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.’
Linda Culp is the friendly face that you see in the bookstore at our Center. In addition to helping guests select books and gifts, she also enjoys working in her home art studio where she paints in watercolor, acrylic and oil. She says, "Art has always been an important part of my life. My love for art prompted me to take workshops over the years to learn different techniques. As a child, all I ever wanted for Christmas was a…
Today, we remember the brave men and women who have given their lives throughout the history of our country. We honor them and pay our respects to those who miss them. Let's take a few minutes in prayer to remember them today... Hear Our Prayer This Day In the quiet sanctuaries of our own hearts, let each of us name and call on the One whose power over us is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing ...…
You may have seen this story on the news or via social media. Fr. Michael Joncas is using his songwriting gifts during the pandemic. He previously composed the popular song "On Eagle's Wings" and now offers his new composition, "Shelter Me". Click here to watch a short news story about Fr. Michael. Here is a video of "Shelter Me", a beautiful performance by Paul Weisenburger. Let's take a few moments to listen to the words and music of the song.…
Maybe during the quiet of today, you're finding yourself drawn to prayer during this uncertain time. Sometimes we can feel so overwhelmed though that we may be at a loss for words. The following prayer can help you get started. Litany of Solidarity and Hope During a Pandemic For those who are sick. For those with chronic illnesses and underlying health concerns. For all those who are suffering. For those who are lonely. For those who have no one to…
Fr. Michael Schleupner will be serving as a spiritual director this August during our Directed Retreat. If you'd like to learn more about him or the retreat, please click here. He offered this reflection on Sunday, for the Sixth Sunday of Easter. A Comfort for Loneliness Gospel: John 14:15-21 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit…
Kathy Anderson and Susan Boruff are frequent presenters at our Center and have offered another inspiring reflection and meditation today. We're so grateful for all of their contributions to our guests! Let's take a few quiet moments to read and listen as we try to find a holy moment. Practice Holy Moments “God is calling you to great holiness. It is not something that you have to earn. Jesus already did that for you. Just accept it and run towards…
Dr. Heather Alexander is a local physician and is also trained in mindfulness practices. She has been offering retreats about mindfulness at our Center over the last few years. Heather has a passion for encouraging people to live well through being more present to the moments of their lives and living with more compassion. She sees this as her way of offering peace to our world that is so in need of healing. Heather will be presenting "Mindfulness, Stress Reduction…
Joanne Cahoon offers today's reflection. She has been a friend of the Center for many years and has offered the monthly "Quiet Mornings" mini-retreat for over five years. Joanne is a spiritual director and meets with guests at our Center and also serves on some of our sponsored directed retreats. We look forward to seeing Joanne at the Center again soon. Let's take a quiet moment to read her inspiration for the day. Saved by Faithfulness I was listening to…
Rainey Taylor, the Sales Manager at our Center, brings today's reflection to us. It is based on many great lessons from Scripture. Let's take a moment to read Rainey's insights that have given her peace and comfort throughout her life. Remember Who God is….. As a young child I distinctly remember being aware of the presence of God. I’m not sure I knew exactly what that meant; but I do know that He was mine. He was mine to talk…
Fr. Michael Schleupner offers another wonderful reflection for our blog today. He will be with us for our August Directed Retreat this summer and we're really looking forward to welcoming him back to the Center. If you'd like to learn more about this retreat or about Fr. Michael, please click here. Let's take a moment to quietly reflect on his important message about hope... Dear Friends, Recently I heard a priest say in a homily that there are three degrees…
