It’s the first day of the New Year. Happy 2021! Today’s post comes from the Director of the Retreat & Conference Center, Kevin Cassidy. He reflects on 2020, a very different year than we expected, and focuses on the gratitude that we all share for our friends of the Center! What are you grateful for as you begin the new year?
Happy New Year! 
Is it “happy” because we are so glad that 2020 is behind us, and we survived it? Did the Pandemic cease because the calendar rolled over? Is it because we saw record activity in 2020 at the Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center? Hardly.
Honestly, we did have a record, of sorts, for 2020. Unfortunately, it is a record we weren’t expecting. We started the year with great expectations, only to see the entire world get upended by the COVID-19 pandemic. We ended up with record-low counts of guests and revenues. And yet, here we are today, grateful.
We are grateful to stay connected with our many organizations, groups, visitors, and staff – past and present. As I write this in the waning days of December, I am so very grateful for the commitment of our staff who have worked so diligently throughout the year to changes our processes, ensure safety protocols at every turn, and maintain a positive and upbeat perspective throughout.
On behalf of the Sisters of Bon Secours, I am also expressing my appreciation and gratitude to all the people that came together for our recent fundraising event. (By the way, it’s never too late to donate! Click here to donate.) We set a fundraising goal of $19,700. Intentionally, we chose this number with respect to the 197 years since the founding of the Sisters of Bon Secours, in France. I am pleased to announce that we not only achieved, but exceeded our goal! As of today, we have received over $29,851.40! We are so grateful for the sponsors, donors, and also the staff that helped make all this possible. Special thanks to Tessa Newton for chairing this first-ever event for us. By day, she manages our Marketing and supports our Sales efforts, and somehow was able to find time (and many support staff!) to develop and pull together a very successful event. Truly, Tessa orchestrated a beautiful event. If for some reason you missed our event, click here to see what we’re talking about.
Yes, we have much more to be grateful for, as we open our eyes in this New Year. Brilliant minds have developed a vaccine in record time, and have already started distribution. We all see the tireless efforts of healthcare workers, first responders, caretakers, teachers, store clerks, truck drivers, and, well, the list is very long… At some point, life will revert back to normal, if we can even imagine what normal will look like. We look forward to the day where we are not limited by “groups of 10 or under”, and can accommodate all who come. We will get there soon, and your assistance can help accelerate the process. Wear a mask, practice social distancing, and keep being “good help” (the literal translation of Bon Secours) to those in need. Meanwhile, please click here to visit our website and see all the great events, presentations, and speakers lined up for 2021. As well, if you are looking to bring a group here for a day or two (or more), be sure to contact us soon. You can learn more by clicking here. Our calendar is quickly filling up, as groups are looking forward to spending time with us! It’s not too late to book for 2021, or beyond!
In Peace,
Kevin J. Cassidy, Sr.