TO GET STARTED or FOR MORE INFORMATION  

Christine A. Gerety, Ph.D., Director of Spiritual Care & Engagement:  | (310) 566-1531

Welcome to the Spirituality Center at St. Monica Catholic Community! We are glad you are here with us. The Center opened in August of 2021 through the vision and leadership of the late Fr Dave Ayotte. The Center exists to provide opportunities for individuals to deepen their relationship with Christ through a variety of experiences based on Catholic spirituality.

       Discover New Ways to Deepen Your Relationship with Christ

                        Important Dates:

                           ♦  Monthly Spiritual Direction: Currently Accepting Applications

                           ♦ Spiritual Chats: Available upon request, please email

                           ♦ Spiritual Exercises in Everday Life (SEEL): Applications for 2025-26 are now closed.

                           ♦ Giving The Exercises (GTE): Coming Back in Fall 2026!

Healing Your Soul: A One-Day Retreat Plus a Fall Series!

Healing Your Soul Fall Retreat
One-Day Retreat | October 11

This in-person retreat invites you into deeper stillness and sacred exploration. You’ll get to know your internal family of parts—those aspects of you that carry burdens, protect, or feel unseen—and learn how to meet them with compassion. Through meaningful teaching, guided meditations, and unhurried personal space, you’ll reconnect with your core self and the healing presence of God. Inspired by Romans 12, we’ll honor the hidden, tender parts of our inner world and create room for transformation. 

Retreat fee: $65 before 10/10/25; $70 at the door

Includes light breakfast, lunch, speaker stipend & retreat supplies

Register HERE!

Questions? Contact Christine at  or 310-566-1531.

What People Are Saying About Healing Your Soul

I have been attending Dr. DiPaolo’s ‘Healing Your Soul’ for the past year and love the sessions. Each time, I come away with a renewed sense of grace that provides me with a set of tools for my day-to-day. Whether there is a specific theme or a reading, I enjoy the connection and fellowship Dr. DiPaolo facilitates.
Keith T.

Dr. DiPaolo creates a space of love, clarity and community. This environment is a safe space for every part of us to be seen and heard. Healing happens in the quiet moments of prayer, reflection, and meditation. It’s in this space that the soul can illuminate and remind us of who we truly are. Your saddened parts feel held, and God does the healing.

Healing Your Soul is exactly that – Healing Your Soul. It may not happen all at once, but if you are willing, open and consistent, no matter what stage of life you’re in, God will hold your hand as you peel back the different layers of yourself. Megan D.

Dr. Michael DiPaolo and the Healing Your Soul program have helped me to grow emotionally and spiritually and gain a better understanding of the many parts of me. These gatherings have provided a space to develop tools to manage difficult and sometimes challenging life circumstances and have led to the healing of some difficult relationships. I am very grateful for the opportunities I have had to connect with this program and the small

group format, and I look forward to continuing to grow in knowledge of my core self (Imago Dei).
Lynn K.

Healing Your Soul Fall 2025 Series:

Come As You Are: A Sacred Space for Healing

This fall, you're invited into a sacred rhythm of soul care—a time to breathe deeply, listen inward, and encounter God’s healing presence. Healing Your Soul returns with our fall series, Come As You Are: A Sacred Space for Healing.

The series includes a three-part Monthly Gathering designed to help you reconnect with your inner world and the still, loving voice of God. Through gentle prayer, reflection, and a blend of faith and inner work, each session offers space to bring your whole self—yes, even the messy parts.

Monthly Gatherings | Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
St. Monica Spirituality Center

November 12 – The Wounds We Carry, The Mercy We Meet
December 10 – The Darkness We Hold, The Light That Is Coming

Each evening offers a sacred pause—space to slow down, reflect, and gently tune in to the parts of you that long to be seen. You’ll be guided through a contemplative blend of presentation, quiet reflection, and Internal Family Systems (IFS)-inspired practices to help you experience God’s presence more intimately. RSVP to Christine at  or 310-566-1531 

Video: After the Wildfires: Finding Healing & Relief Together

After the Wildfires: Finding Healing & Relief Together

Click the Livestream Archive below:

In the wake of the wildfires, many of us are carrying grief, stress, and uncertainty. Whether you’ve been directly affected or are feeling the weight of our community’s loss, you are not alone. We hope this video will provide you with support and renewal.  Our team of parish experts shared insights on coping with stress, fostering resilience, and embracing faith in the healing process. Through prayer, brief presentations, guided exercises, and heartfelt conversations, we offered ways to find comfort, strength, and hope.

