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’.
Fr. Michael Schleupner offered this reflection last week, the fourth Sunday of Lent, a lesson of healing that we can carry with us any time as we gaze up at the cross. The Lifting Up: Background Jesus says: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up…” Jesus is referring to an incident when the Israelites were in the desert after being freed from slavery in Egypt. Life got very…
Today's post is another from Sr. Ji Choi, novice with the Sisters of Bon Secours. Sr. Ji is enjoying her time in ministry within retreat services and has been offering Stations of the Cross mini-retreats on Friday afternoons. She'll be hosting the last one next Friday. Click here to read more about this free retreat! Now, let's take a few quiet moments to read her reflection on this special feast day... Prayer to Saint Joseph March 19th is the Feast…
Today's reflection comes from Jen Murphy, Manager of Retreats & Events. Let's read her unique reflection about this festive day. Happy St. Patrick's Day! That fun-filled greeting now has new meaning to me. Last year at the Retreat & Conference Center, as we had for many years before, I was looking forward to another fun St. Patrick's Day event, held on the Sunday before the upcoming weekday holiday. As that date approached though, growing concerns about the pandemic forced it's…
We're catching up a bit on blog posts from Fr. Mike. Today is the 2nd in a series about repentance during this Lenten season. Are you focused on who you can become? Let's read Fr. Mike's thoughts about the heart of repentance. Repentance - 2 Dear Friends, My thoughts today follow those in posted on the blog February 21. (Click here for that post.) Yes, at times we all do some things that are wrong. These are sins of commission.…
Fr. Michael Schleupner shares today's message, which was given on the first Friday of Lent. It's a lesson from scripture that should linger throughout the year though. Let's take a few quiet minutes on our own to reflect on this lesson. Readings: Ezekiel 18:21-28, Matthew 5:20-26 The term “minimalism” – “minimalism” – describes a certain kind of art. “Minimalism” is an artistic movement that tends to extreme simplification of form or shape. It tries to capture just the object being…
Today's post comes from Sr. Ji Choi, a Novice with the Sisters of Bon Secours who is serving in our Retreat Services ministry at the Center. We're delighted to have her help and look forward to the retreats that she'll be leading. She's currently presenting a series of free Stations of the Cross mini-retreats. These Friday retreats in March begin next Friday. Click here to learn more. March, the Month of St. Joseph The Roman Catholic Church dedicates monthly devotions…
On February 19, we lost a very dear part of our Bon Secours family, Louis Vanlandingham. Louis joined our Housekeeping Department in 2017 and has been a dedicated member of our team ever since. In the days following his passing, staff gathered – some (safely) in person and some virtually – to celebrate the incredible man that he was. We shared stories and laughs about the inside jokes he held with so many of us, the deep love of his…
Today's post is from our friend, Fr. Michael Schleupner. He shared these words during the liturgy on Ash Wednesday and they provide inspiration for us to carry through Lent. We're so thankful to Fr. Mike for sharing his homilies with our blog audience. Were you able to attend an Ash Wednesday service? If not, did you mark the day in a special way in your home? Please share with us in the comments. Genesis: A Living Conversation I imagine most…
Today's post comes from our Marketing Manager/Sales Associate, Tessa Newton. Many of our guests are familiar with her warm, welcoming presence, but even Tessa has struggled with the winter season and the pandemic. Let's read her thoughts about how she's getting through until spring arrives. Spring has to be right around the corner, right? We have now experienced every season in a pandemic. I have to say, winter-pandemic was my least favorite. On a good day, I’d give it “2…
During Black History Month, we have the opportunity to learn about leaders who we may not have been taught about before. Unfortunately, many of us didn't learn from history books that included these amazing pioneers. So, today, we are sharing just a few and we hope that you'll pursue new knowledge about others too. Then, let's pray together as we strive to be a society that is always inclusive and can heal from racial injustice. Fannie Lou Townsend Hamer (1917-1977)…
