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’.
We are enjoying glimpses of autumn amongst the trees on the beautiful grounds of the Retreat & Conference Center. Are you seeing signs of God's brushstrokes around you? Remember, our grounds are always open to visitors. You could spend a quiet afternoon reflecting by our pond, in the Peace Garden or at the labyrinth soon. Why not read this poetic prayer outdoors today? Autumn Months O God of Creation, you have blessed us with the changing of the seasons. As…
Mary DeTurris Poust shares a recent blog with us today. We're thrilled to have Mary back on our schedule for next year and will share those details in the coming months. Do you find yourself resisting quiet times? Let's read Mary's thoughts about how we can embrace a time for Sabbath. We all need Sabbath: Why quiet isn’t “quitting” As I sat in my beach chair late last month, toes in the sand and eyes fixed on an endless horizon…
Today we are praying for the wonderful ladies attending our annual Women's Wellness Retreat this weekend. The theme for the retreat is "Discover Your Strengths - Your Unique Gifts from God". We are excited to see God working to reveal the unique, special gifts in every single guest. We hope that it will inspire them to celebrate those strengths, those gifts, carrying that mission back with them when they leave and go back to their families, friends, churches, jobs and…
Our annual Women's Wellness retreat begins for our early arrival guests tomorrow and then the other guests will join us on Friday. The first gathering on Friday, after dinner, is always a time of joy as the ladies reunite or get to know new friends. We plan a fun, casual activity to break the ice and we can always depend on waves of laughter rising above the group! As people of faith, it really is important to have laughter in…
We're sharing the beginning of a series written by our friend, Fr. Michael Schleupner. This opening reflection certainly has us conjuring our own unique image of God. Does it inspire you too? Our Image of God - 1 Dear Friends, What is your image of God? What words, phrases, maybe sentences would you use to describe God? How do you see God? What is God like to you? As I am writing this reflection, I am in my personal prayer…
Tee Biddle, Executive Chef here at the Retreat & Conference Center, shared the reflection below during our weekly Planning Meeting on Tuesday. Take a few quiet moments to close our eyes and sit with each sentence after you read it. Envision what this means for you. Let's put our gardening gloves on and work in our gardens! Remember, read this slowly, pausing after each line. Imagine your mind like a garden and your thoughts are the seeds. You get…
Fr. Michael Schleupner, frequent celebrant at Mass, retreat presenter and spiritual director at our Center, offers another homily to our readers today. How do we make Jesus the priority in our lives? Luke 14:25-33 Is Jesus the Priority? When I am about to respond to someone who has been offensive, do I first think about: what would Jesus say and how would he say it? When I become aware that I am holding a grudge and maybe not even talking…
Tara Mulder, Sales Manager, offers today's blog with insights about a special series that she has created and an opportunity for you to learn more and express your creativity! Poured Out: The story behind an art show and art workshop at the Center The word “poured” occurs often in the Judeo-Christian Scriptures. God pours out blessing, promising the Israelites in Malachi 3:10 that blessing will flow like opening a floodgate. He is extravagant as giver, provider. He poured life into…
Today we share this beautiful prayer as many are beginning a new school year. Let's pray that students and teachers will feel the arms of Jesus around them during this time of transition. Let us pray that they will be able to let any anxiety go, sensing the peace that only the Spirit can offer. A Prayer for Our Students I pray for: Strength - that God gives them the strength to do what they need to do each day.…
Fr. Michael Schleupner, a favorite retreat presenter and spiritual director at our Center, offered the follow as a homily last Sunday. Let's see what we can learn from his insight about small talk and humility. On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the…
