Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center

Friends Day of Prayer: MJ Park
2026-05-06 09:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Cultivating Peace: A Day of Reflection and Renewal
This special retreat day invites you to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the peace that already lives within you. Through gentle guidance, reflection, and shared practice, we will explore what it means to cultivate inner peace — and how that inner calm can become a source of strength, compassion, and clarity in daily life. Participants will leave not only refreshed, but also equipped with accessible tools to continue growing in peace beyond the retreat.
Come as you are. Leave grounded, connected, and renewed.
Morning Session – Peace Begins Within: Creating Inner Stillness
This session explores how cultivating peace starts from the inside out. Through reflection, breathwork, and simple practices, participants will be invited to quiet the noise of the outside world and listen inward. When we begin to connect with our true selves, we lay the foundation for deeper peace in our lives and our communities.
Afternoon Session – Living the Practice: Embodying Peace in Daily Life
Building on the morning’s inner work, this session turns toward practice. How do we carry peace with us into our relationships, routines, and responsibilities? Through experiential learning, journaling, and small-group conversation, we will explore ways to embody peace in everyday moments — and strengthen our commitment to living as instruments of peace in the world.
All are welcome to attend the Friends Day of Prayer retreats, held monthly on the first Wednesday of the month. It is not required to attend every month, so register for one or more sessions as your schedule allows. While the presenters and topics vary, each Friends Day of Prayer typically includes pastries and informal conversation at 9:30am, a morning presentation at 10am, an optional Mass, a delicious lunch, short periods of free time to enjoy the grounds or shop in the bookstore, and an afternoon presentation. Guided by MJ Park.
MJ Park is a respected peace educator, retreat facilitator, and co-founder of Little Friends for Peace (LFFP). For over 40 years, she has created transformative spaces where individuals of all ages can explore, experience, and practice peace — from classrooms and community centers to prisons and sacred retreats. Grounded in the belief that “peace begins with me,” MJ brings a unique blend of spiritual reflection, experiential learning, and restorative practices to her work. Her facilitation style is both gentle and empowering, guiding participants to connect inward, reflect honestly, and build the tools they need to foster peace in their daily lives. MJ’s approach is rooted in faith and animated by a lifelong commitment to justice, nonviolence, and human connection. Through her leadership at LFFP, she has impacted tens of thousands of lives across the US and internationally, partnering with schools, churches, universities, and organizations seeking to nurture more compassionate and resilient communities. Whether she is leading a peace circle with children or facilitating a contemplative retreat with adults, MJ creates spaces that are welcoming, healing, and deeply transformative.

Walking the Inner Path
2026-05-09 09:30 - 16:00
A Soulful Invitation to Release and Receive
In the season of spring — when the earth stirs with new life and the soul leans toward light — we invite you into a sacred day of reflection, creativity, and inner journeying. Through the ancient practice of labyrinth walking and the intuitive process of SoulCollage®, you’ll be guided to listen deeply, reflect gently, and honor the sacred story unfolding within you. The labyrinth walk offers a moving meditation, inviting you to slow down and step into sacred space, releasing what no longer serves, and opening space to receive something new. As you follow the ancient path, you may find clarity, comfort, or simply a place to lay something down. In quiet conversation with this movement, SoulCollage® offers a creative way to process your walk and uncover what is stirring beneath the surface. Using your intuition and simple materials — magazines, scissors, glue — you will create personal collage cards to reflect on your walk and express the truths that live beneath words. Together, these practices become companions on your inward path. Whether you’re navigating transition, grief, or growth — or simply craving stillness — this retreat offers a gentle and spacious container for your spirit to breathe, create, and be.
Your day will include:

Brief introductions to the labyrinth and SoulCollage® process
A contemplative labyrinth walk (rain or shine)
Unhurried, silent space for making collage cards
Guided journaling and reflection with your cards in sacred community

No prior experience with the labyrinth or SoulCollage® is necessary. All supplies to create your cards will be provided and no artistic skills are needed. If you can cut and paste, you can do SoulCollage®. Come just as you are. The path is waiting. Lunch is included. Guided by Lorie Conway.
Lorie Conway, MA, Spiritual Companion has a passion for deep listening and accompanying others on their spiritual journeys through spiritual companionship, contemplative small groups, and spiritual retreats. Lorie received her certificate in spiritual direction from the Kairos School of Spiritual Formation and holds a master’s degree in Religion from Lancaster Theological Seminary and a master’s degree in Behavioral Management & Human Resources from Johns Hopkins University. Lorie is on the programming staff at Well for the Journey and is the director of the Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Spiritual Groups & Retreats program at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. Lorie’s spirituality is rooted in the Christ tradition and is welcoming of the many paths and unique journeys enfolded within Divine Mystery.

