THE BLOG OF THE BON SECOURS RETREAT & CONFERENCE CENTER
Retreat with Us
Welcome to the Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center’s blog! This blog will extend our retreat ministry by bringing prayers and reflections into your home ‘retreat’. Many of our presenters and staff share their homilies, favorite prayers and reflections through this medium. We encourage you to comment, pass it along to friends or simply take a moment to pray with us. We hope that this will serve as a moment during your day when you can ‘retreat with us’.
Andrea Springer will be presenting, "Mary, Our Mellowness of Heart", beginning tonight with an evening prayer service for those who are staying overnight and a full day retreat tomorrow. As we are on the cusp of the Advent season, this time of reflection on Mary can provide powerful inspiration about her life and how it relates to us today. Elizabeth Johnson writes, “…this woman empowered by Holy Wisdom, challenges, consoles, and sparks hope in present-day…” In trial or difficulty I…
Although we've shared this reflection by Bro. David Steindl-Rast before, this is a slightly different version and it's certainly worth repeating. May we continue to foster our grateful heart, even beyond the holiday season, and deeply appreciate each day, each gift from God. Share with us. What are you grateful for today? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSt7k_q_qRU
Today's reflection is shared by Fr. Michael Schleupner, who frequently offers spiritual direction on our directed retreats. Let's read his insights about the following lesson from Scripture: Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the…
During this Thanksgiving season, we want to take a moment to share our gratitude for all of our friends of the Center. Your support is appreciated so much! Your words of gratitude for our presence, your gifts and your prayers mean so much to the Sisters of Bon Secours and the staff of the Retreat & Conference Center. We hope that you are able to spend the next few days counting your many blessings too! Please take a few moments…
In anticipation of tomorrow's holiday, we are offering a few prayers that you may find helpful in your celebration. The first prayer can be used if you are gathering with loved ones and another that can be used even if you are marking the occasion alone. No matter what the holiday looks like, God has given us abundant blessings! May you be able to focus on those gifts today and always. Crowded With Gratitude Lord God, Our hearts are crowded…
Today's post is written by our blog editor, Jen Murphy, Manager of Marketing & Events. As some of you may know, I'll be leaving my position as the Manager of Marketing & Events and my last day will be Friday, December 1. This was a very tough decision to make, but I know that God is calling me to a new opportunity. I started this blog during the early days of the pandemic when our doors were closed but we…
Let Your God Love You Be silent. Be still. Alone. Empty Before your God. Say nothing. Ask nothing. Be silent. Be still. Let your God look upon you. That is all. God knows. God understands. God loves you With an enormous love, And only wants To look upon you With that love. Quiet. Still. Be. Let your God— Love you. From edwinagateley.com
As we approach the festive holiday season, we must also remember that there are many who are hurting and this time of year may be even harder for them. We offer this beautiful Joyce Rupp poem as a reminder to reach out to those who are lonely and in need and to also remind you that the Spirit is always there to comfort and offer peace. We pray that you feel that Presence today. Companion of Hurting Hearts, When my…
As the weekend "A Happy Heart in Gratitude" Women's Retreat comes to a close today, we offer the following morning prayers that retreat presenter, Paula Jilanis, shared with the guests. May you feel deep gratitude for all of God's gifts in your life this morning! Awakening in a moment of peace I give thanks to the source of all peace as I set forth into the day the birds sing with new voices and I listen and give thanks.…
Here at the Center it is common to hear guests, presenters and group leaders express how the Spirit led them here. They often share how they have received exactly what they need from presentations, community and the grounds. They also sometimes comment how they didn't even really know they needed, but were drawn to be here at that time. What a blessing, as a staff, to be able to receive these comments! We are so grateful to have a small…
