In 1967, the Province informed the Archbishop of Hartford,
Connecticut that the ministry of formation was evolving into a ministry of
retreats and spiritual renewal for religious as well as for laity. While this expanded the original inspiration
of the center, it also expanded the possibilities for furthering the charism of
Wisdom and the inspiration of our Founders by liberating these for new life in
the arena of the
world.
The first interfaith retreat was a
Buddhist meditation retreat. The “tent”
was widening as the center was evolving. Over the years, the name changed from Mary Immaculate Novitiate
to Montfort House of Renewal and, in 1981, the center was renamed Wisdom House.
In 1990 another surge in the retreat center’s evolutionary
process began with the collaboration of Sisters Rosemarie Greco, DW and Jo-Ann
Iannotti, OP. Wisdom House benefitted
from this intercongregational model along with the lay staff. This included
increased interfaith retreats and programs in spirituality, education, and the arts and the opening of the
Marie Louise Trichet Art Gallery in 1994.
Attention to global issues influenced the inclusion of
environmental sustainability awareness and conferences on those topics
affecting the poor and the cosmos at large. Icons of 20th century American
martyr Sister Mary Antoinette, DW and of co-founder Marie Louise Trichet were
commissioned and are now enshrined in the chapel at Wisdom House.
Wisdom House