About Carmelite House of Prayer · Oakville, California
The Carmelite House of Prayer in Oakville, California is a Discalced Carmelite friar community dedicated to living the Teresian (Teresian/Carmelite) Charism through prayer, community life, and ministry. Located in the heart of Napa Valley wine country at 20 Mount Carmel Drive, the House of Prayer serves as a retreat center and chapel, offering daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, days of recollection, and personal retreats. Founded on September 29, 1955, it was the first Carmelite monastery in Northern California and today operates under the California-Arizona Province of St. Joseph within the Diocese of Santa Rosa.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross
- Rector
- Fr. Peter Mary Vecellio, OCD (as of 2023)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Santa Rosa
Why belong here
The Carmelite House of Prayer offers a rare gift in the Diocese of Santa Rosa: a working Carmelite monastery that opens its doors to the public for daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, and personal retreats in the heart of Napa Valley. Visitors and retreatants are invited into the prayer life of the Discalced Carmelite friars, drawing on the spiritual heritage of St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross. Whether you are seeking a quiet day of recollection, a silent personal retreat at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Center, an overnight stay at the Saint Joseph Retreat Cottage, or simply a place to attend Mass in a contemplative setting, Oakville offers a peaceful sanctuary rooted in nearly seven decades of Carmelite prayer.
Mass times at Carmelite House of Prayer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (preceded by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; English/Spanish)
- First Saturday of the month — following the 11:00 AM Mass (Exposition followed by Confessions)
Adoration times
- Friday 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
- First Saturday of the month — following the 11:00 AM Mass (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
Our Story: From Mansion to Monastery
On the evening of September 5, 1955, four Discalced Carmelite friars walked up a small rise on the outskirts of Oakville to take possession of an empty mansion set among the quiet hills of Napa Valley. Their leader, Father Edward, recorded the moment in his diary as a milestone for the Order in Northern California. Two days later, on September 7, 1955, benefactor Noel Sullivan formally donated the property and 29 surrounding acres to the Carmelites; the community was officially canonically established on September 29, 1955. The old mansion, once a private estate, had stood vacant since 1930 and had been purchased in 1945 by Napa rancher Martin Stelling primarily for the agricultural land. Noel Sullivan's generosity — and a further bequest upon his death in 1956 — funded construction of the present Chapel, designed by architect Paul Ryan. The Oakville house served as the Carmelite Novitiate for the California Region until 1981, when it was redesignated a House of Prayer and Retreat Center, the role it continues to fill today.
- Founded September 29, 1955 — first Discalced Carmelite monastery in Northern California
- Benefactor: Noel Sullivan (donated mansion + 29 acres in 1955; left bequest for the Chapel)
- Chapel architect: Paul Ryan
- Served as Novitiate for the California Region 1955 – 1981; redesignated House of Prayer in 1981
Carmelite Heritage & Patrons
The Oakville community is part of the worldwide Discalced Carmelite reform begun in 16th-century Spain by St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross in response to the Council of Trent. The Order spread from Spain to Ireland (1625), to Alhambra/Los Angeles (1924), and to Oakville in 1955. The House of Prayer is dedicated to the teachings of these two Carmelite saints and Doctors of the Church, who together shape the prayer, contemplation, and community life lived by the friars at Oakville. As the community states: 'The Discalced Carmelite Friar Community at the Oakville Carmelite House of Prayer is dedicated to living the Teresian Charism through prayer, community life and ministry.'
- Patron Saints: St. Teresa of Jesus (Teresa of Ávila) and St. John of the Cross
- Order: Discalced Carmelite Friars (OCD)
- Province: California-Arizona Province of St. Joseph
- Charism: prayer, community life, ministry — sharing the teachings of Carmelite saints in a prayerful environment
Retreats & Days of Recollection
The Carmelite House of Prayer is principally a retreat center, and the community welcomes individuals and groups to come away for a time of prayer in the Teresian tradition. Three retreat offerings are available: the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Center for silent personal retreats, the Saint Joseph Retreat Cottage for overnight stays, and the monthly First Saturday Day of Recollection led by the friars themselves.
