Labyrinth Walking
Guests are welcomed to sign up to walk the labyrinth at GilChrist, as a way to celebrate our 25th anniversary! Our hope is to have at least one walker per day between October 1-25, to reflect the importance of being present on the land -- particularly in these challenging times.
Please fill out this form or email gilchrist@fetzer.org to indicate what date and time of day you would like to walk the labyrinth.
25th Anniversary Ceremony (Private Event)
Due to COVID safety considerations, a private, outdoor ceremony will be held.
Echoing elements of the original dedication in 1995, this ceremony will celebrate the inspiration that brought GilChrist into being as well as reflections on what GilChrist has inspired since its creation. An outdoor processional on the land will honor the past, present, and future of GilChrist while offering prayers for the people, land, creatures, and places within the GilChrist community.
25 Days of GilChrist
For 25 years, GilChrist Retreat Center has served an extended community of humans and other living beings with space for rest, regeneration, and healing. As we prepare to observe the 25th anniversary of the dedication of GilChrist on October 15, our nation is deeply divided politically, a novel virus has dramatically reshaped daily life around the world, the struggle for racial justice continues with urgency, and our wounded planet is crying out.
A Reflection on Deep, Sacred Rest
At the GilChrist Retreat Center, we encourage our guests, who cannot be present on our land, to “retreat in place.” In doing so, they find centeredness and peace in their surroundings. We dialogue with an already strong network of retreat centers in North America, giving and receiving support. We watch the land take a Sabbath of its own.
Retreat in Place
This note, from Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma, head caretaker at GilChrist (our public retreat center) and her staff, provides both an update about the closure of the center as a result of the pandemic and a reminder of the “unexpected gifts” it offers.
Freedom of Spirit: Celebrating John Fetzer
Our founder, John E. Fetzer, spent a lifetime following a deep spiritual yearning as documented in Brian C. Wilson’s book John E. Fetzer and the Quest for the New Age. The book was recently awarded the Historical Society of Michigan's highest honor, the State History Award. Today, we celebrate the birth of Mr.
CANCELLED: The Lord Your Shepherd Silent Directed Retreats
One-night and two-night options available
"The Lord is your Shepherd... You shall not want... He makes you lie down in green pastures. He leads you beside the still waters. He restores your soul." Psalm 23:1-2
Re-Creating a Life: Telling Our Most Life-Giving Story
In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.
--Dante, Divine Comedy
Dante penned this in the 12th Century and it remains part of the human condition today.
Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story, Film Screening and Discussion
An Evening with Acclaimed Documentarian Martin Doblmeier
How to describe Dorothy Day? Grandmother, anarchist, prophet, journalist, pacifist, saint? The FBI once considered her a threat to national security. Now the Catholic Church is considering her for sainthood.
CANCELLED: Resilience Retreat: Lessons from the Stoics
When we think of "resilient" people, we generally think of individuals who adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, stress and/or tragedy. Resilience is less a trait that someone possesses; it is more a capacity that each of us can build within ourselves through our thoughts, behaviors, habits, and actions.