El Cercado, San Juan, Dominican Republic SocialMinistryElCercado@gmail.com 1-809-558-0215 (esp) | 1-829-762-2762 (eng)

Retreat Center

retreat center
MontesinosCasa de Retiro y Formación Fray Antón de Montesinos “Villa Andres” is a secluded, quiet, and designed for training pastoral workers and people engaged in their communities.

The farm called Villa Andrés, named after a beloved priest, Father Andrew P. Connolly, who worked in the Parish San Pedro Apostol and bought the farm, is a beautiful property that has fruit trees of different kinds, vegetation and natural foliage, as well as birds of different species. It’s a small paradise and perfect to find God in nature through meditation and prayer. The Retreat Center accommodates visiting groups from outside who come on mission projects and immersion – cultural exchange trips.

Features of our Retreat and Formation Center

  • An open conference room that has a capacity to seat 250 or more people in a circle.
  • Open chapel of “Maria’s Visitation” which can accommodate 60 people  for spiritual activities.
  • Small open meditation chapel of “Altagracia” one of the patron saints of the island.
  • Two dormitories separated for females and males with 15 rooms, each equipped with 2 double beds, 1 sink , 1 desk and fans and can accommodate up to 60 people. There are 4 bathrooms in each dormitory.
  • Kitchen and dining area with chairs and tables with seating for 60 people.
  • A rooftop gazebo for small meetings and meditation.
  • A greenhouse to produce organic vegetables and fruits and a fishpond with tilapia.
  • A meditative walkway with the stations of the cross located close by a  small river.
Villa Andrés-Capilla
Outside Visitation Chapel
Villa Andrés-Vista
Seven acres of secluded, tranquil setting with nature at its’ best
Villa Andrés-Estatua
Statue of Montesino in the garden
Villa Andrés-Gazebo
Rooftop gazebo for a small meeting place and meditation
Villa Andrés-Construcción
Dormitories and kitchen area
Villa andrés-mural
Mural “Protecting our Natural Resources” on the side of a dormitory
Villa Andrés-Viacrucis
Meditation walkway with 15 stations of the cross

Come support our work in person. For more information about sending a group for an immersion experience, group work project, or using our facility for a retreat, contact Joana Peterson (829)-762-2762 or email joanapeterson@hotmail.com.