Gifts given. Gifts received. Blessings shared. The Spiritual Life Center in the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas is rooted from its very beginning in the spirituality of stewardship. Recognizing that all good gifts come from God and that we are stewards of the gifts we receive from Him, we are called to share these gifts with one another to build the Kingdom of God and to grow in personal holiness in the pilgrim journey to our heavenly home.

The individual gifts of many faithful women and men from throughout the diocese led to the construction of this place in 1990. Some of these gifts were large, while some were small. But all gifts, large or small, were given in love and in a firm belief that this would be a place for a pilgrim people to gather, who hunger for the Spirit, who thirst for the wisdom of God, who seek to serve as Jesus did. The journey began in faith and God was with us.

Today, that pilgrim journey of faith continues. God is with us. More than 17,000 people attended retreats and programs this past year at the Spiritual Life Center. Retreatants come from parishes all over the diocese, from the Midwest and throughout the entire United States. They come as guest and leave as servants.

No doubt the faith of those people who believed in the mission of this place led them to give sacrificially so that a dream became a reality. As the Spiritual Life Center continues to grow and seeks to serve the spiritual needs of pilgrims on the journey of faith, more stewards are invited to share their gifts of time, talent and treasure.

More than 150 volunteers share freely and generously of their time and talent to serve the guests who enter the doors of this holy ground. Many others share gifts of their treasure to support financially the operation of the facility and its beautiful grounds for the future generations that follow us in this pilgrim journey. Others contribute to scholarships and endowments for retreats and workshops so that sisters and brothers who otherwise could not afford to attend can now come and be nourished through the offerings of this place. Gifts given. Gifts received. Blessings shared.

We invite you to share your God-given gifts of time, talent and treasure as you travel your own journey of growth in personal holiness. I would be privileged to visit with you and help identify the many opportunities for sharing your gifts at the Spiritual Life Center. You can email me at frlanzrath@slcwichita.org or call me at the Spiritual Life Center, (316) 744-0167.

Gifts given. Gifts received. Blessings shared. May God bless you in your journey of faith, your journey in holiness, your journey to love as Jesus loves.

Rev. John P. Lanzrath, Director Spiritual Life Center