Support

Christ in the Wilderness exists through God’s abundant grace. We are supported by the prayers, good will, volunteer assistance and financial gifts of many people, as well as the ongoing support of our sponsor, the Congregation of St. Joseph. Through their generosity, we have been able to keep our fees low, enabling all who seek solitude to retreat here for less than one half the true cost.

If you believe in the importance of our mission and are committed to keeping this center available for all who cherish a place of quiet, serenity and solitude, we invite you to support us for little or no cost by offering prayer for CITW, spreading the word to your friends and acquaintances through our social media pages and newsletter, or purchasing a gift certificate so that a friend may know the peace and serenity found at CITW.

If you are able and willing, we invite you to take a step further and support us in the following ways. Christ in the Wilderness is a registered 501c3 organization. Hence, all contributions with a known financial value are tax deductible.

Financial

Financial contributions to Christ in the Wilderness can be in the form of:

A One-time Donation.
Recurring Donations to provide ongoing support.
Tribute Gifts in memory or honor of someone, or in celebration of a special occasion.
Planned Gifts by including Christ in the Wilderness in your will or other financial planning vehicle, such as the gift of stock, bonds, and life insurance, or a charitable gift annuity or trust, or a gift through an IRA transfer.

If you are interested in making a gift to Christ in the Wilderness through your will or irrevocable living trust, Click here to download a document with our recommended bequest language. We welcome you to print out this document and take it to your attorney who will help you select the language that best fits your needs.

Additionally, the Congregation of St. Joseph Mission Advancement Office is available to assist you. Click here to learn more or, if you prefer, you may directly contact Gary W. Mulhern, Gift Planning Specialist, Congregation of St. Joseph at:

137 Mount St. Joseph Road, Wheeling, WV, 26003
304.232.8160, ext. 148
gmulhern@csjoseph.org.

Donating online is easy. Simply click here and you’ll be directed to our Just Give site for secure online donations via most major credit cards.

We also accept financial donations via check and money order payable to Christ in the Wilderness. Click here to print and fill out a donation form to be included with your gift.

Christ in the Wilderness is a registered 501c3 organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.

Volunteering

If you are looking for a way to serve at CITW, please contact Sr. Julia by email at citw@citwretreat.com. We have numerous ways for you to be involved, whether you are an individual looking for a quick project or you belong to a group looking for a weekend service opportunity. Whatever your interests and talents, we will work with you to tailor the right project for your needs, skills and time frame. Here are examples of how you might be able to lend your talents:

Outdoor Projects

Clearing invasive plants on the property
Planting new trees and plants
Helping with building maintenance projects

Office/Administrative Projects

Envelope stuffing for newsletters, appeal letters and fundraiser announcements

“Wilderness Kitchen” Projects

Peeling apples, pears and other fruits for jams sold to raise funds

Professional/Business Expertise and Resources

Do you possess expertise in a given profession or field that could be used to help the ministry of CITW? Perhaps you own your own business and/or have equipment that could be used to help the ministry? Or, perhaps you have a particular talent that is needed?

If you would be interested in donating your time, experience, and/or your equipment, we would love to speak with you. Here are some needs that we currently have, most of which can be done from your home and don’t require travel to CITW:

Assisting with bookkeeping, accounting and finances
Maintaining our retreatant, volunteer and donor databases
Assisting with our promotional efforts, including newsletter writing/design, making introductory phone calls to church and organizational leaders and giving talks to interested groups on the benefits of a retreat of solitude
Fundraising and development
Board of Directors or one of its committees: Marketing, Development, Finance and Mission Effectiveness (BOD membership not required to serve on a Committee)

If you are interested in any of the above volunteer opportunities or would like to learn more, please contact our Executive Director, Sr. Julia Bathon, OSF by email at citw@citwretreat.com or by phone at 815-947-2476.

Wish List

Here is a list of key needs that would be an asset to our ministry:

Hermitage Needs - e.g., linens, towels, chair cushions, small appliances, vacuum cleaner, laundry detergent
Office Supply Needs - e.g., copier/printer paper, address labels, envelopes, note cards, printer ink cartridges
Grounds Needs - e.g., bird seed, maple/oak trees, prairie plants, gravel for road/parking lot
Maintenance Needs - e.g., equipment replacement, such as bar chain oil for saws, wood chipper, snow blade for ATV
Main House Needs - e.g., cooking, baking and canning supplies
Auction Items for Fundraisers

Contact Sr. Julia if you have one or more of these items or would be interested in purchasing them on behalf of CITW, or if you have something that is not on the list, but that you believe would be an asset to CITW. She will get back to you as soon as possible to confirm if it is something that will be of benefit and also to coordinate delivery of the item(s), if necessary.