Quiet Mornings - In Person Session
2026-05-12 09:30 - 10:45
Quiet Mornings sessions are currently being held IN-PERSON on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.
(It is also held virtually on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday and 4th Saturday. Every virtual session is held from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon.)
Please email Joanne at jmcahooneph3@gmail.com for the Zoom sessions invitation for Virtual sessions.
Quiet mornings provide an opportunity for quiet – for reflection, prayer, listening, presence – in common with others. Perhaps you’d like to carve out time, but could use the support of a structure that is also flexible? Most of us could! And there is encouragement and strength in coming together in this way. You are welcome whenever matches your schedule/desire/need.
Each gathering is bracketed by an opening and closing prayer. The quiet hour at its heart is not scripted or guided. Each one enters the quiet and utilizes or follows it as she/he desires to do so. Some opt to journal, read, walk; to engage in meditation; imaginative prayer or centering prayer; art or collage; or physical movement. The commitment to enter the quiet with some regularity as an ongoing practice is the point. By doing so in companionship with others, we support each other’s journey just by willingly being present in God’s presence together, and hoping good for each other. In our closing prayer, we pray a blessing for each other. Please feel welcome! Guided by Joanne Cahoon.
Joanne Cahoon, D.Min. – spiritual director, retreat leader, coach – facilitates the Quiet Mornings.

In-Person Centering Prayer Session
2026-05-12 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-06-30 13:00 - 14:00 | Retreat and Conference Center at Bon Secours, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD, 21104, United States
Held IN PERSON on the:

2nd and 5th Tuesdays of the month, 1-2pm and
4th Tuesday of the month, 7-8pm.

For these in-person sessions, registration is required in advance, due by the Monday before each in-person session.
(Virtual Zoom sessions will be the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 1-2pm. Register for Virtual Sessions by emailing facilitator Amy Sorensen Kulesa at kulesa.neshama@gmail.com.)
Centering Prayer is a form of Christian contemplative prayer, in which one abides in the Presence of God in interior silence. Centering Prayer emphasizes the indwelling Presence of the Holy Trinity within and among us, and our openness, through receptive silence and restful surrender, to God’s action and healing grace. For our one-hour sessions, we will gather to pray together in silence, attentive to the stillness within, and reflect together on readings related to our prayer life. The sessions are relaxed and informal. You are invited to dress comfortably and use a meditation cushion, if you would like.
Facilitation for each Centering Prayer session will be led by an experienced member of the group, both staff and from the community. We follow a consistent format from week to week, with variability each session in the reflective reading that is shared. Coordinated by Amy Sorensen Kulesa.

Spiritual Practices to Help Tame Anxiety
2026-05-15 09:30 - 16:00
Do you worry and overthink? Does your mind race — especially at night — and you can’t shut it off? You are not alone. This retreat will explore spiritual practices to help settle down or tame the anxieties that so often steal our peace. Lunch is included. Guided by Marcia McMullin.
Marcia McMullin, MA, RN, CBCN is a retired registered nurse. In her 42 years of nursing, she has been a breast cancer navigator, a psychiatric nurse, an educator, and a hospice nurse. Marcia conducts an annual overnight retreat at Bon Secours for cancer survivors. Marcia has discovered some common challenges as well as strengths people have, mainly by working for so many years as a nurse. She enjoys presenting retreats in an interactive and contemplative approach and desires to make space for others to find encouragement and inspiration.
Want to extend your retreat experience? With at least 48 hours’ notice (and subject to availability), Bon Secours offers “private retreats” with lodging and meals. Register for two back-to-back retreats and add an overnight stay as a private retreatant for the night between. Call the Welcome Center at 410-442-3120 to inquire about booking a private retreat.

