DELRAY BEACH | Dion DiMucci, a pop music legend from the 1950s and 1960s, lifted spirits at an annual weekend retreat for adults with physical disabilities Aug. 2-4 at the Duncan Center in Delray Beach. He moved participants with songs and stories that described his life, his path to Christ and his Catholic faith.
The retreat, “The Eucharist: Receiving Life, Giving Thanks,” came on the heels of the National Eucharistic Congress in Indiana in July. Father Kevin McQuone, who attended the Eucharistic Congress and is an assistant professor at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, offered talks at the retreat that led to deep table discussions among the 50 participants. The retreat also included Masses, an outdoor Eucharistic procession, adoration, songs and prayer.
AIM stands for Achieve, Inspire, Motivate and is an outreach ministry of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Boca Raton. It has been providing weekend retreats and days of spiritual renewal for 45 years, as well as virtual mini retreats via Zoom since the pandemic struck in 2020. The in-person retreats pair disabled individuals with a “buddy” who helps provide whatever assistance may be needed.
Dion, who turned 85 in July, has been a longtime friend of AIM and volunteered to provide entertainment for this year’s gathering. He made it much more than a typical performance by tying in his own life’s journey. He sang some of his top hits, including “The Wanderer,” along with others more Catholic in nature, such as “The Thunderer,” about the cantankerous St. Jerome.
AIM has retreatants and buddy volunteers from Vero Beach to Miami, and others who have remained involved after moving out of state. Anyone interested in being part of a future retreat —either with a physical disability or as a volunteer — can find more information at https://AIMretreats.org.
