Frequently Asked Questions
Before You Book
Is Siena Retreat Center right for me?
No, you do not need to be Catholic to attend a retreat with us! We are a holistic spiritual retreat center and are open to people of any faith tradition, or no faith tradition. We offer a wide range of programs that explore different spiritual and religious traditions as well as programs that do not have a specific spiritual or religious element at all. We strive to be a welcoming place that allows you to explore and deepen your own personal spiritual beliefs and to learn about and deepen your appreciation for other beliefs.
We welcome a wide variety of groups and individuals who come from many different faith traditions, economic backgrounds, cultures, political perspectives, nationalities, gender identities and expression, sexual orientation, abilities, life experiences and more.
We strive to create a welcoming environment rooted in peace, compassion, and respect. We ask all who visit Siena Retreat Center to extend that same spirit of kindness, openness, curiosity, and care toward others.
Hosted Retreats
Hosted retreats are programs organized by outside groups who use Siena Retreat Center’s meeting spaces and overnight accommodations for their own events. These may include faith-based groups, meditation retreats, yoga retreats, nonprofit leadership trainings, board retreats, book clubs, and more. Some hosted retreats are private events, while others are open to the public. Siena Retreat Center provides the space and hospitality for these groups but does not facilitate the program or manage registrations.
Individual Retreats
Individual retreats are self-guided experiences for individuals seeking personal time away for rest, reflection, creativity, prayer, or renewal. Guests may stay for a single overnight or an extended period of time. Many guests also book an individual retreat to extend their experience before or after another Siena program.
Sabbaticals
Sabbaticals are extended self-directed stays ranging from 10 overnights to 12 weeks. These experiences are designed for those seeking deeper time away for spiritual reflection, healing, discernment, creative work, study, rest, or life transition. Sabbatical guests often include writers, artists, spiritual seekers, and those taking intentional time away from work or daily responsibilities.
Sponsored Retreats
Sponsored retreats are guided programs facilitated by Siena Retreat Center. These offerings range from evening and day programs to weekend and week-long retreats, as well as virtual offerings on Zoom. Programs explore themes such as Belonging & Community, Justice & Integrity, Meaning & Purpose, Sensing the Sacred, and Wonder & Wellness. Siena Retreat Center facilitates these programs and manages registration.
Spiritual Guidance
We offer one-on-one spiritual guidance sessions with trained spiritual guides. Guests may meet with a guide once during a retreat stay or establish an ongoing relationship through regular sessions.
Spiritual Guidance Training Program
Siena Retreat Center also offers a well-established two-year Spiritual Guidance Training Program that prepares and certifies spiritual guides.
While we do offer silent retreats and welcome many groups and individuals who choose to observe silence during their stay, Siena Retreat Center is not exclusively a silent retreat center.
We offer a Silent Dining Room located off the main dining area on the first floor, and all bedroom floors are designated as quiet spaces. At times, signage may indicate that a large group onsite is observing silence, and silent badges are also available for guests who wish to remain in silence during their retreat.
Guests who are not observing silence are simply asked to help maintain the peaceful atmosphere of the retreat center and to respect the quiet practices of others.
Siena Retreat Center is located in the city of Racine, Wisconsin and we do have excellent service with all phone carriers and free guest wi-fi throughout the building. We ask that you keep your phone on silent during your stay and restrict phone calls to the lobby and outdoor spaces in order to maintain the peaceful atmosphere throughout the building, especially when there are silent groups on-site.
Siena Retreat Center permits service animals in accordance with Americans with Disabilities regulations. No other animals are allowed.
Need-based partial scholarships are available for our Sponsored & Private Retreats and One-on-One Spiritual Guidance Sessions. While we cannot guarantee that all requests can be fully accommodated, and we do ask that you contribute a portion of the fee, we will do our best to assist as many participants as possible within our available resources. You can fill out an application here.
Planning Your Stay
What general logistics should you know as you plan to book your stay.
At Siena Retreat Center, we believe that retreat experiences have the power to transform individual lives and ripple out into the broader community, fostering a more just and compassionate world. As a nonprofit, our mission is to make these transformative experiences accessible to all while being mindful stewards of the resources required to sustain our mission.