Grief Retreat
2026-05-16 09:30 - 16:00
This retreat will explore the journey of your soul through the experience of grief and loss. You will have the opportunity to reflect on the nature of your soul and how to companion others in their soulful experience of grief. We will participate in prayerful reflections on what direction and steps you may now take in your life during this grieving process. Our time together will include spiritual exercises and journaling, as well as group teaching and opportunities for soulful discussion. Lunch is included. Guided by Rev. Dr. Ken Patrick.
Rev. Ken Patrick, DMin has a lifelong interest in the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism, as well as the contemplative tradition of the Christian faith. His graduate education includes a Master of Divinity Degree and Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC. He has also done doctoral level studies in theology and spirituality at New College, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland and is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church. Ken is a graduate of the US Army Chaplain School and the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. He hiked the Appalachian Trail 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine to help open a shelter for the homeless. Ken is the author of Mountain Meditations, My Walk With Christ on the Appalachian Trail, and Journeying to the End of Life: Discovering the Ancient Hospice Way of Companioning the Dying. Ken has served as a hospice chaplain for nearly 20 years at Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester, VA and has led workshops and seminars on being a compassionate spiritual companion on the journey to the end of life. He currently also serves as a rural parish minister. Ken recently founded The Association of Hospice Spiritual Masters to provide education and coaching in care of the soul at the end of life’s journey. Learn more at HospiceSpiritualMaster.com.
Want to extend your retreat experience? With at least 48 hours’ notice (and subject to availability), Bon Secours offers “private retreats” with lodging and meals. Register for two back-to-back day retreats and add an overnight stay as a private retreatant for the night between. Call the Welcome Center at 410-442-3120 to inquire about booking a private retreat.

In-Person, Evening Centering Prayer Session
2026-05-26 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-23 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-25 19:00 - 20:00
Held IN PERSON on the

2nd and 5th Tuesdays of the month, 1-2pm and
4th Tuesday of the month, 7-8pm.

For these in-person sessions, registration is required and preferred in advance.
(Virtual Zoom sessions will be the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 1-2pm. Register for Virtual Sessions by emailing facilitator Amy Sorensen Kulesa at kulesa.neshama@gmail.com.)
Centering Prayer is a form of Christian contemplative prayer, in which one abides in the Presence of God in interior silence. Centering Prayer emphasizes the indwelling Presence of the Holy Trinity within and among us, and our openness, through receptive silence and restful surrender, to God’s action and healing grace. For our one-hour sessions, we will gather to pray together in silence, attentive to the stillness within, and reflect together on readings related to our prayer life. The sessions are relaxed and informal. You are invited to dress comfortably and use a meditation cushion, if you would like.
Facilitation for each Centering Prayer session will be led by an experienced member of the group, both staff and from the community. We follow a consistent format from week to week, with variability each session in the reflective reading that is shared. Coordinated by Amy Sorensen Kulesa.

Being the Beloved Women's Retreat
2026-05-29 16:00 - 2026-05-31 11:30
Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on the list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s law and the Prophets hangs from them.” ~Matthew 22:34-40 (The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language)
Praying with the greatest commandments, we often focus on the love of God and neighbor. Despite our best intentions, we can easily overlook that Jesus includes us in this equation of love. Loving ourselves requires that we remember that we are the beloved children of God. In his classic book, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World, Henri Nouwen — Catholic priest, professor, psychologist, and prolific writer — says, “As long as ‘being the Beloved’ is little more than a beautiful thought or a lofty idea that hangs above my life to keep me from becoming depressed, nothing really changes. … Becoming the Beloved is pulling the truth revealed to me from above down into the ordinariness of what I am thinking of, talking about, and doing from hour to hour.”
In this retreat, we will reconsider self-care as an act of love that can transform our relationships in all domains of life. The retreat will include time for silent rest and reflection, heart-enriching conversation, and mindful prayer and movement. You will take home practices that will inspire you to live each day more fully into your one, precious life. Guided by Linda Mastro.
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 Sunday. Mass will be available Sunday morning for those who wish to attend.
Linda Mastro is a graduate of the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute in Marriottsville, MD, where she now serves as a faculty member. In addition to being an Associate of Bon Secours, Linda is a spiritual companion for individuals and groups and brings a spirit of compassion and light-heartedness to her work as a women’s retreat facilitator, pilgrimage leader, and workshop guide. Linda is co-author of the book Petite Retreats: Renewing Body, Mind, and Spirit Without Leaving Home. Learn more about Linda and her ministry at LivingPilgrimage.com.

