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’.
Lorie Conway has a passion for deep listening and accompanying others on their spiritual journeys through spiritual companionship, contemplative small groups, and spiritual retreats. As we get ready for a silent retreat weekend with Lorie we hope you enjoy this message from her. “Holding Space is what we do when we walk alongside a person or group on a journey through liminal space. We do this without making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or trying to impact…
Sr. Bernie Claps, CBS, shares the following Christmas reflection from an unknown author and invites us to ponder the following question: "What are you going to give of yourself to the baby Jesus this Christmas?" In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100…
Joy Aker, MA is a spiritual director, labyrinth facilitator, and a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. She has a master’s degree in Spirituality from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. She was also trained in Ignatian spirituality and the Ignatian Exercises at Ignatius Jesuit Center in Guelph, Ontario. Her focus is on helping others to develop a holistic spirituality which looks to wholeness in body, mind and spirit. Joy also has a great interest in assisting others as they deepen their relationship with God through individual spiritual direction…
The following reflection by Fr. Richard Malloy was originally published in The Catholic Review in December 2020. Fr. Rick will facilitate a weekend retreat called Experiencing God in Christmas Movies at the Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center from December 13-15, 2024. A few spaces remain, so register today for this unique retreat! Do You Want to Hold Him? A Christmas Prayer By Father Richard Malloy, S.J. What’s the best Christmas prayer you have ever experienced? A mystical…
While It Is Still Dark A Poem for the Beginning of Advent by Kathy Staudt As Advent begins, the days are getting shorter, and we are more aware of darkness and of longing for light — the spiritual light of growing discernment and openness to the gifts that God is always offering us. I love the Taize chant, "Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord: Keep watch, take heart, which invites us into a season…
Today the Catholic Church celebrates the end of the liturgical year with the Feast of Christ the King. Here are some spiritual and practical reflections to inspire us to strive for holiness, to serve others with love and humility, and to look forward in hope to the coming of Christ in glory. Christ’s Kingship in Our Lives: The Feast of Christ the King invites each of us to reflect on how we live under the reign of Christ. Do we…
The Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center staff will celebrate the upcoming holidays with a Tree Lighting Ceremony tomorrow, Monday, November 18 - a little earlier than usual this year. Here's a touching story behind the 2024 Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center, as well as a Christmas tree prayer from Catholic News Agency. God of all creation, we praise you for this tree which brings beauty and memories and the promise of life to our home. May your blessing be…
Lori and Robert Fontana began directing Catholic Life Ministries in 1991 with the help of friends from around the country who wanted to see the gift of their ministry continue in the Church. Find below Lori's words on the importance of choosing to live with gratitude and trust each day. "We don’t think it’s gonna happen to us. Mostly, I think we try to not think of IT at all. Aging. Dying. But it’s happening to each one of us.…
"And the sun took a step back, the leaves lulled themselves to sleep and Autumn was awakened." ~ Raquel Franco As Autumn settles in, take six minutes to appreciate the gift of this new day.
Retreat presenter Gordon Creamer returns to Bon Secours on Friday, November 8 from 12:00-3:30pm for his popular Lunch & Dialogue program. Below Gordon shares some details about what to expect at this retreat, and he also invites us into a spirit of gratitude. True thanking is to enjoy God. Gratitude is a true understanding of who we really are. With reverence and awe we turn ourselves around toward the work God leads us to do, enjoying and thanking with…
