This week, the Fetzer Institute is pleased to celebrate the 30th anniversary of GilChrist Retreat Center, a public retreat center to nurture and provide space for every religious or spiritual journey. This milestone anniversary marks three decades of Sacred-centered contemplation, intuition, connection to the land and community.
In the 1990s, the Institute invested in GilChrist Retreat Center, which is nestled 40 miles south of Fetzer’s main campus in the peaceful countryside of Three Rivers, Michigan. The Retreat Center offers a sanctuary for those seeking solitude, spiritual renewal, and a deeper connection to the Sacred.
GilChrist’s origin story starts with Rob and Molly Lehman, who moved to Three Rivers because of its proximity to St. Gregory’s Abbey. Mr. Lehman was president of the Fetzer Institute at the time, and the couple ultimately gifted GilChrist to the Institute as an embodied expression of their aligned missions. The entities have grown in relationship, with GilChrist making the ability to participate in retreats accessible to the general public, and holding a space of stability through contemplative practice as the Institute’s work in the world grows and evolves.
With individual cabins and shared spaces for individual and group retreats, the Retreat Center is open to the public and invites guests to immerse themselves in nature and contemplative practices, disconnecting from the often frenetic world of digital demands.
Discover more about GilChrist and read a 30th anniversary reflection from GilChrist’s head caretaker Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma, here.