Virtual Caregiver's Support Group - May
2026-05-30 13:30 - 15:30
Soul Care of Self for Caregivers: A Bi-Monthly Spiritual Support Group on Zoom
Scheduled for varying Saturdays every other calendar month (January, March, May, July, September, November), this two-hour online program is an invitation for caregivers of all types to converge and engage in a safe, sacred community and with various spiritual practices around a topic relevant to the caregiver experience. Each session will include time for a spiritual practice (including body prayer, silence, mantras, etc.), personal reflection, and group sharing.
The underlying focus for each gathering will be on creating meaning for each one’s respective journey while uncovering blessings and cultivating what each participant needs the most at that station in their caregiving. The topics explored will flow from what is expressed by participants during scheduled sessions and feedback. Various resources and materials for further consideration, connection, and support will be provided during and in between sessions.
Participants are not required to register for all bi-monthly sessions but are encouraged to attend as many as desire and availability allow. When registering for this virtual program, please provide the email address to which we should send the Zoom Meeting link. If you don’t receive the Zoom Meeting information by the day before the session, please contact the Welcome Center at 410-442-3120.
Gordon Creamer, MA, creator of the Mission Bridge, currently serves as Program Director at Well for the Journey, a spiritual wellness center in Lutherville, MD. As a creative and contemplative builder, he has held leadership roles in healthcare programming and operations since 2001 at various assisted living, skilled nursing, and hospice communities. He earned a Master of Arts in Spiritual & Pastoral Care from Loyola University and a Master of Arts in Theology from the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary & University. Currently, he is a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Ecumenical Institute. Gordon has facilitated numerous retreats and workshops that focus on creating opportunities for participants to explore and enhance their spirituality and well-being through various media and formats. He also participates as a peer group leader in the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation’s Transforming Community Program. His passions include uplifting the journey of adults, individuals with memory impairment, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as fostering support groups and programs for caregivers and those who are grieving losses. Trained as a spiritual director/companion, end-of-life doula, and Reiki practitioner, Gordon welcomes all in discovering the spiritual life as a means of healing, expanding, and flourishing. For more information, visit TheMissionBridge.com.

SoulCollage®
2026-06-05 16:00 - 2026-06-07 11:30
Immerse yourself in a weekend of exploring your intuition and imagination through collage making. The SoulCollage® process invites you to browse through piles of images and magazines to find pictures which call to you. Create or expand upon your visual journal through your personal deck of collaged cards. With SoulCollage® cards, you can illustrate your lived experiences, personality parts, companions and supports, archetypal patterns, and spiritual guides. Insights emerge as you engage in “stepping into” imagery and speaking from it in a safe and supportive community of fellow collage-creators. This retreat is open to those just beginning to work with SoulCollage®, as well as to those experienced in using it. Instruction on the concepts and structure of the SoulCollage® technique will be provided, while those who are already familiar with it can expand their work with collage. Roberta customizes her annual retreats with a theme that offers a further deepening of the SoulCollage® experience. Ample time will be provided for self and soul-tending through labyrinth walks, mindful relaxation, and exploration of the beautiful grounds of the Retreat Center. Connect with the vibrancy and renewal of the spring/summer season by “watering your soul” with SoulCollage®! Guided by Roberta Rook.
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 Sunday. Mass will be available Sunday morning for those who wish to attend.
Roberta Rook, MA, LCPC is a professional counselor with over 30 years of experience in the counseling field. For the past 24 years, she has worked as a bereavement counselor and program coordinator for Hospice of the Chesapeake in Maryland. She has been a SoulCollage® Facilitator since 2006, and she was a SoulCollage® Facilitator Trainer from 2008-2016. She currently leads SoulCollage® groups, both privately and in the hospice bereavement setting.

Silent Directed Retreat - June 2026
2026-06-07 16:00 - 2026-06-13 13:00
An individually directed retreat focuses on the way God is active in the individual’s life, and each retreat follows a uniquely personal path. Retreatants meet with a spiritual director once a day to reflect on God’s presence and movement in their life as revealed in prayer, the events and relationships in their life, and the response to God that is being made. The spiritual director may make suggestions (prayer forms, Scripture, reading materials, etc.) to support and deepen the retreatant’s awareness of and response to God. Aside from the introductory session and daily spiritual direction meetings, retreatants are on their own to experience a week of quiet, peace, and personal reflection in the Retreat Center and around our beautiful grounds. Mass will be available throughout the week.
NOT IN BRIDGES CATALOG, BUT JUST ADDED: FR. PHIL COVER will join the team of Spiritual Directors for the June 2026 Directed Retreat.
This is a silent retreat. Check-in begins at 4pm, and the retreat will begin with an orientation session at 5pm. Silence will begin after dinner. The retreat ends after lunch on Saturday.
Please indicate your preference for a spiritual director in the “Special Needs” part of the online registration form.

