Plan Your Visit
Come as you are. Leave with peace.
Nestled on the shores of Lake Washington in Bellevue, Washington, the Peace & Spirituality Center offers a place of reflection, renewal, learning, and connection. Located within St. Mary-on-the-Lake, the residence of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, the Center welcomes individuals and small groups seeking space for prayer, retreat, dialogue, and spiritual growth.
Whether you join us for a program, spend time on retreat, attend a gathering, or simply come to learn more about our ministry, we hope you experience a spirit of welcome, hospitality, and peace.
By Appointment Only
The Peace & Spirituality Center exists to welcome people seeking peace, reflection, learning, and renewal. While this space is open to people of all backgrounds, it is important to understand that the Peace & Spirituality Center is not a standalone retreat facility or public venue.
The Center is located within St. Mary-on-the-Lake, the residence and regional office of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. As a ministry of the Sisters, it operates within a private residence rather than a dedicated retreat campus. For this reason, visits are by appointment only and should be connected to a scheduled program, retreat, meeting, tour, or other approved activity. This allows us to ensure that staff are available to welcome guests, that spaces are open and prepared for use, and that activities taking place on the property are respected.
Being by appointment only does not mean there is an admission fee to enter the property. Rather, it simply helps us provide a safe, hospitable, and well-supported experience for everyone who visits.
A Ministry Within A Home
As a private residence, the property is not open for general public use. While the grounds enjoy a beautiful lakeside setting, they are not a public park, picnic area, dog-walking destination, or public lake access point. This policy helps preserve a peaceful environment for the Sisters, retreatants, guests, and families who use the property throughout the year. If you are looking for public lake access, walking trails, or recreational space, several public parks are located nearby.
Discover The Peace & Spirituality Center & St. Mary on the Lake
Learn more about the programs, retreats, spaces, and experiences available at the Peace & Spirituality Center.
Join us for monthly, annual, and special events focused on spirituality, peace, justice, personal growth, and community.
Spend a few hours—or a few days—in quiet reflection and renewal through a self-guided day or overnight retreat.
Reserve space for your parish, ministry, nonprofit organization, leadership team, or small group gathering.
Learn more about our meeting spaces, guest accommodations, chapel, gardens, and Peace Labyrinth.
Find answers to common questions about visiting the Center, parking, accessibility, retreats, and more.
Find directions, parking information, accessibility details, and arrival instructions.
Accessibility & Hospitality
All of our programs are offered at no cost, because we believe that opportunities for reflection, learning, and spiritual growth should be freely available to everyone. For those wishing to reserve space for group or solo self-guided day or overnight retreat, we do request a modest donation.
While financial support for overnight retreats is limited, full support may be available for solo day retreats. We understand that financial circumstances vary, and we’re committed to making retreat experiences as accessible as possible. To be considered, please complete the Retreat Financial Support Application.