Honoring Our 40 Year History and Mission
Preserve Our Heritage
Plan For Our Future
The Christine Center Community’s Gifts:
Time, Talent and Treasure
October 10, 2020 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Christine Center. The Christine Center was founded by Sr. Virginia Barta, OSF in a humble re-fashioned barn.
Sr. Virginia’s vision “We Are One” was to create a place of solitude and retreat within a nature setting, which would support the spiritual growth and deepening of individuals. She relied on a process of personal prayer and discernment to direct her to a 251-acre property in Willard, Wisconsin.
From the very beginning Sr Virginia recognized she alone could not accomplish her vision. Funds would need to be raised and volunteers would need to be recruited.
An Initial Fundraising Appeal-Treasures
After a handwritten appeal for contributions from numerous religious communities across the country, Sr. Virginia was successful in raising funds, which would allow the Center to become a reality.
The Generous Spirit of Volunteers-Time and Talent
Upon the Sisters Wisconsin arrival, it became apparent that beyond a sense of resiliency and determination, the Sisters’ rural skill sets were limited. Wood needed to be chopped and gathered for fuel; and parcels of land needed to be prepared for seasonal planting and harvesting. Help from willing volunteers would be needed for the Center to thrive. On a rainswept day the Sister’s dog ran away, which prompted Sr. Virginia to search and knock on the doors of neighbors. Although Muffin, unfortunately was never found; the efforts put forth to locate her dog transformed neighboring strangers into new friends. These “angels” donated supplies and assistance for the construction of dwellings; assisted with planting and harvesting; raised goats for milk and bees for honey. Her hope was that the growing community would live peacefully, grow spiritually, and together promote global transformation.
Support the Christine Center
For the last 40 years the Christine Center has relied on the generosity of friends, volunteers, and donors to support our mission of spiritual deepening for global transformation through gifts of time, talent, and treasure.
Preserve Our Heritage
For 40 years, our overarching goal is that guests who journey to this unique wooded sanctuary find opportunities to transform, heal, and create a life of spiritual depth. Your generous gift supports our wide range of ever-evolving onsite and online programs; allows for the preservation and upgrade of campus buildings; maintains our hermitages and nature trails; and assists us with meeting our operating expenses.
Consider a Monthly Sustaining Gift
You may also want to consider a recurring, sustaining monthly contribution, which can be charged to your debit or credit card by clicking the link above.
IRA Contributions
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Stock Contributions
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More Ways to Contribute
In Kind Donations
There are times when the Christine Center is in need of new or gently used house furnishings, i.e., chairs, lamps, tables etc.
Please contact p.gerhke@christinecenter.org regarding the items you may want to contribute before bringing them to the Center.
AmazonSmile
Here is another way to support the Center.
So many of us have an Amazon account and purchase items on Amazon.com.
AmazonSmile is a program that donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases on Amazon to a charity of your choice. The donation will be made at no extra cost to you.
How to Sign Up for Amazon Smile
- Visit smile.amazon.com
- Sign in with your current Amazon.com login credentials.
- Carefully choose the charity you wish your contribution to be contributed to;
- The Christine Center.
No purchase is required at the time you sign up.
Become a Christine Center “Angel”
Volunteer your Time and Talent
Our Volunteers
Christine Center volunteers are a vital and integral part of the life at the Christine Center.
The volunteer needs of the Christine Center change from time to time. We are often looking for volunteers with computer skills who can assist with office assignments and front office greeters. Depending on the season, trail and garden maintenance are ongoing.
We honor the volunteers who over the last 40 years have contributed a countless number of hours. Sr. Virginia referred to those who assisted the Center as “Angels.” We view them as co-creators of this sacred woodland sanctuary.
How do I become a Volunteer?
If you wish to become a volunteer at the Center, please complete the attached form and return to p.gerhke@christinecenter.org or you may call Penny Gehrke at 715-267-7917.
You may volunteer for a day or several days depending on the Center needs. During your stay you will be provided lodging in a rustic hermitage and meals (when available) with the Christine Center community. You are also invited to participate in our daily meditations and use of the library. It is our hope that the combination of solitude and community life in this beautiful setting will support your spiritual growth while you are in turn supporting our mission.