To support both accessibility and sustainability, we have instituted a voluntary three-level registration fee structure for our sponsored retreats, excluding those that allow for a deposit or commuter rate at this time. This approach allows you to choose the level that best reflects your personal financial situation. Your choice will remain confidential and will not affect your retreat experience in any way.
The ‘Partner’ level outlined below represents the historical cost that we have charged for our programs. The ‘Advocate and ‘Sustainer’ levels offer an option to pay a higher registration fee that more fully covers all of Siena Retreat Center’s expenses related to running a retreat. By choosing these levels, you are helping to ensure transformative retreats remain accessible to all.
Description of Levels
Sustainer Level:
This level covers 100% of the full cost of offering the retreat, including both program-specific and operational expenses such as facilitator fees, materials, staff salaries, building use, and other administrative costs. Choosing this level helps sustain our retreat ministry for the long term and ensures that we can continue offering transformative programming for all.
Advocate Level:
This level covers approximately 80% of the full cost associated with running the retreat, covering all of the program expenses such as facilitator fees, materials, printing and more. It reflects a more affordable rate for those who can contribute more toward their retreat experience but cannot cover the full cost at this time.
Partner Level:
This is a reduced fee, made possible by the generosity of our donors and those who choose to pay higher registration fees. It is intended for those who need a lower price in order to have the capacity to attend. This level reflects the historical subsidized rate we have always charged for our retreat programs, covering approximately 60% of the full cost to run the retreat.
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If finances are a barrier even at the Partner Level, we invite you to complete our Scholarship Request Form. While we cannot guarantee that all requests can be fully accommodated, and we do ask that you contribute a portion of the fee, we will do our best to assist as many participants as possible within our available resources.
If you are in a position to give, please consider making a donation to the Mary N. (Gallo) Iaquinta Endowed Scholarship Fund. Your gift directly supports individuals who might not otherwise be able to experience the renewal and transformation a retreat can offer, extending the impact of your generosity far beyond your own retreat. While choosing either the Sustainer or Advocate Level in your retreat registrations will also help Siena Retreat Center to sustain it’s operations and provide accessible retreats to all, these are not considered tax-deductible donations.
For Sponsored Events: Sponsored retreat payments are nonrefundable or transferable. Consideration is only given in emergency circumstances; in these situations, 10% of the total payment will be retained for administrative and meal costs.
For Individual Retreats: The total balance must be paid at time of making reservation (credit card over the phone or check in the mail to arrive prior to retreat start date). Cancellations received more than 10 business days before the scheduled retreat will be responsible for 20% of the overnight room charge. Cancellations received fewer than 10 business days before the scheduled retreat will be responsible for the cost of all meals ordered and 50% of the overnight room charge.
For Hosted Groups:
Yes! Each of our 67 guest rooms are private, so you will not share a bedroom with another guest. Every room also includes a private en-suite bathroom for your comfort and privacy.
The front desk is staffed for check-ins 9:00am – 4:30pm Monday through Friday and 9:00am – noon on Saturdays and Sundays.
Doors lock at 5:00pm on weekdays and at noon on weekends. The door code is provided at check-in.
If you are coming for one of our sponsored retreats you will receive an email approximately one week before the event with instructions on when to arrive.
We accept cash, check, and credit cards.
We are unable to provide transportation to or from the retreat facility at this time.
As you come along the drive, you will notice a sign for Retreat Parking, which will be located on your left just after you reach the stop sign at the end of the drive. There are additional handicap stalls closer to the building around the retention pond which you are welcome to use if needed. You are also welcome to stop at the front door to unload before going to park.
If you are an overnight guest, we will need your license plate number upon check-in.
A washing machine, dryer, iron, and ironing board are provided on both bedroom floors for your use. Laundry detergent is available.
Bring comfortable shoes and clothes. We recommend bringing a sweater as room temperatures and individual comfort levels vary. We are located directly on the shores of Lake Michigan and the lake effect weather often means it is 5-10 degrees cooler on campus than reported temperatures for the area.
