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’.
Advent by Thomas Merton Charm with your stainlessness these winter nights, Skies, and be perfect! Fly vivider in the fiery dark, you quiet meteors, And disappear. You moon, be low to go down, This is your full! The four white roads make off in silence Towards the four parts of the starry universe. Time falls like manna at the corners of the wintry earth. We have become more humble than the rocks, More wakeful than the patient hills. Charm with…
On this 2nd Sunday of Advent, we reflect on peace. We hope and pray for the peace of Jesus to be around us and all around the world. Will you pray with us? Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. ~Matthew 3:3 Advent Prayer for Peace Jesus, Prince of Peace, banish from our souls whatever might endanger peace. Transform us into witnesses of truth, justice and love. Enlighten the minds of rulers that they may care for…
Today we are sharing a reflection from a previous Advent retreat with Sr. Bernie Claps. We hope that it inspires you as you prepare to receive blessings from the Spirit this Advent. (If you'd like to learn more about this year's Advent Day of Prayer on the 14th, please click here.) On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon…
On this first Sunday of Advent, we focus on hope and offer two prayers below as you begin this special season of expectation. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. ~Matthew 24:44 Advent Prayer Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear…
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…