Facilitated by:

Michael DiPaolo, Ph.D.

Christine Gerety, Ph.D.

John Osborne, M.Div.

Michael DiPaolo is a clinical psychologist & certified Imago Relationship Therapist in private practice in West Los Angeles.  Dr DiPaolo integrates psychology and spirituality into his work with individuals and couples.  He has been active in many ministries as a St. Monica member for over 25 years, including  counseling over 1,500 couples in marriage preparation.  Dr. DiPaolo is a frequent speaker, workshop presenter and retreat leader at parish and archdiocesan gatherings.  Dr. DiPaolo has been married to his wife Jennie for over 25 years. They have 3 wonderful children, along with a hyperactive dog. He can be found online at www.DrMichaelD.com.

Christine Gerety is the Director of Spiritual Care & Engagement at St. Monica Catholic Community.  At St. Monica, she enjoys collaborating with parishioners of all ages in pastoral care, spiritual direction and parish engagement ministries and programs. Her activities include facilitating Bereavement Groups, training Bereavement Ministers, working with Stephen Ministers, conducting retreats and leading the parish’s Spirituality Center.

John Osborne has been teaching meditation and breath work to faith-based groups for the last 45 years and was formerly a Trappist monk at Saint Joseph’s Abbey. He is a graduate of Hamilton College and Yale Divinity School. 

Levanté with Fr. Michael Fish, OSB, Cam.

Levanté 4 Is Now Available!!

St. Monica is so excited to offer our community opportunity to find out more about Fr. Michael Fish's Levanté Retreats! Fr. Michael, a retreat master and beloved speaker at St. Monica, has created an innovative video retreat series that can be done at home, inspired by his most recent pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. 

Fall 2025

Online HERE

Upcoming Levanté 1 Retreats

         September 4-17
        October 2-15
         November 6-19

Upcoming Levanté 2 Retreats

            September 4-17
        October 2-15
         November 6-19

Upcoming Levanté 3 Retreats

         September 11-24
           October 23-November 5

Upcoming Levanté 4 Retreats

           September 20-October 10
            October 23-November 5

• More about Levanté

   

  Levanté focuses on how simple everyday events hold valuable lessons for living life in the “now.” Retreatants will learn how viewing each day as a separate, distinct experience can reveal simple, easily overlooked opportunities for us to live more fully in the present and in the presence of the Divine. And Michael's remarkable gift of storytelling and metaphor to show us how these experiences can hold the key to opening our hearts!

   

  Currently there are three Levanté Retreats. Both are stand-alone retreats that include five unique sections, each focusing on a different "day." You can do the Levanté Retreats in any order (e.g., you can do Levanté 2 before Levanté 1, or Levanté 3 before Levanté 1). 

   

  Upcoming Levanté 1 Retreats

  September 4-17
  October 2-15
  November 6-19

  
  

  Upcoming Levanté 2 Retreats

  September 4-17
  October 2-15
  November 6-19
  
  Upcoming Levanté 3 Retreats
  September 11-24
  October 23-November 5
  
  Upcoming Levanté 4 Retreats
  September 20-October 10
  October 23-November 5

• To register for a Levanté Retreat or to get more information,
  visit the Levanté website 

  From the Levante website:

   

  Fr.Michael Fish, OSB. CAM, is a Camaldolese monk who has created over a dozen popular retreats and has decades of experience as a retreat master and spiritual guide. Michael’s popular retreats are unique, engaging inspirational experiences. He has a gift forintuiting the complexities and distractions that impinge on our ability to call on our own spirituality for comfort and contemplation. Michael has an engaging personality, freely displaying his own vulnerabilities and foibles. His past retreats have explored such topics as Contemplative ways of being, Finding our inner monk,Thomas Merton – Hermit Pilgrim, preparing for Holy Week and Celtic spiritually.

