College Women
Chestnut Center provides a supportive community for college women seeking balance and purpose during a transformative stage of life. Through character education and faith formation through spiritual direction, one on one mentoring, recollections, seminars, and retreats, women are encouraged to deepen their faith, pursue excellence in their studies, and build meaningful relationships that enrich their college experience and beyond.
Current Offerings
Meditations
A meditation is a guided prayer by a priest of Opus Dei on a topic that helps us grow in our Christian life.
For College and Young Professionals: Fourth Saturday of the month at 3:15 pm (after benediction), although it is cancelled for November and December because of Thanksgiving and Christmas weekends.
Recollection
A recollection is a “mini-retreat,” a few hours of quiet prayer when we look at our lives in God's presence. As we continue to face challenges in our lives, this guide can help us spend an hour or two in loving conversation with God, right where we are.
For College and Young Professionals:
2nd Wednesday of the month from 7:30-9:00 pm PST at Chestnut Center.
For Women:
Second Thursday of each month from 7:00 - 9:00 pm PST at Chestnut Center.
Second Friday of each month from 9:30 am - noon PST at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Concord.
Third or Fourth Tuesdays when the school is available at St. Maximilian Catholic School in 2055 Redwood Rd. Napa, CA 94558. The remaining dates for the year are: 10/20/26 (7-9 pm), 11/17/26 (7-9 pm), 12/15/26 (7-9 pm). Contact: Colleen Roche 415-613-3507
For Sacramento Area women’s activities: contact Deidre Chapman 916-425-4905
Online recollections available here.
Retreats
Retreats at Trumbull Manor provide an opportunity to reflect on one’s everyday life in the light of basic Christian principles. An atmosphere of personal prayer and recollection is maintained during the retreat.
Holy Week in Rome
UNIV Congress is an annual international university congress that takes place in Rome during Holy Week. Each year a relevant aspect of our culture is chosen as the theme of the congress. Young people have the opportunity to study and reflect upon the theme of UNIV, with the purpose of suggesting forward-thinking solutions that are shared with the rest of the participants.
Lights! Camera! Action!
Every summer, college women and high school seniors are brought together for a week-long workshop in L.A. What joins them is having a keen insight into the industry, an understanding that there’s something going on in movies, tv shows, and video games, besides entertainment. For more information, contact westfield.residence@gmail.com or visit here.