FAQ

Lestonnac Retreat Center’s mission is to provide a spiritual environment for all who participate in our programs.  The goal of the Lestonnac retreat center is to provide adults with a place to take a break from their day-to-day lives in order to reflect, learn and grow spiritually and/or personally. We serve as a center for community building, meditation, contemplation, and study.

WHAT ARE THE OVERALL DIRECTIVES?

These guidelines were made to provide your organization a pleasant, clean, and safe environment. Take time to read them. Please contact us if you have any questions.

While guests are free to leave the Retreat Center facility whenever they like, please be aware that the parking gate is timed and will close at certain hours. If you leave the campus, please inform your group leader whether you intend to return. When you arrive you must give notice to the leader, who will contact our personnel to unlock the gate and allow you to reenter.

If any security or medical emergency arises, immediately call 911. Contact your group coordinator and s/he will contact a staff member.

Property that is stolen or lost is not the Retreat Center's responsibility. Kindly notify a staff member about any damage to property. The participant will be financially liable for any intentional property damage.

Illegal drugs, firearms and weapons of any kind are prohibited on property. 

You are free to walk around the grounds, but all the school rooms are alarmed directly to the Tustin Police.  If an alarm is sounded due to a member of the group, the group will be responsible for paying for the service call. 

The Lestonnac Retreat Center shares facilities with Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac Catholic School. For the security and safety of the Preschool - Eighth Grade students, faculty and staff when school is in session (M-F: 7am - 5:30pm), we ask that you adhere to the following requirements: 

• Do not enter any of the school facilities or student areas at any time during school hours.

• Do not leave any campus entry gates open or unlocked.

• Do not park in any area(s) that have not been designated by the Lestonnac Retreat Center Coordinator, including, but not limited to, parking lot entries, no parking zones, designated fire lanes, handicap areas, etc. Vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense.

• Follow Security/Safety Guidelines that the event coordinator has been given at all times. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in the immediate cancellation of the retreat.

• Alternatives to these requirements and Security/Safety Guidelines must be clearly outlined and pre-approved by the Lestonnac Retreat Center Coordinator and the School Administration prior to the scheduled retreat.

IS THERE A CERTAIN TIME WE CHECK IN AND OUT?

Check in and Check-out times for the use of the retreat facilities will be discussed when arrangements are made.  For the school kitchen and cafeteria, the check-in time is 4pm (Unless school is in session).

We ask that your Group Coordinator arrive before your group to set up space.

CATEGORY OF INSURANCE REQUIRED?
This information will become available shortly.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY? 

To secure the date of your retreat, you must submit the Application/Contract form provided and pay the $200.00 deposit specified at the bottom of your Application or Contract. As soon as the application and deposit (cash or check) are received, your date is confirmed. A retreat staff member will meet with the treasurer and group chairman before departure to settle any unpaid fees and/or balances (if any). The full sum due can be paid with cash or a check.

HOW DO CANCELLATIONS WORK?

We will carry over your deposit to secure those dates if the group must cancel its entire reservation and reschedule within the same fiscal year. There won't be any additional charges for rescheduling, and your invoice will remain unchanged. There will not be any monetary reimbursement issued.

ARE WE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN FOOD AND DRINKS THROUGHOUT OUR TIME ON CAMPUS?

During their time at Lestonnac Retreat Center, meals, snacks, and beverages are entirely the responsibility of each group. To maintain the cleanliness of the facility, we kindly request that rubbish be placed in the sizable outdoor trash cans.

WHAT DOES THE HOUSEKEEPING INCLUDE?

Rest assured, your rooms will be all clean and ready to go at 4pm on the day of check-in, including comfortable, clean bedding and cozy bedrooms. We have taken extra safety precautions to ensure you are safe during your stay with us. At the end of your time, we ask you to strip your beds (just sheets, pillowcase, and towels.). Bring them downstairs and place them in specified cans.  Our staff appreciates this service.

On the day of check-in, your rooms will be ready and waiting for you at 4 p.m. with fresh, clean linen and pleasant bedrooms. To make sure you are safe when visiting us, we have implemented additional safety measures. We ask that you strip your beds at the conclusion of your stay, leaving only the sheets, pillowcase, and towels. Place them in the designated cans after bringing them downstairs. We are grateful for this service, staff.

Bathrooms are stocked with sufficient toilet paper.  You will have towels provided as well. We do not offer housekeeping services to individual rooms during your stay. 

