Invitation for Renewal Retreat
By Tim Williams, Senior Director of Formation & Leadership Development
Begun in 2002, the Invitation for Renewal (IFR) program is nearing 1000 alumni, and nearly every one of them will tell you that this five-day retreat was a profoundly transformational experience in their Vincentian lives.
The spark that led to Invitation for Renewal came from a survey of members by National President Gene Smith in 1999, asking what they felt was their greatest need. The response was overwhelming: spiritual formation. As a result, formation became the #1 goal in the Society’s first Strategic Plan in 2000 and it remains the highest priority in the Society.
In 2002, the Invitation for Renewal Committee, chaired by then-future National President Sheila Gilbert, developed a new leadership formation program which sought to return the Society to its roots and primitive spirit. It was an ambitious plan, which Gene enthusiastically approved.
Today, Invitation for Renewal is held twice yearly for groups of not more than thirty participants at the Pallotine Retreat Center in the St. Louis area. At this secluded 83-acre center, participants can set aside their daily cares, focusing on God’s creation and their own growth in this Vincentian vocation. Although the specific agenda is not published outside of the event, it does include classroom time, with deep dives into our spirituality, history, and the lives of our saints and founders; practical information on governance and leadership; worship time, with daily Mass and prayer services; time for quiet personal reflection; and most importantly time to grow together by sharing and bonding with fellow participants.
When the Society celebrated the twentieth Anniversary of Invitation for Renewal at the 2022 National Assembly, alumni were asked to share their thoughts and memories. We were overwhelmed by the responses we received, such as the ones below:
“Single best Vincentian activity I’ve taken part in during my years in the Society.”
“I am now 88 and my 2008 Invitation for Renewal experience has to go down as one of the most spiritually rewarding experiences in all my life.”
“IFR was one of the most valuable and cherished experiences I have had as a Vincentian. The week went by quickly but the friendships remain. Wonderful memories.”
Alumni of Invitation for Renewal have gone on to serve in many leadership positions in their Conferences, Councils, and Regions – including the last five National Council Presidents! Of the alumni who responded to a survey in July 2022:
- 61% have served as Conference Presidents
- 38% have served as District Council Presidents
- 29% have served as (Arch)Diocesan Council Presidents
- 37% have served on a National Council Committee
- 13% have chaired a National Council Committee
- 25% have served as Conference Spiritual Advisors
The current Invitation for Renewal team includes Dave Barringer, former CEO, Marge McGinley, National Formation Committee Chair, Sr. Consuelo Tovar, Associate Formation Director, Tim Williams, Senior Director of Formation and Leadership Development, Fr. Gerry Kelly, CM, Sherry Brown, Administrative Associate, and Marybeth Gamber and Gail Rowe who serve on national committees.
Invitation for Renewal is the Society’s premier event for formation and leadership development, and the best part about it is…you’re invited! The next IFR retreat is November 12-16, 2025. Find out more information about the fall retreat here.