The Christine Center Founder’s Circle
The Christine has been blessed with a legacy of donors who have chosen to support the Center’s mission and Programming. We are deeply grateful to all of our donors, who have generously given to support the Center’s operations and achieve the goals of two capital campaigns in 2000 and 2010, the funds of which were used to create our main Center building, Chapel, and Meditation Hall.
We are indebted to members of the Christine Center’s Founder’s Circle whose lifetime giving has exceeded $5000.
The generous spirit of the members of the Founders Circle has been a source of unfailing support to the Center’s mission. Their names are permanently remembered on a wall sculpture at the Center.
Contact k.yosko@christinecenter.org to have your generous spirit added to our list of Founders. (click here)
As we reflect on the last 40 years of the Center’s history, we extend special recognition to the ongoing generosity of our Founder’s Circle of Donors, whose lifetime giving has exceeded $5000. Their giving has been a source of unfailing support to the Center’s mission.
The Christine Center Founder’s Circle
Sherryl Andrus & George Scliffet
Rosanne Annoni
Rajai & Chickee Atalla
Mary Bart
Jan Irene Miller Bayuk & Jim Bayuk
Louis and Jean Boos
Margo Berg
Father Tom Borkowski
Carol & Neal Carbon
Linda Cates & Randy Apel
Patricia Connelly
Molly Corcoran
Mary Ann Crosby
Laura Desmarais
Joseph D’Arrigo
Peg Doherty
Henry & Paula Eisenhauer
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
Harry Faust
Jean Feraca
Joan Filla
Greg Fleischmann
Sherri Fuller
Sr. Delmarie Gibney, FSPA
Anne & Chad Gifford Family Foundation
Dexter Gillett
Carl Greer
Marie Goldbach
Diana Grove
Susan Dunne Gutzman & Andy Gutzman
Jim & Rhonda Hartwig
Dianne & Brian Henke
Gwen & John Hudetz
Frank & Carolyn Hudetz
Robert & Robin Hudetz
Richard Hunt
Patricia Lillis
Sherri Kliczak
Carol KretchmanKevin Leary & Mary Kelleher
Bela & Julie Maroti
Tom & Elena Matlock
Paul Norton
John & Diane Oliverio
Robert & Joan Parker
Terry Pate
Zorba & Penny Pastor
Mary K. Peterson
Ocean Prihoda
Karen Rudeen
Ziad Salameh
Susan K. Schmidt & Andrea Van Sickle
Joan Seubert
Bev & Tim O’Shaughnessy
School Sisters of Notre Dame
Sisters of St Francis, Denver, CO
Rick & Toni Sturtz
Richard & Donna Svruluga
The Minneapolis Foundation
Susan & John Twiggs
Erich Uhlein
Sr. Gabriele Uhlein, OSF PhD
Michael Ward & Maurice Melchiono
Mary Wehner
Wheaton Franciscan Sisters
Meg Whiston
Kathleen C. Yosko
Legacy Gift
“Each of us is a unique strand in the intricate web of life and here to make a contribution.”
― Deepak Chopra
It appears that the world around us is filled with uncertainty and unpredictability. Impermanence and change are ever present. We know that our lifespan constitutes o a microcosm of time As we view this landscape from the platform of our own lives we want to assure that we are agents of love, kindness and compassion to our loved ones, our communities and the world. I some respect we want
Still in progress………..needs text and the form revised
These days the world seems so unpredictable . . . as we view the landscape of our lives, we want to know that our time here has made a difference – we want to make the lives that follow us better in some small way.
Learn more about our Legacy Gift program.-link to outdated form https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ueSIyt2H0JVlVuinyQY11VqPYpYO-pfY/view
Board Committee Service
The Christine Center has been blessed with an exceptional group of Board leaders whose expertise has provided oversight and support for the Center’s Mission of Spiritual Deepening for Global Transformation.
The Board invites individuals with special skill sets or interests to consider sharing their expertise by serving on a Board Committee.
The Board Committees include:
- Donor Development
- Finance
- Program and Planning
- Buildings and Grounds
If you would like to be considered for membership on a Board Committee, please contact.
k.yosko@christinecenter.org.
