The Institute for spiritual Development opened its doors in August, 1982, utilizing campus space graciously provided by Trinity College, in Burlington, VT. For the first few years the Sisters of Mercy and Trinity College co-sponsored this new ministry. By 1994 the Institute was strong enough to become a single-sponsored ministry under the umbrella of the Sisters of Mercy. Although a separate entity, the Institute continued to be housed on the Trinity College campus.

For the first five years the staff consisted of Sister Judy Fortune and volunteer support staff. During those early years the work of the Institute was making available spiritual direction, retreats and other programs to rural areas across Vermont in interfaith settings, creating a network of services focused on many aspects of spirituality.

The Institute grew to accomodate the great need for this special ministry. Staffing increased to three full-time Sisters and a secretary.

In 1993 the Institute began leasing a small retreat house in Benson, VT from the Benedicting Monks of Elmira, New York. After two years the Benedictine Community gifted the Sisters of Mercy with the buildings and accompanying 35 acres of land. Lumen Christi is a place of blessing for all who visit this Holy ground.

In 1995 the Institute began an Internship program for Spiritual Directors. Many of these graduates have chosen to remain associated with the Institute as Adjunct staff. Today we are blessed with 15 Associates who provide spiritual direction across the faith spectrum and around the state.

The University of Vermont purchased the Trinity Campus in 2003, and the Institute office moved across town to "The Garden Level" of Hickok and Boardman Place, along with fellow collaborators Mercy Connections, Transitions II, Women's Small Business Program and CARC. Here they were able to help provide a "seamless network" of services to people in a variety of situations, with often times multiple needs.

The mission of the Institute for Spiritual Development, a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of Vermont, is to respond to the needs of persons of all faiths by creating a physical, emotional and spiritual environment for renewing and deepening their spiritual life.

Originally established as a ministry without walls, the Institute offers a wide range of programs from one-day workshops to weekend and weeklong retreats, 6 - 8 week seminars, as well as individual spiritual direction. Our Burlington office is open five days a week, year round and is host to workshops, programs, seminars and individual spiritual direction. Guided, Directed and Private Retreats are hosted at Lumen Christi, our rural retreat house in Benson, Vermont.  Programs are also held in other locations throughout the state.

A few examples of the programs we offer are: Introduction to Centering Prayer, Empowerment for Difficult Conversations, Tai Chi, Yoga, Enneagram I, Spirituality in the Workplace: Seeing the Extraodinary in the Ordinary. You can see our current offerings in our Events Calendar.

Be sure to check our Special Events and Save the Date pages for upcoming programs of special interest.

Sister Judith Ann Fortune is a Sister of Mercy of the Regional Community of Vermont. She is a graduate of Trinity College of Vermont and holds a Master of Divinity Degree from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Sister Judy has served as a Spiritual Director and Retreat Leader since 1978.  In 1982 she founded the Institute for Spiritual Development, fulfilling the responsibilities of Program Coordinator and Hospitality Coordinator for the Retreat House, as well as bringing God's tender mercies and "a comfortable cup of tea" to so many through  her minisry of Spiritual Direction.

After deep discernment, Sr. Judy felt the call to bring her many gifts of the Spirit to Mercy Center in Madison, Connecticut, and has resided there since September 2005.