At the beginning of the month, L’Arche Chicago’s international volunteers piled into a van and headed to St. Louis for a retreat with fellow international volunteers from L’Arche communities across the United States—including Boston, Cleveland, Portland, and Jacksonville. Over the course of the retreat, they reflected on their experiences while sharing life at L’Arche. Gatherings like this are part of what makes the national and international L’Arche federation so meaningful.
Dianna, an international volunteer here at L’Arche Chicago, took some time to share the highlights of her trip.
On May 5–8, we, the international volunteers from L’Arche Chicago, packed our bags and headed to St. Louis for our long-awaited retreat. Honestly, we were all really excited—all of us had never been to Missouri before, and we were curious about what the next few days would bring.
We stayed in a student village that was surprisingly big and had a church right next to it. The first day was quite calm since many of us had long trips behind us. After we arrived, we had a welcome round where we introduced ourselves and shared which L’Arche community we came from. I remember people from Boston, Cleveland, Portland, and Jacksonville were there. It was so nice to see how diverse our group was. That evening, we had dinner together, and most of us went to bed early—tired, but already looking forward to what was to come.
The next morning, we started the day with breakfast, followed by a Zoom call with a former international volunteer from Boston. She shared her story with us, and it really made me reflect on how quickly our own time as volunteers is passing. Afterward, we played some icebreaker games. They were fun and helped break down the awkwardness that can come with meeting new people.
In the afternoon, we had time to explore the city. We got a list of suggested places to visit and decided to head downtown. The Arch was impressive, much taller and more striking in person than I expected. We also visited Forest Park, which is huge and full of nature. The weather was absolutely perfect that day. I remember feeling so grateful—for the sun, the fresh air, and for being part of this unique experience with others who are also dedicating a year of their lives to service.
Later that evening, we went to a Cardinals baseball game. Even though I don’t usually follow baseball, it was such a fun experience. Just sitting there with everyone, watching the game, and seeing the Arch in the background—that moment felt very special.
Wednesday was more reflective. We stayed at the center and had several sessions where we talked about our experiences as international volunteers. We spoke honestly about our personal growth, challenges, emotions, and everything in between.
What struck me most was how different everyone’s journey had been. Every L’Arche community has its own rhythm, and it was fascinating and sometimes even surprising to hear how others spend their days compared to us in Chicago. It made me realize that, although we share the same values and mission, each of us lives it out in a totally unique way.
That evening, the local L’Arche St. Louis community joined us for dinner. It was heartwarming to meet their core members and see how their community works. After dinner, we played games and just enjoyed each other’s company. There was a real sense of connection in the room, like we were all part of something bigger than ourselves.
The next morning, we left early to return to Chicago. I felt full of new impressions, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of L’Arche on a global level.
Looking back, I’m really grateful for this retreat. Meeting others who are living similar yet very different experiences gave me perspective. And while St. Louis may not have been the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen, what mattered most was the people I met and the conversations we shared.
And still… it felt really good to come home to Chicago again.