- First Saturday Day of Recollection — $800 guided day (2 talks, Mass, Benediction) or $500 facility rental (group provides its own speaker/priest); max occupancy 50
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Center — silent personal retreats in solitude
- Saint Joseph Retreat Cottage — overnight retreat accommodations (phone: 707-278-8422)
First Saturday Day of Recollection
On the First Saturday of each month, the Carmelite friars host a full day of prayer at the House of Prayer. Groups or individuals can join the friars for a guided Day of Recollection (two talks, Mass, and Benediction) or rent the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Center and bring their own speaker or priest. Maximum occupancy is 50 for either option; contact the House of Prayer for availability.
- Option 1 — $800: Guided Day of Recollection by the Carmelite Friars (2 talks, Mass, Benediction)
- Option 2 — $500: Rent Our Lady of Mount Carmel Center (group provides its own speaker/priest)
- Maximum occupancy: 50
Saint Joseph Retreat Cottage
The Saint Joseph Retreat Cottage offers overnight accommodations for individual retreatants seeking a quiet place of prayer on the Oakville grounds. Inquiries and bookings are handled directly through the House of Prayer (phone: 707-278-8422).
- Overnight retreat accommodations
- Phone: 707-278-8422
- Contact: Carmelite House of Prayer, P.O. Box 347, Oakville, CA 94562
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Center
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Center is the facility for silent personal retreats at the Carmelite House of Prayer. Retreatants are invited to 'deepen your communion with God in a place of silence and solitude for personal retreats.' The center is also available to rent for self-directed group days (see First Saturday Day of Recollection).
- Silent personal retreats
- Available for self-directed group retreats (see First Saturday option)
- Maximum occupancy: 50
Community & Leadership
The Carmelite House of Prayer is staffed by a community of Discalced Carmelite friars (OCD) belonging to the California-Arizona Province of St. Joseph. The community is led by a prior/rector assigned by the Province. The current rector is Fr. Peter Mary Vecellio, OCD, who began his assignment at Oakville in 2023. The Provincial Superior of the California-Arizona Province is Fr. Matthew Williams, OCD, who himself served as prior at Oakville from 1999 to 2005 before being elected to lead the Province. Over the past three decades, Oakville has been led by a succession of OCD friars including Fr. Patrick Sugrue (1990–1996), Fr. Stephen Watson (1996–1999), Fr. Matthew Williams (1999–2005), Fr. Jan Lundberg (2005–2011), and Fr. Philip Sullivan (2011–2020).
- Current rector: Fr. Peter Mary Vecellio, OCD (2023 – present)
- Provincial Superior: Fr. Matthew Williams, OCD
- Order: Discalced Carmelite Friars (OCD), California-Arizona Province of St. Joseph
- Diocese: Diocese of Santa Rosa
Visit & Contact
The Carmelite House of Prayer welcomes visitors, retreatants, and those simply seeking a quiet place to pray. The Chapel is open Sunday through Saturday, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM. The House of Prayer is located in Oakville, a small community in the heart of Napa Valley between the towns of Napa and Calistoga. The mailing address is P.O. Box 347, Oakville, CA 94562. Inquiries about retreats, days of recollection, and the Saint Joseph Retreat Cottage can be directed to the community by phone or email.
- Address: 20 Mount Carmel Drive, P.O. Box 347, Oakville, CA 94562
- Phone: (707) 944-2454
- Saint Joseph Retreat Cottage: 707-278-8422
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.oakvillecarmelites.com
- Chapel Hours: 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM daily
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick Sugrue, OCD1990 – 1996
Prior/Director of the Oakville community
- Fr. Stephen Watson, OCD1996 – 1999
Prior/Director of the Oakville community
- Fr. Matthew Williams, OCD1999 – 2005
Prior/Director of the Oakville community; later became Provincial Superior
- Fr. Jan Lundberg, OCD2005 – 2011
Prior/Director of the Oakville community
- Fr. Philip Sullivan, OCD2011 – 2020
Prior/Director of the Oakville community
- Fr. Peter Mary Vecellio, OCD2023 – present
Current rector/prior at the Carmelite House of Prayer