New center in Loomis will offer youths a place to share their faith

By Nancy Westlund
Herald Staff

The new Marello Youth Center, set on a oak studded hillside in the Placer County town of Loomis, is both a tribute to the perseverance and faith of its builders and blessed with some timely divine providence.

Built on the grounds of Mount St. Joseph Seminary, the youth center is owned and operated by the Oblates of St. Joseph and named after their founder, St. Joseph Marello.

Designed primarily for youth retreat programs, the 10,000-square-foot center will be a place for youth to gather, share their faith and listen to the word of God.

“We want to especially invite young people to examine what their lives are about — a basic way of asking why am I here and finding Christ an answer to that,” said Oblate Father Brian Crawford, director of formation at the seminary and director of the Marello Youth Center.

The priest said that about 10 years ago the Oblates began to refocus their energies by working more actively with youth groups in parishes under their spiritual direction. They also became aware of a scarcity of venues that were affordable for youth group retreats.

“We noticed we had all this property that was not being used as well as it could be,” he said, “so why not build a facility youth groups could use?”

In mid-September the Oblates of St. Joseph announced plans to no longer staff St. Mary Parish in Sacramento after March 3, 2003, in part to focus on vocations recruitment and staffing the Marello Youth Center.

Among the new center’s exterior features are an entry plaza with fountain and patio area, paths for meditative walks, and a volleyball court.

Meeting room areas to accommodate groups up to 500, a chapel, lounge and sun room with fireplace, dorm-style sleeping quarters, dining areas, library, and kitchen complete the interior.

Architect for the project was Piches Architecture in Roseville. The contractor was Sacramento-based J. P. Heintz and Company.

Francis Volden, the coordinator at Marello, said the master plan provides “a place to be comfortable with your faith.”

Volden witnessed the Oblates’ hope and dreams for Marello narrowly escape destruction during a Placer County fire that broke out on Sept. 18 near Interstate 80 and Sierra College Boulevard and quickly spread to rural Loomis.

She remembers working that day with telephone wiring of the facility when she saw a plume of smoke out the window. Within minutes the wind driven fire jumped Wells Avenue in front of the center.

“The hand of the Lord has been on us from the get go,” said Volden, who said the fire zigzagged its way around the youth center and seminary, coming within several feet of the stations of the cross but inflicting no damage on any buildings.

Fund-raising efforts for the project began eight years ago, involving numerous fund-raisers and the ardent support of volunteers like Clare McLaughlin. A member of St. Philomene Parish in Sacramento, McLaughlin has worked on publicity for the Oblates’ building project, including getting out the word about their major annual fund-raiser, “Dining Under the Stars.” She said her enthusiasm is inspired by the Oblates’ apostolate to youth, which has touched her life in a very personal way.

“The charism of their order is very dear to me, their love of children by getting involved in their spiritual life,” said McLaughlin, whose son, Brother Steven McLaughlin, is studying theology with the Oblates at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. “The priests can hardly wait until they have programs at the center to build children’s spirituality.”

A grand opening for the Marello Youth Center was held Oct. 27 with tours and a musical performance by Croatian vocalist Tatiana.

For more information or to make reservations, call (916) 652-6155.

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