemed to be singing very timidly, such that when I started singing at normal volume, it sounded as though I was attempting to drown out the rest of the church.
That said there were tons of people there and the friend I was with found it very relaxing but I did not find it to be the meditative experience that true Taize prayer offers. :(

After returning to the Mercy Center a few times, I feel I was a little unfair to the Sisters of Mercy in my previous review. They are, after all, giving their beautiful space to retreats at a very reasonable price while presumably maintaining their school and other endeavors. I figure it’s only fair to be respectful of their rules, and I think my first experience here was an aberration. Since then I’ve been back a few times and found the Sisters were mostly quiet and not at all in my way.
I hear the beds are still hard. I guess I’m fortunate to now live close enough that I can come home at night and still sleep in my own! ;-)

I have been attending workshops at the Mercy Center for four years. The grounds are beautiful, the silence and abundance of nature creates a perfect container for contemplation. The rules around drinking alcohol are to keep the energy in the buildings and on the grounds, quiet and peaceful. It’s often hard to do that when you aren’t fully present to yourself and others.
I have never encountered any harshness; the staff is very loving, nurturing and helpful.
It isn’t a «nunnery», in fact, most Mercy sisters now have their own housing off campus. But it IS a retreat center and many people, including myself, go there to be able to engage with Spirit and Silence. There aren’t alot of opportunities like this around, and if people want to drink and have that kind of fun, there are so many other ways to do that.
I can imagine, too, what a beautiful place this would be for a wedding or other important ritual occasions.
I love the food (and I’m fussy): find it tasty and healthy and there are ALWAYS lowfat alternatives. I’m about to leave for a five day intensive retreat to learn how to do spiritual direction with groups. So blessed to be returning there, for prayer, connection to others, relaxation and learning.

This place is great, you should check it out. From the outside it looks imposing, but actually it’s open to the public, has a number of really nice trees and garden areas. Kids will like the walkable maze. The gift shop is a treat — significantly less then the usual 800% Burlingame markup — and some quality items. There’s a senior living area here, and a full high school too. All sorts of groups use this place, across many creeds, it’s kind of open. Mostly I like it cause it’s quiet and peaceful and I use it like a park — a park with really good gardeners tending to it.

Just had a retreat here for work for two days. We were hard pressed for a overnight center because of the lateness of our booking. What drew me to it were the reviews on Unilocal and the description of 40 acres of gardens/​grounds and walking paths discussed. Unfortunately, the grounds are covered with buildings for the nuns and High school. So, it is a very lovely, large center for services.
The food has definitely improved from the past reviewers. They had organic choices, they had both vegetarian and meat options. The soups were good. And for the visitors they provided all day coffee and tea and provided glass mugs, which was very eco friendly.
I did take a walk around the perimeter of the grounds which was a nice jaunt in to a somewhat more rustic experience, yet you are right in the middle of a suburban neighborhood so you aren’t in any real retreat.
The single bedrooms were simple. I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the beds were. They have tried their best to warm up what is essentially a large institutional feeling building with lots of rooms along long hall ways. They did this with lovely colored accent walls and having candy every where.
the staff was mostly kind and supportive.
For those who were catholic in our group, it felt familiar, for those who were not it felt simply large, too large of a building.
The rooms for meetings were great. Large, with high ceilings and lots of light. Inside these large rooms were wonderful old pieces of furniture that added character to the more bland business furniture.
I would recommend for day work meetings for groups of 15 – 25. I would not recommend for overnights if you really want a feeling of nature and get-​a-​way in your staff/​organizational retreat.
The gardens were lovely and the grounds very green. However, I didn’t feel compelled to take any pictures — ahh…

I recently attended my cousins wedding here and I was pleasantly surprised.
Stunning. Romantic. Classic.
The spaces at this center were ideal for a earthy, open and bright wedding. The room the actual ceremony was in had huge high ceilings and stunning natural light through very large French doors. The clean simplicity of it along with the incredible landscaping made this absolutely stunning. Even my boyfriend said that he could see himself getting married in a place like that (yeah, a real life GUY said this…).
We had a small reception prior to dinner outside in the courtyard which, although a bit windy, was still stunning. Really great for pictures and lots of space for a 100 – 200 person wedding. There was a fountain and I think a labyrinth with flowers and hedges everywhere.
We moved inside to dinner and I looked up to notice the lighting; large amber-​toned lighting with images of leaves. I was so impressed by it all. The ceilings had to be at least 30 feet high, which gave the impression of royalty and elegance. We even snuck upstairs and looked down from a balcony on the dancing wedding party and was just in awe of the space.
Lots of parking, clean bathrooms, plenty of space for the bridal parties to get dressed. And, it’s in Burlingame of all places. Close to the city, but out far enough to feel like you’re in a magical land far away… I’m pretty sure my cousin broke the bank on this one, but he didn’t care. It was everything he could have imagined his wedding to be.

Lovely retreat center/​school/​convent.
Was here for a 3-​day retreat a couple of weeks ago. Didn’t stay overnight as it’s only 30 minutes from my house, which was part of the draw for me.
I did get a chance to walk the lovely labyrinth they have. I particularly like the stone at the center. It was a warm day and the stone was hot from the sun, which made it seem like it was radiating energy. It was both energizing and relaxing.
The food was just ok. Passable institution food. Could have definately been more mindful– the whole campus is mindful, with candy dishes dispersed around as part of their commitment to hospitality– even the bathrooms seemed to be cared for mindfully, but the food seemed lacking in that respect.
The gift shop was small, but quite useful. Bought 2 children’s books on meditation and a CD of chakra drumming. Had lots of cool stuff I would have liked to explore further, but I was afraid to go broke!