Former Catholic seminary to become retreat center in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Empathy Center located high in the foothills on Las Canoas Road near Skofield ark overlooks Santa Barbara's scenic landscapes.

This venue was known as St. Mary's Catholic Seminary for decades.

Now, it’s getting a major makeover.

“We’re turning it into an open retreat center that anyone can take part," said director Edwin Rutsch of The Empathy Center.

Charles Rustch purchased the property at auction for $7.5 million almost two years ago.

“My brother was interested in retreat centers since he was a child … he thought maybe he can buy it," said Edwin Rutsch.

Since then, Charles and his brother Edwin Rustch have been leading the way to fixing up every inch of the site from the kitchen to the outdoor landscaping.

“The arborists are bringing their wood chips and they’ll decompose overtime," said Edwin Rustch.

Developers of the center hope this site will ultimately bring people from all walks of life together.

“From all over the world that they can get together and connect with each other," said Edwin Rutsch.

“I was born Catholic, but you know over the years I’ve gone more open and I just love that it’s a place for everybody to just come in and commune and hang out," said manager Christian Cardenas of The Empathy Center.

While renovations are expected to continue into the next year, the venue is still hosting workshops, events and other related activities.

One of the events was the visit of Tibetan monks.

“My hope is to bring people together and bridge these different divides and for people to connect and hear each other," said Edwin Rutsch.

The center also held an interfaith event with 16 local interfaith leaders to find common ground.

They have hosted numerous Empathy Cafes, providing community members with a platform to share their insights and feedback about the center.

Everyone is welcome on Sundays at 11 a.m. for an Empathy Café, where participants can learn more about getting involved with the center.

For additional details, visit: TheEmpathyCenter.org