In the Fall of 1985, a group of people decided to provide an intense experience of spirituality. This group had learned, through the Center for Christian Information, that many people desperately needed genuine spirituality.

This need was so profound that Bro. George Hetzel, FSC suggested an extensive and intensive spiritual experience. Ideally, this experience would last a year. But hardly anyone could give a year.

So the group settled upon a month during the summer of 1986. Without financial support, the plan seemed doomed. But someone donated $600 to jump-start the project. That generous gift paid for advertising and some incidental expenses.

Nineteen people participated in this initial summer program, including four staff members. Some participants lived in the dorms at the College of Santa Fe, and others lived at home, but all spent between 8 and 10 hours per day interacting in classes, discussions, meals, Mass, and spiritual direction. It was indeed intense.

Most of the month we spent on the main dimensions of spirituality. But on Saturdays we hiked the mountains, meditated upon nature's grandeur, and rejoiced in God's scenic blessings. These blessings have characterized our offerings ever since. We provide time for participants to celebrate Santa Fe's environment.

At the end of the month, we requested a critique of all our experiences. Participants loved most of what we did, and suggested some improvements. The biggest of these improvements was to provide graduate education toward a Master's of spirituality. Thanks to St. Mary's University of San Antonio Texas, we implemented that program in 1987. We enacted most of the suggested improvements for subsequent summer programs.

The first summer program was such a success that most of the first summer participants returned for one or more additional programs. One participent has attended all the programs ever since. Many of the participants from later summers have returned every summer as well. This is the chief blessing that God has bestowed upon us.

To our surpise, God also blessed us financially. We paid all our bills, and had $900 left over. This is a modern example of multiplying loaves and fishes.

Thus the first summer program subsidized the following summer, and so God has continued our work ever since.