Become a Friend of the St. Joseph Retreat & Conference Center

Become a Friend of the St. Joseph Retreat & Conference Center 

At St. Joseph’s, we welcome you to become a Friend of the St. Joseph Retreat & Conference Center. How can you help by being a Friend? We’ve got some ideas. 

First, would you be willing to pray for our facility? It is an amazing blessing that the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana purchased and refurbished the former Sisters of St. Joseph campus and buildings in 2016. We have entered our third year of providing retreats and conference space. We’re growing and adding new retreats and meetings every week, but we know we need prayer to sustain our growth and meet our goal as the spiritual epicenter for retreats, conferences, faith formation and educational programs. 

Our small staff of four full-time and eight part-time employees are dedicated and invested in St. Joseph’s success. You find our staffers wearing a lot of hats, pitching in to help wherever the need. Growing the Retreat Center is a vocation for us all—we work at St. Joseph’s because we believe in the vision:  to enable parishes, schools and individuals of all denominations to unite in the heart of Jesus Christ. We provide opportunities for spiritual formation, healing and professional development to both the seeker and the disciple. We offer a sacred space with rich history, a calm, warm and inviting atmosphere, and modern amenities. 

Second, consider joining us as a volunteer. We have several ways you can support our mission—as a front desk agent, serving meals, landscaping or outdoor cleanup, or monthly Chapel cleaning and straightening.  

In the future, we look to have Retreat Hosts who would volunteer much like a campground host does—serve as hosts during retreats and also be on-site overnight during busy retreat stretches.  

We have a couple of volunteers who manage the cleaning of Mass linens and towels, and do spot cleaning of the chapel candle sticks, floors, and sacristy for the St. Joseph Chapel. In addition, Jamie Davis has volunteered with us since April 2019. She can be seen welcoming guests at the front desk and serving meals in the cafeteria.  

“What I like best about volunteering is helping the SJRCC staff create a hospitable environment that enhances guest's experience,” Jamie said. “The facilities are a wonderful place to be and everyone is warm, friendly and easy to work with.” 

Jamie’s volunteer hours vary with how many events we have and the time of the year. Over the summer she worked about nine hours a month, but her hours have increased to around nine hours a week this fall! Our busiest times are fall and spring—two beautiful seasons to spend time at St. Joseph’s. 

Jamie lives nearby and chose to volunteer with us after visiting as a guest herself and having a very positive experience.  

“I wanted to contribute to providing that experience for other guests,” Jamie said. 

To learn more about becoming a Friend of the St. Joseph Retreat & Conference Center, contact Twyla Arnold, Marketing Specialist, at (765) 551-9584 or [email protected].