 

TO GET STARTED or FOR MORE INFORMATION  

Christine A. Gerety, Ph.D., Director of Spiritual Care & Engagement:  | (310) 566-1531

Welcome to the Spirituality Center at St. Monica Catholic Community! We are glad you are here with us. The Center opened in August of 2021 through the vision and leadership of the late Fr Dave Ayotte. The Center exists to provide opportunities for individuals to deepen their relationship with Christ through a variety of experiences based on Catholic spirituality.

 

       Discover New Ways to Deepen Your Relationship with Christ

 

                        Important Dates:

                           ♦  Monthly Spiritual Direction: Currently Accepting Applications

                           ♦ Spiritual Chats: Available upon request, please email

                           ♦ Spiritual Exercises in Everday Life (SEEL): Applications for 2025-26 are now closed.

                           ♦ Giving The Exercises (GTE): Coming Back in Fall 2026!

 

 

Healing Your Soul: A One-Day Retreat Plus a Fall Series!

 

 

Healing Your Soul Fall Retreat
One-Day Retreat | October 11

 

This in-person retreat invites you into deeper stillness and sacred exploration. You’ll get to know your internal family of parts—those aspects of you that carry burdens, protect, or feel unseen—and learn how to meet them with compassion. Through meaningful teaching, guided meditations, and unhurried personal space, you’ll reconnect with your core self and the healing presence of God. Inspired by Romans 12, we’ll honor the hidden, tender parts of our inner world and create room for transformation. 

Retreat fee: $65 before 10/10/25; $70 at the door

Includes light breakfast, lunch, speaker stipend & retreat supplies

Register HERE!

Questions? Contact Christine at  or 310-566-1531.

 

 

What People Are Saying About Healing Your Soul

 

I have been attending Dr. DiPaolo’s ‘Healing Your Soul’ for the past year and love the sessions. Each time, I come away with a renewed sense of grace that provides me with a set of tools for my day-to-day. Whether there is a specific theme or a reading, I enjoy the connection and fellowship Dr. DiPaolo facilitates.
Keith T.

 

Dr. DiPaolo creates a space of love, clarity and community. This environment is a safe space for every part of us to be seen and heard. Healing happens in the quiet moments of prayer, reflection, and meditation. It’s in this space that the soul can illuminate and remind us of who we truly are. Your saddened parts feel held, and God does the healing.

Healing Your Soul is exactly that – Healing Your Soul. It may not happen all at once, but if you are willing, open and consistent, no matter what stage of life you’re in, God will hold your hand as you peel back the different layers of yourself. Megan D.

 

Dr. Michael DiPaolo and the Healing Your Soul program have helped me to grow emotionally and spiritually and gain a better understanding of the many parts of me. These gatherings have provided a space to develop tools to manage difficult and sometimes challenging life circumstances and have led to the healing of some difficult relationships. I am very grateful for the opportunities I have had to connect with this program and the small

group format, and I look forward to continuing to grow in knowledge of my core self (Imago Dei).
Lynn K.

 

Healing Your Soul Fall 2025 Series:

Come As You Are: A Sacred Space for Healing

 

This fall, you're invited into a sacred rhythm of soul care—a time to breathe deeply, listen inward, and encounter God’s healing presence. Healing Your Soul returns with our fall series, Come As You Are: A Sacred Space for Healing.

The series includes a three-part Monthly Gathering designed to help you reconnect with your inner world and the still, loving voice of God. Through gentle prayer, reflection, and a blend of faith and inner work, each session offers space to bring your whole self—yes, even the messy parts.

 

Monthly Gatherings | Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
St. Monica Spirituality Center

November 12 – The Wounds We Carry, The Mercy We Meet
December 10 – The Darkness We Hold, The Light That Is Coming

 

Each evening offers a sacred pause—space to slow down, reflect, and gently tune in to the parts of you that long to be seen. You’ll be guided through a contemplative blend of presentation, quiet reflection, and Internal Family Systems (IFS)-inspired practices to help you experience God’s presence more intimately. RSVP to Christine at  or 310-566-1531 

Video: After the Wildfires: Finding Healing & Relief Together

After the Wildfires: Finding Healing & Relief Together

 

Click the Livestream Archive below:

In the wake of the wildfires, many of us are carrying grief, stress, and uncertainty. Whether you’ve been directly affected or are feeling the weight of our community’s loss, you are not alone. We hope this video will provide you with support and renewal.  Our team of parish experts shared insights on coping with stress, fostering resilience, and embracing faith in the healing process. Through prayer, brief presentations, guided exercises, and heartfelt conversations, we offered ways to find comfort, strength, and hope.