Many of our virtual retreats, offered via Zoom, are recorded so that registered participants can revisit the experience or catch up if they are unable to attend live. However, not every retreat is recorded and some programs may have portions where recording is paused. This may be out of respect for sensitive participant sharing or at the facilitator’s request if there is a portion of the retreat that they do not want shared.
Recordings are only made with the facilitator’s permission, and we always honor the integrity of the retreat space. Turning your camera on is welcome and encouraged but never required. Your presence matters, whether or not you are visible on screen.
At this time, Siena Retreat Center does not maintain a library of past retreat recordings. Recordings are shared only with those registered for a particular retreat. for a limited time.
Meals and Accommodations
Handy information on dietary needs, disability accommodations and more.
Our catering team is able to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free requests. However, we are not a certified gluten-free facility, so guests with Celiac or other severe gluten-allergy may wish to provide their own food or supplement their meals. Special needs must be indicated at the time of registration so that we can plan for your needs. While we cannot guarantee other dietary accommodations, you are welcome to include information about other special needs or allergies related to food on your registration and we will do our best to meet them.
Guests with dietary restrictions beyond what the kitchen can accommodate will need to bring their own food. Any guest is also welcome to bring their own supplemental food. A refrigerator, microwave, & toaster oven will be available on the first floor for storage and prep, and we ask that you do not prepare or store any food or drink beyond water on the bedroom floors.
If you are not sure that you’ve let us know, contact our Arrangements Coordinator as soon as possible but at least 7 days before your scheduled retreat at arrangements@sienaretreatcenter.org or by phone at 262-898-2580.
Continental breakfast is available from 6am-10am in the Retreat Dining Room.
Currently, lunches & dinners are served one of two ways at the Retreat Center.
- When there are 16+ guests signed up, lunches and dinners are served hot from the buffet line
(Lunch 12-12:30 pm and Dinner 5:30-6 pm)
OR - When there are less than 16 guests dining, meals are pre-plated and made available for guests to heat & eat at their convenience.
The meals provided are the same menu items regardless of method of serving. Meals must be ordered at least 7 days in advance through our Arrangements Coordinator.
A freezer, refrigerator, toaster oven and microwave are available in our dining room on the first floor. When using the refrigerator and freezer, please clearly label your food with your name. Bedrooms do not have their own refrigerator and we ask that you only prepare and store food on the first floor. Please take unused food with you when you leave.
The Beverage Center in the dining room is open 24/7.
Drink options include:
- coffee (hot and iced)
- tea
- hot cocoa
- juice (flavors vary)
- ice and water dispenser
- low-fat milk
- almond milk
Please note while we make every effort to accommodate individual needs we are currently only able to supply dairy and almond milk in the dining room. Should you require additional lactose-free alternative please plan to bring your own and we will supply refrigerator space for storage. Thank you!
Yes. Our facility is ADA compliant. Many guests visit Siena using wheelchairs, walkers, CPAP machines, and other assistive devices, and we strive to be welcoming and accommodating to a wide range of needs. Please let us know about any accessibility needs when booking, or at least 7 days in advance, so we can best support your stay.
The entire first floor is accessible, including meeting rooms, the dining room, and other common retreat spaces. An accessible elevator provides access to guest room floors where we have several ADA compliant bedrooms.
Outdoors, much of the campus is accessible, including paved walking paths around the building and a paved route to a lakeside overlook. Some areas, such as wooded trails with woodchip paths and gentle slopes, and the beach access area, are more natural terrain and may not be accessible for all guests.
Miscellaneous
The entire Siena campus is intended as a place of healing, peace, and wholeness and thus smoking is not allowed on the campus. Smoking is only permitted in private vehicles with the windows rolled up.
- Our bookstore is open Monday – Friday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, on Saturdays from 9:00am – noon, and closed on Sundays and holidays. Click here for more information about what we carry in our bookstore.
Unfortunately, we are not able to ship items purchased from the Bookstore at this time.
We’re happy to help. If you don’t see your question here, please reach out directly.
You can contact a specific staff member through our Contact Us page or reach out to us at:
retreats@sienaretreatcenter.org
262-898-2590
