Hello LadyBugs,

When i lived in the Bay Area I would go to this practically every 1st Friday of the month. Its in Burlingame ; and the nuns live there--beautiful grounds to explore and meditate and center yourself spirtually. So before the service we can visit and explore the grounds.
They have all the stations of the cross -......you can explore or just sit and reflect and meditate if you want. There's no right or wrong way to do any of it....very peaceful and beautiful with all the plants....but we can explore inside too...there is a gift shop ...and you can see some of the rooms the nuns live in.....

The service is always done at 8pm. There is a small orchestra that is done by the Nuns ---we start by singing beautiful little songs often called Gregorian chants.....and when one of the chants starts to die down we start up with another one (they give you a sheet of the chants that they sing) There's about 20 chants.....

The chapel is only lit with candlelight---and we probably sing for about 30-40 minutes. So peaceful and tranquil..... When we are finished singing then ....

A large wooden cross is carried into the chapel and put down on the floor in the rotunda at the top of the chapel. People start gathering and lining up in the aisles and a line forms at the top of the wooden cross.

When it's your turn --you can take the next available station (kneeling down) at one of the ends of the cross (4 stations) when it becomes available.

You can have this private time at the cross; praying, praising or meditating . When you are thru --you just get up and the next person comes and takes your spot. You do not have to kneel at the cross if you don't want to....its up to you. You can stay in the pews and just be an observer....

The whole experience is very very beautiful and an emotional experience ...open up your heart and come experience this.

You do not have to be Catholic to participate in this service.

I did speak with a gentelman about staying in one of the rooms--the cost is $160 per person per nite. It includes Dinner, Breakfast the next morning and lunch--so even tho it looks expensive if you take away the cost of the 3 meals ---its quite reasonable. There is no sharing of the rent if you have two people in the room--they do have queen beds but each person would have to pay $160.

This is new about renting out the rooms; I have never stayed at the Monastary.....but it is quite a commute. So sign up and we can discuss our options if you are interested in doing this.....I do like the idea of staying in the area--there are other places that would be a lot cheaper....but anyway let's see if anyone is interested .....

Here's the Scoop:
Mercy Center is a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, an order of Catholic women religious.

Mercy Center was established in 1981 in Burlingame, California, as a retreat center and a conference center for religious and other nonprofit organizations.

Mercy Center provides opportunities for people to become more attentive to the presence of the Divine in their lives and in the world, and then respond with care for the Earth and service to others, especially people who are poor and vulnerable.

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