St. Columban Retreat Center

The St. Columban Retreat Center is located in Bellevue, just 15 minutes from Omaha, Nebraska!

Great for graduation parties, anniversaries, birthdays, wedding receptions, groups and business meetings.
Open all year. All denominations are welcome.

The St. Columban Retreat Center, located in the heart of Bellevue, NE, is designed to accommodate groups of 10 to 44 for overnight stays in a dorm-style center. The second and third floors both have men's and women’s restrooms, each containing multiple toilets and shower stalls along with a large sink and vanity. Two three-quarter restrooms are available on the main floor.

The main floor common area is able to accommodate  guests for dining, meetings, birthday or graduation parties, quilting retreats, family reunions, bridal events and so much more. AV equipment is also available for rent in this area.

Retreat Center Mural
The mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe adorns the St. Columbans Retreat Center.

A catering kitchen is located off the common area with three sinks and plenty of countertop area. Also provided is a refrigerator, separate chest freezer, microwave, toasters and coffee makers for your use. The kitchen does not have a stove or oven, so please feel free to contact us for catering suggestions.

Related Story:
Read more about the creation of the Our Lady of Guadalupe mural on the St. Columban's Retreat Center.

The ground-level entrance on the west-side of the building is convenient for loading and unloading.  The WI-FI and parking are free.

If you’ve visited us in the past, please stop by to see the upgrades!  The first floor common area has been repainted and the carpet replaced.  The kitchen cabinets are refreshed with a coat of paint.  We have a new HVAC system and new water heater along with new furniture and lamps in the bedrooms.  Each bedroom is now adorned with its own crucifix.  Local artists created a mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe which adorns the east side of the building.

Please feel free to walk around the beautiful campus during your visit.  The property has many tree lined roadways, large open fields for group activities and a beautiful walking path down to a private Grotto where you can meditate on the Stations of the Cross and Stations of the Resurrection.  A beautiful 20’x40’ pavilion is also available for your event.  The pavilion contains ceiling fans and lights.  Pause to reflect for a moment at the Memorial Garden displaying the names of martyred Columban Fathers.  Bricks are available for purchase if you have  a loved one you would like to honor and memorialize.

Contact Information

For more information and to check availability, please contact us using the address, phone and email below. Tours are available by appointment between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. (M-F).   

Retreat Center Coordinator
Dyanne Wendling
1902 N. Calhoun Street
St. Columbans, NE 68056.
Tel: 402-291-1920
Email: retreatcenter@columban.org

Thank you for taking the time to look through our website. We look forward to hearing from you!

Directions

Retreat Center Map

 

From I-80 (Omaha, NE): travel South on Kennedy Freeway, exit at Highway 370 and turn left onto Harlan Drive. Continue east to Galvin Road and turn right, at the next streetlight turn left onto Mission Avenue. Head east two blocks and turn left onto Calhoun Street. Continue to the top of the hill and you will enter the Columban property. The large, brick building as you drive up the hill is the priest residence, continue down the road and take the next left, this will take you right into the parking lot north of the Columban Retreat Center. The access drive in the back of the building is available to offload items, please do not park there.

View on Google Maps   Retreat Center Map

Pricing

Retreat Center: $200 per day, plus $35 per bed/per night for the use of sleeping rooms. Maximum 2 people per room.
Meeting Room + Pavilion: $250 all day
Pavilion only: $125 all day (8 a.m.-10 p.m.) or $75 for up to four hours
Grotto: $75 for up to four hours
AV Equipment: $25 per day (charged per day for entire stay)
Note: The Columban Fathers themselves are unable to offer guided retreats, groups using the facilities are required to provide their own facilitator. For overnight stays there is a minimum requirement of 10 people in order to rent the Columban Fathers Retreat Center.

Testimonials

Thank you so much for allowing us to stay overnight on June 18 at the St. Columban Retreat Center as we made our way to Boy Scout Summer Camp in Tabor, SD. It was a great facility and we enjoyed our time there. We appreciate your generosity and hospitality!

BSA Troop 936, sponsored by Church of St. Benedict, Broken Arrow, OK

"The retreat was wonderful. I could immediately see the improvements. In particular, the kitchen looks nice with the painted cupboards!"

Alpha Retreat, Mary Our Queen Parish

"I rented The Columban Fathers Retreat Center to host a small family dinner after my daughter’s wedding. Covid-19 changed our plans of having a big wedding and reception. Dyanne, the Retreat Center Coordinator, went out of her way to accommodate us. She even made sure the grass was freshly mowed and the inside was cleaned a second time.  

This place is a hidden treasure! It was perfect for what we needed. First of all, it is tucked away in a little area of paradise, right in the heart of Bellevue. 

The grounds are beautiful. The retreat center was spotless and smelled fresh and clean. There is a catering kitchen with a huge refrigerator. The room is large, with several tables. There is an audiovisual system available for a nominal fee.

The photos that were taken on the Columban Fathers grounds are priceless. The photographer even captured photos of several deer! 

I will treasure the wedding photos, along with the memories that were made that day.

Tracy Francois