Conference room, school kitchen and cafeteria are to be left as you found it.  All chairs and tables arranged, and all left in order.

WHAT CAN WE ADD ON ANY ENHANCED EXPERIENCES DURING OUR STAY

Pricing is available for additional experiences. Liturgy and Adoration are opportunities you may wish to add for the group.   

At five o'clock on Saturdays, Mass is celebrated. If you would want the group to attend this Mass, please talk to a staff member when you book the scheduled event or retreat.  A priest may also be open to confessions. The retreat group is required to give the priest a stipend.  There will be a $40.00 fee added to your invoice.

WHAT'S NEARBY IF WE CHOOSE TO LEAVE PROPERTY DURING FREE-TIME

Lestonnac Retreat Center is located at the edge of Tustin.  In the city itself there are plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, drug stores, a hospital close by and other quaint shops.

WHILE UTILIZING THE MEETING SPACE, DO WE HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR AV EQUIPMENT AND TVS?

Absolutely! We have a wall-mounted TV in the main conference room to which you may connect your own laptop. We also provide you with access to a moveable TV, WIFI, and an Apple TV connection. You can also make use of the pull-down screen that is situated at the front of the conference room. There is no loudspeaker system in the center.

WHAT ARE THE ACCOMMODATIONS LIKE?

The Retreat Center was originally a convent where the Sisters of the Company of Mary lived.  When the sisters moved to another location on campus, the original convent became used as office space and an area for retreats.  The Center is simple with a nice meeting room, a small kitchenette, a beautiful chapel, and bedrooms that can accommodate 70 persons.  There are ample shared bathrooms for both men and women.  If the group desires to do their own cooking, they can rent the school kitchen and cafeteria which are also housed on the property.

Kindly maintain your living space tidy and your bed made out of respect for your roommate(s). Please refrain from storing food in your room so that we don't attract any unwanted bugs.

There are no televisions or telephones There are no clocks in the rooms. 

Smoking, burning candles, burning incense, etc. is prohibited in the bedrooms.

CHEMICALS AND MEDICAL NEEDS

It is forbidden to use non-prescription mood-altering substances on campus.

Intoxicated or visibly inebriated participants will be asked to leave, forfeiting their ability to participate.

This establishment and all facilities including parking lots are smoke-free (this includes vaping).

Direct medical help is not something that the Retreat Center can offer. Please phone 911 immediately in case of an emergency, then let your group chairperson and a staff member know. Dial 911 and give the address 16791 East Main Street, Tustin. 

PHONE AND EMERGENCIES

Please direct people to your cell phone for primary contact.  Unless necessary, we ask that you refrain from using your phone in order to better enter into the physical and mental space of your retreat.

DO WE GET EXCLUSIVE USE OR WILL WE SHARE THE RETREAT CENTER WITH ANOTHER GROUP?

Friday night and Saturday are set aside for your exclusive use. Our brother and sister Romanian Orthodox devote Sunday to the celebration of the liturgy in the chapel and outside dining area. If you wish to have Mass on Sunday, it must be arranged after 2:00 pm

WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO BOOK A RETREAT?

If you have not been to the Retreat Center previously, we encourage you to call 714-936-9398 (English) or 657-348-7341 (Spanish) to set a date and time for you to tour the site.  If you have already been to the site, we advise you to call the above numbers to check on alternative open dates.  Once a date has been agreed on, an application/contract form will be sent to you by email.

You will have ten days from the time you get the application/contract to check it over, sign it, and return it to us with a $200 non-refundable deposit to reserve your date.

Please note that there are no refunds. If you wish to cancel your retreat, we will shift it to another date within the calendar year.

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to call us.

IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT?

Currently, the programs that we offer are designed for adults 18 years old or older. No one under 17 is allowed on campus during a weekend retreat.

IS LESTONNAC RETREAT CENTER AFFILIATED WITH AN ORGANIZATION OR CHURCH?

Yes.  The Retreat Center is owned and operated by the Sisters of the Company of Mary Our Lady. We are affiliated with the Roman Catholic tradition.

CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE HANDICAP ACCESS?

Lestonnac Retreat Center is not ADA compliant.  There are two handicap ramps leading to the conference room and to the chapel.  There is also access to an apartment through the chapel for sleeping accommodations.  The apartment sleeps two with private bathroom facilities.  The cost to rent the apartment is $75.00 per person per night. We invite you to view the images on our facility’s web page and come for a tour to determine if our facilities will meet your needs.