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’.
Today's post is a powerful excerpt from "Fearless Conversations with a Limitless God" by Dr. Veirdre Jackson. She will be returning to the Center this September as the featured speaker for annual Women's Wellness retreat and we're so excited to host her again. Let's read this short excerpt, based on a familiar passage from scripture.... Stepping into Peace "Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me;…
Our guests often comment on the delicious food that comes from our kitchen! The man behind those amazing meals is our talented chef and food service manager, Giovanni Faudale. Each week at the beginning of our staff meetings, one of the managers offers a reflection, so during last week's meeting Gio read this inspiring poem. We hope that it touches and inspires you too! Are there other promises that you live out each day? Share with us in the comments.…
Fr. Michael Schleupner offers another wise reflection today. Let's read his thoughts about lessons from failed expectations. Great Expectations When I was in high school, I remember reading the classic novel Great Expectations; it was written by Charles Dickens. I imagine that many of us have read this somewhere along the way. In the story, a young woman named Miss Havisham is about to be married. All the preparations for the wedding have been made. On the day of the wedding,…
As you probably are aware, yesterday was Earth Day, a day to demonstrate support for our environment. Here at the Center, we have established many earth-friendly practices to reduce waste and care for our beautiful planet. Fittingly, Rose Kurtz, our Guest Services Manager compiled today's reflection that shares a common earth-minded spring theme with analogies about our own personal growth. Let's take a few quiet moments to read what she discovered... ------------------------------------- I have a book called “Words of Wisdom…
Today's reflection comes from Sr. Ji Choi, novice with the Sisters of Bon Secours. Sr. Ji is presenting a variety of retreats at the Center and her next retreat will be held on Friday, May 7. The retreat will focus around the Easter theme, "On the Road to Emmaus". You can learn more about the retreat by clicking here. Let's take a few quiet moments to read Sr. Ji's thoughts about recognizing Jesus' presence in our lives today. How well…
We're so grateful that Fr. Michael Schleupner shares his homilies with our virtual audience on our blog. He is also a favorite presenter and spiritual director at our Center and will be with us for the August Directed Retreat this summer. You can click here to learn more. Fr. Michael's blog today begins a new series about a difficult topic that, unfortunately, we're seeing frequent examples of in our world today. The wisdom he shares from scripture is something that…
Today's reflection comes from the "Not Strictly Spiritual" blog of author and retreat presenter, Mary DeTurris Poust. Mary will be with us for a wonderful weekend retreat, June 25-27, presenting "Broken, Beautiful, and Beloved". You can learn more about Mary and the retreat if you click here. Today, let's read her thoughts about the courageous example of Peter. Responding with heart means jumping in with trust I love how Peter tends to respond to Jesus with such pure emotion. As…
Today's blog comes from Jen Murphy, Manager of Retreats & Events at the Center. Let's read her thoughts about one of spring's early booms. One of my favorite things about spring is the flowers. Daffodils and tulips are my absolute favorite flowers. Their cheery blooms brighten any day, breaking us from winter's dreariness. There's another flower that I have to give a lot of credit to though, the pansy. Over the years, I've planted them around my yard in early…
Today's blog features a homily that Fr. Michael Schleupner delivered on Easter Sunday. It's a message that can inspire us throughout this Easter season and beyond! “For the Living among the Dead?” John 20:1-18, Mark 16:1-8 “Why are you looking for the living One among the dead?” We hear this question in today’s gospel. Maybe it’s a good idea to allow it to be asked directly to ourselves: “Why are you looking for the living One among the dead?” Could…
Here in Marriottsville, we've been enjoying really beautiful weather this week! Nature is rejoicing in this Easter season too! Parts of the campus have bloomed and others are simply bursting with buds in anticipation of a few more days of sunshine. Our hearts are full of gratitude for the season and also full of hope as more staff members become vaccinated and guests share that they are now vaccinated too. It's certainly a springtime of hope! Are you enjoying these…
