← RETREATS & EVENTS

Listen to Their Voices

June 27, 2025 @ 4:00 pm - July 3, 2025 @ 11:30 am

$650

women's retreat

EVENT DETAILS

Start: June 27, 2025 @ 4:00 pm

End: July 3, 2025 @ 11:30 am

Cost: $650

Event Categories: , ,

Presenter: Sr. Mary Ellen O’Dea

Listen to the inspired voices of 3 biblical women — Miriam, Huldah, and Esther — who built bridges of life across frightening chasms of oppression. Some might name these women as enemies; some might proclaim that their voices never were spoken; some might even express hope for a 21st century configuration of these women’s voices, as they mentor possible resolutions to current oppressive dominations & injustices.

It is important to note that each of these biblical women had other women helping her at other times and in other places beyond her spoken words and actions and even stretches of silence.

  • Miriam had Jochebed, Bithiah, Shiphrah & Puah, and Zipporah.
  • Huldah had Deborah and numerous unnamed female prophets.
  • Esther had Vashti and numerous wives having experienced pa­triarchal disregard for women, as well as the larger oppression of total cultural annihilation.

Where would you place yourself on this listening spectrum of women helping other women?

Join us for this six-night retreat, as we listen deeply to these women’s voices, whose words live in the spaces between us. Sr. Mary Ellen will provide retreatants with a “Listen to Their Voices” handbook in anticipation of sharing our “listenings” with one another. Guided by Sr. Mary Ellen O’Dea.

Check-in begins at 4pm. There will be a brief welcome session at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6pm. The retreat begins after dinner at 7pm on Friday and concludes before lunch on Thursday. Mass will be available Sunday-Thursday for those who wish to attend.

Sr. Mary Ellen O’Dea is a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa and a life-long student of the scriptures. Her ministries have included teacher, principal, director of religious education, founder of family faith programs, coordinator of small faith communities in parishes and at universities, creator of feminist biblical interpretation studies, university campus chaplain, founder of The Magdala Project (a hands-on preaching empowerment process), spirituality coordinator, preacher, and retreat facilitator in feminist biblical interpretation mode throughout the United States. Sr. Mary Ellen holds master’s degrees in Religious Education, in Adult Christian Community Development, in University Ministry, and in Biblical Spirituality.

You will be entering your information for registration and payment next. If you would rather call us, please contact our Welcome Center at 410-442-3120 and they can accept credit card information over the phone. You can also contact them with your information and mail a check to: 1525 Marriottsville Rd., Marriottsville, MD 21104. Please note that your registration is not complete until payment has been made.

If you would like to register a group to attend this retreat, please call our Welcome Center at 410-442-3120 or email Doris Gallagher, Manager of Marketing & Events, at Doris.Gallagher@BonSecoursRCC.org.

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What our guests are saying about their stay at The Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center
"Loved your retreat center! Thank you for delicious meals and happy employees/facilitators!"
— Immaculate Heart of Mary
"The landscape and the beauty of this operation is spectacular. The scenery was breathtaking."
— NFBC Women’s Ministry
"Thank you for the comfort and warmth. The grounds are wonderful."
— Hempfield United Methodist Church
"The quality of the food and the selections were outstanding. Thank you all for an amazing visit."
— Bon Secours Health System, Inc.
"Beautiful campus. Food was outstanding. Thank you for being so welcoming."
— School of the Cathedral
"This place is awesome and thank God for all the staff."
— Heartland Hospice/Caring Hearts Camp
"A wonderful, peaceful experience. Very comforting atmosphere."
— Johns Hopkins
"From the first time I inquired about the retreat I was given great information. Very informative team and more than willing to answer questions."
— University of Baltimore
"The Retreat Center is spotless, offers good food, private full baths, seems to have a “happy” staff, persons from office, persons to do housekeeping and all. The hospitality of all is 'tops'. I love the quietness that is encouraged."
— Aging with Wisdom
"Beautiful facility inside and out! Peace is felt as soon as I arrived."
— Meditators for Better Living
"Could not have been better in any way."
— Gift of Animals: Our Spiritual Companions
"Really helped in my continued grieving process. Very helpful. Grace filled retreat."
— August Directed Retreat
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