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’.
During the pandemic, when we are bombarded with news of climbing COVID rates, it's difficult not to feel afraid. When we leave our homes, we even have to wear a visible sign of this caution - our face masks. It's easy to become overwhelmed with anxiety this year. So, today we thought it would be good to go back to the basics of our faith. Please take a few quiet moments and prayerfully read some of the many verses in…
As autumn begins to make its exit, the temperatures have dramatically dropped in our area! This change can be reflected in many analogies about ourselves too. Take a moment to read this beautiful poem as we seek the Spirit of hope and strength. Spirit, blowing winds of change into our world and letting loose the leaves of last year’s experiences, I am being tossed around too, slipping under what I can’t seem to let go of. The golden sunlight shines…
Today's reflection comes from Fr. Michael Schleupner, a retreat presenter at our Center. He offers these helpful reminders for dealing with the pandemic. At a time when we may be disappointed about rising COVID numbers and how this is impacting our upcoming plans for Christmas, these can be helpful as we cope and take care of our physical and mental health. What do you implement in your daily life? Hang in There Dear Friends, We are all very aware of…
Today's reflection comes from Amy Kulesa, Director of the Bon Secours Associates and a frequent retreat presenter at the Center. Amy is leading a contemplative Advent weekend retreat that begins today so we thought it was perfect timing to share this! She'll also be leading "The Healing Power of Purpose" day retreat on January 2. Click here to learn more. Now, let's take a quiet moment to read this beautiful Advent reflection that Amy shared. A Pilgrimage of Stillness Advent…
During the first week of Advent, we focus on hope. This theme is likely even more poignant to you this year. Hope is something that we are clinging to amidst the pandemic. Let's take a few quiet moments to lift each other up with this prayer of hope as we welcome the season of Advent. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of…
Fr. Michael concludes his series on Pope Francis today with great insight into this culture of care. Maybe there is one suggestion of providence that you can apply from this message. As we watch the season change and reflect on this time of thanksgiving, let us care for creation in a special, meaningful way. Pope Francis - 5 Dear Friends, In his encyclical Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home, Pope Francis calls us to a culture of…
Today's post comes from retreat presenter, Susan Boruff. She shares insight from scripture about focusing on the love of God, even during the darkness of the pandemic. We hope that this will inspire and reassure you today. Love Wins “Love said to me, there is nothing that is not me. Be silent.” ~Rumi If the battle between good and evil has already been won, why don’t we act like winners? Winners for love. If we can take the words of…
Fr. Michael Schleuper offers another reflection in his series about Pope Francis. Are you familiar with Laudato Si? Fr. Michael shares his thoughts on this letter and and easy way for us to apply these insights to our daily lives. Pope Francis - 4 Dear Friends, In 2015, Pope Francis wrote an encyclical on the earth, our environment – the first encyclical ever written on this topic. (By the way, an encyclical is a long letter that popes write on…
Today's post comes from Jen Murphy, Manager of Retreats & Events at the Center. Let's read about how she's lifting her spirits right now. Breaking the Rules to Find the Light I am what you would call a Christmas enthusiast. I love everything Christmas...the special church services, songs, movies, pageants and the decorations. I enjoy finding the perfect gifts for family members, driving around looking at lights, the smell of Christmas cookies in the oven and the many special…
Today's post comes from retreat presenter, Susan Boruff. Let's read about her lessons from scripture that encourage us to examine our hearts with compassion. Love in Action “Whatever arises, love that.” Matt Kahn Give yourself permission to spend some time with God. You might want to light a candle to remind you that God is in you and around you, the light of the world and the Light within us-Christ in you. St. Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:7 that…
