Retreat setting
AIM’s in-person retreats take place in an informal, nurturing, family-like environment, while maintaining a reverent mood during times of worship and prayer. Each individual with a physical disability is paired with a “buddy” who provides one-on-one assistance during the retreat—with both fully participating in retreat activities.
The overnight retreats start Friday evening and run through Sunday mid-afternoon. They include priest-led spiritual talks with group discussions, prayer, faith-building activities, singing, Mass and meals. There is also time for adoration, personal reflection and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
AIM's next weekend retreat is being held May 23-25 at the Duncan Center in Delray Beach, Florida. The focus will be on St. Therese of Lisieux, The Little Flower, and her teachings about "The Little Way" -- how we can serve God by doing ordinary things with great love
What to expect
A friendly atmosphere
A friendly atmosphere
A friendly atmosphere
Expect to be delighted, as you won't find a friendlier, more positive place to be than at an AIM retreat.
Spiritual inspiration
A friendly atmosphere
A friendly atmosphere
Expect to be transformed through inspiring talks and meaningful discussion, and through Mass, adoration and song.
Caring service
Caring service
Caring service
Expect to be loved, as Jesus asks us all to love, while your needs are cared for with dignity and concern.
Common purpose
Caring service
Caring service
Expect to be energized, sharing in spiritual, artistic and musical activities that will fill you with a joy that will last long after the retreat has ended.
Retreat center
Retreats are held at the Duncan Conference Center, an accessible, nondenominational campus on Military Trail in Delray Beach. It has a meeting room for retreat sessions, a dormitory for all participants, a dining hall for meals and a chapel for Mass and adoration. The outdoor space has a labyrinth for meditating.
Safe Environments
Each person who attends a weekend retreat and needs physical assistance is paired with a volunteer who serves as their hands, eyes, ears, feet—whatever is required to facilitate full participation.
Each volunteer goes through training to provide effective assistance and is fingerprinted and screened by the Diocese of Palm Beach as part of its efforts to provide safe environments for vulnerable adults.
Because participants have physical disabilities, even those with minimal impairment are considered “vulnerable” under those requirements.
During AIM's in-person retreat weekends and days of renewal, a registered nurse is in attendance to assist with the needs of the participants and to oversee the taking of medications based on the information provided by the participants. Two nurse's aides are also on hand to assist in the dormitory for the overnight portions of the weekend retreats.
AIM volunteers receive safe environments training through the Diocese of Palm Beach.