Our Mission

Our History

In the early 1990s, Marello Youth Retreat Center was but a vision in the minds of the Oblates of St. Joseph. They imagined a retreat center that would provide opportunities for youth and young adults to gather together to build upon their relationship with God.

Nearly 20 years later, their vision became a reality. In October 2002, the Oblates of St. Joseph celebrated the grand opening of Marello Youth Retreat Center. Today, they invite youth groups, parish youth ministries, Catholic schools, Catholic Faith Formation programs, and all youth to consider this special place as a location to venture away from the everyday – a place to find themselves and God.

Oblates of St. Joseph

Founded in the late 1978 by St. Joseph Marello, the Order of the Oblates of St. Joseph is a Catholic congregation of both priests and brothers, living in fraternal community, and serving Christ in imitation of St. Joseph.

The U.S.A. province of the Oblates of St. Joseph includes our Provincial headquarters at the Shrine of St. Joseph Guardian of the Redeemer in Santa Cruz, California, Mount St. Joseph and Marello Youth Retreat Center in Loomis, California, as well as other parish communities in Pennsylvania and California.

St. Joseph Marello

Father Joseph Marello founded the Oblates of St. Joseph in 1878. As the order grew worldwide, the brothers and priests of the congregation worked diligently to develop a vibrant youth ministry which focused on religious education.

That mission continues today at Marello Youth Retreat Center as the Oblates of St. Joseph work to provide a spiritual haven where youth and young adults can strengthen their values and convictions.

On Sunday, November 25th, 2001, Pope John Paul II canonized Joseph Marello.