 

Facilitated by:

Michael DiPaolo, Ph.D.

Christine Gerety, Ph.D.

John Osborne, M.Div.

 

Michael DiPaolo is a clinical psychologist & certified Imago Relationship Therapist in private practice in West Los Angeles.  Dr DiPaolo integrates psychology and spirituality into his work with individuals and couples.  He has been active in many ministries as a St. Monica member for over 25 years, including  counseling over 1,500 couples in marriage preparation.  Dr. DiPaolo is a frequent speaker, workshop presenter and retreat leader at parish and archdiocesan gatherings.  Dr. DiPaolo has been married to his wife Jennie for over 25 years. They have 3 wonderful children, along with a hyperactive dog. He can be found online at www.DrMichaelD.com.

 

Christine Gerety is the Director of Spiritual Care & Engagement at St. Monica Catholic Community.  At St. Monica, she enjoys collaborating with parishioners of all ages in pastoral care, spiritual direction and parish engagement ministries and programs. Her activities include facilitating Bereavement Groups, training Bereavement Ministers, working with Stephen Ministers, conducting retreats and leading the parish’s Spirituality Center.

 

John Osborne has been teaching meditation and breath work to faith-based groups for the last 45 years and was formerly a Trappist monk at Saint Joseph’s Abbey. He is a graduate of Hamilton College and Yale Divinity School. 

 

 

Levanté with Fr. Michael Fish, OSB, Cam.

Levanté 4 Is Now Available!!

St. Monica is so excited to offer our community opportunity to find out more about Fr. Michael Fish's Levanté Retreats! Fr. Michael, a retreat master and beloved speaker at St. Monica, has created an innovative video retreat series that can be done at home, inspired by his most recent pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. 

 

Fall 2025

Online HERE

 

Upcoming Levanté 1 Retreats

         September 4-17
        October 2-15
         November 6-19

 

Upcoming Levanté 2 Retreats

            September 4-17
        October 2-15
         November 6-19

 

Upcoming Levanté 3 Retreats

         September 11-24
           October 23-November 5

 

Upcoming Levanté 4 Retreats

           September 20-October 10
            October 23-November 5

 

 

• More about Levanté

   

  Levanté focuses on how simple everyday events hold valuable lessons for living life in the “now.” Retreatants will learn how viewing each day as a separate, distinct experience can reveal simple, easily overlooked opportunities for us to live more fully in the present and in the presence of the Divine. And Michael's remarkable gift of storytelling and metaphor to show us how these experiences can hold the key to opening our hearts!

   

  Currently there are three Levanté Retreats. Both are stand-alone retreats that include five unique sections, each focusing on a different "day." You can do the Levanté Retreats in any order (e.g., you can do Levanté 2 before Levanté 1, or Levanté 3 before Levanté 1). 

   

  Upcoming Levanté 1 Retreats

  September 4-17
  October 2-15
  November 6-19

  
  

  Upcoming Levanté 2 Retreats

  September 4-17
  October 2-15
  November 6-19
  
  Upcoming Levanté 3 Retreats
  September 11-24
  October 23-November 5
  
  Upcoming Levanté 4 Retreats
  September 20-October 10
  October 23-November 5

• To register for a Levanté Retreat or to get more information,
  visit the Levanté website 

  From the Levante website:

   

  Fr.Michael Fish, OSB. CAM, is a Camaldolese monk who has created over a dozen popular retreats and has decades of experience as a retreat master and spiritual guide. Michael’s popular retreats are unique, engaging inspirational experiences. He has a gift forintuiting the complexities and distractions that impinge on our ability to call on our own spirituality for comfort and contemplation. Michael has an engaging personality, freely displaying his own vulnerabilities and foibles. His past retreats have explored such topics as Contemplative ways of being, Finding our inner monk,Thomas Merton – Hermit Pilgrim, preparing for Holy Week and Celtic spiritually.

 

Programs & Resources

• Spiritual Chats
• Retreats
• Ignatian Resources
• Speakers

Click Here to Support the Work of the Spirituality Center.