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 reflection is the second in a series by Debra Donnelly-Barton. She's walking us through many prayerful moments in nature. Let's breathe and read her blog... A Liturgy of the Living Earth Praying the hours in tune with nature Summer Meditations, 2020 May the God of Gentleness be with you, caressing you with sunlight and rain and wind; may God’s tenderness shine through you to warm all who are hurt and lonely; may the blessing of gentleness be on you.…
Today's reflection is the second in our series of recent summer pictures from the beautiful grounds around the Center. Spend a few moments with each photo and read the quotes that follow as you relax and reconnect with our Creator. “A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi “I believe in Christianity as I…
Susan Boruff writes today's reflection and Kathy Anderson follows with a meditation video. Susan and Kathy frequently present retreats at our Center and we look forward to welcoming them back sometime soon. Let's take a few moments to quietly reflect on their thoughts. Let Us Breathe, Let Us Pray By: Susan Boruff And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22 My nurse daughter Katherine, who lives in Washington DC, has been working in…
Today's reflection begins a series by Debra Donnelly-Barton. She is a frequent presenter at the Center and is sharing this beautiful series of reflections and prayer resources with us. Thank you, Debra! Let's take a few quiet moments to read her thoughts... A Liturgy of the Living Earth Praying the hours in tune with nature, Summer Meditations 2020 Gateways of the morning and the evening Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the…
Today’s reflection is another spiritual lesson from Fr. Michael Schleupner. Fr. Mike will be with us in August for our Directed Retreat and we look forward to welcoming him back to the Center. Let’s take a few quiet moments to reflect on this lesson from scripture. Active Listening Recently I heard it said that hearing is a passive activity, while listening is active. That distinction is very helpful in appreciating today’s gospel. Jesus tells the familiar parable of the sower…
Today's reflection is the first in a series of posts that will share recent photos from around the beautiful grounds of our Center. Quotes for reflection also follow the pictures. We hope that you enjoy these and are able to let your mind wander and reflect on memories from your last visit or on your hopes for a future visit. Take a walk with us... …
Many thanks to Fr. Michael Schleupner for continuing to share this series on spirituality for our blog. To read more about Fr. Michael, please click here. Let's take a few quiet moments to pray and reflect. Spirituality – 5 Dear Friends, In the past weeks, I have reflected on Spirituality and on three of its core elements: Faith, Prayer, and Habit. Today my attention turns to the next core element: Connectedness. On the one hand, spirituality is an inner reality…
Have you lost patience with the pandemic? Fatigued with the restrictions our daily life carries right now? Everyone is craving some sense of normalcy after months of living in a world with conditions like no other. Take a few quiet moments today. Write down your worries. Write down the things that make you feel frustrated and impatient. Then, breathe and pray with us. Let go and let God give you strength. Prayers for Patience: Give Me Strength “But those who…
Today's post comes from the Catholic Health Association's website and reminds us that God is in the whispers of this trying pandemic. Read the text below and watch the video that follows. If you have someone else in your home, why not invite them to take turns reading this aloud with you and then watch the video together? We hope that this brings peace to your day. God is Close: A Reminder in the Midst of Global Pandemic Leader As…
As we celebrate the summer season, many of us have been spending more time outdoors. Many have spent part of the quarantine working in gardens and are now enjoying the fruits and flowers of that labor! Some of us have been enjoying the beautiful grounds around the Center too. Even before we reopen, you're welcome to come and walk around our outdoor sanctuary...alive with blooms! If you venture outdoors today, take a quiet moment to give praise to our Creator…