Sr. Bernadette Claps, MSW is a Sister of Bon Secours and provides spiritual direction and spiritual companionship at the Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center. She holds graduate certificates in Spiritual Direction, Spirituality, and Aging. She has done graduate studies in theology and received a Master of Social Work from New York University.
Fr. Phillip Cover is an experienced retreat leader, spiritual director, pilgrimage leader, and author. He has led retreats at Bon Secours for most of the past thirty years. He previously served at the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) in Washington, DC and as an adjunct staff member for the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. He is co-author of Journey with Purpose, Through Exile into the Heart of God and The Inner Work of Lent.
Fr. Patrick Bergquist, M.Div., MFA., MATW — after nearly twenty years as a missionary priest along the Yukon River of Northern Alaska ؅— has turned to look into a wilderness far less charted, but far more wondrous — that of the human heart and soul. Now a retired priest of the Missionary Diocese of Northern Alaska, Fairbanks, he spends his time as a spiritual and retreat director. He holds master’s degrees in Divinity, Creative Writing, and Theopoetics, as well as two certificates in spiritual direction, including the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. As a writer, a poet, and a priest, he’s written for publications such as Spiritual Life and America Magazine, as well as authoring a book, The Long Dark Winter’s Night: Reflections of a Priest in a Time of Pain and Privilege. He is currently working on a spiritual memoir called Springtime Beneath the Snows: Confessions of a Priest-Turn-Poet.
Joanne Cahoon, D.Min. holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, master’s degree in Religion/Pastoral Ministry, graduate certificates in spiritual direction and in spirituality studies, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where her specialization was spirituality and practical theology. Along the way, Joanne has taught in elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and graduate school settings. She has also served as youth minister, high school campus minister, consultant, writer, national trainer, diocesan staff member, staff member of a graduate school, spiritual director, facilitator of retreats, and professional coach. Joanne has welcomed and worked with many individuals and groups, serving them as they listen for God’s invitations in their personal and corporate lives. She finds it a privilege to be involved in spiritual and human formation — bringing deep listening, presence, creativity, and a commitment to her own ongoing formation to her work.
Amy Sorensen Kulesa, OFS, M.Div., MSW is a spiritual director, retreat leader and certified Introspective Breathwork™ facilitator. She earned a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University. She is a graduate of the Epiphany Academy of Formative Spirituality, the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute, and One Breath Institute. Immersed in both the Bon Secours and Franciscan charisms, Amy enjoys facilitating retreats in which participants have the opportunity to discern the narrative of their own lives within the larger story of God’s abundant healing, grace, and mercy.
Ginny Novak, MA is an experienced spiritual director and retreat leader with a strong background in Ignatian spirituality. She is specifically trained in guiding the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Ginny has directed several retreats at the Bon Secours Retreat Center and leads annual summer retreats at Loyola on the Potomac in Southern Maryland. She also serves as a Spiritual Reflector with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps and as a Spiritual Advisor for the Cursillo Movement in Washington, DC. A widow, mother, and grandmother, Ginny brings a deep reverence for God’s presence in each person’s life, offering support, active listening, and quiet companionship to those she accompanies on retreat.

Calling Upon Sophia – A Weekend Silent Retreat
2026-06-12 16:00 - 2026-06-14 11:30
“Wisdom calls aloud in the streets. She raises her voice in the public squares: She calls out at the street corners. She delivers her message at the city gates.” Proverbs 1:20-21
There is a voice that rises above the noise of these uncertain and complex times. Hagia Sophia, Holy Wisdom, is crying out in the very heart of it all.
In Christian theology, Sophia—the Greek word for wisdom — is often personified as a feminine divine figure representing God’s wisdom and creative power. She is sometimes associated with the Holy Spirit, and in some traditions, to Mary, mother of Jesus. Sophia embodies the active, loving presence of God in both creation and redemption, offering insights into divine mysteries and inspiring righteous action. Her voice, ancient and true, still echoes through the streets and alleyways of our lives, inviting us — almost desperately it seems—to turn, to tune in, and to listen.
This silent retreat weekend is an invitation to answer that call. Together, we will step away from the noise of the world and gently enter into spacious silence — making room to encounter Sophia as she moves among us. In the soft unfolding of the weekend, we will welcome Sophia as guide and companion — listening for her messages of love and hope in the whisper of stillness, in the stirrings of the heart, in the breath between words. We will gather for a time of welcome and introduction of the theme on Friday evening and then enter into silence for the weekend. Short reflections will be offered on Saturday morning and evening, with an optional time for tea and music on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday morning, we will gather to share out of the silence and gently gather the graces of the weekend. Come and rest. Come and listen. Come and be guided by the voice that sings at the city gates and the edges of your soul. Guided by Lorie Conway.
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 Sunday. Mass will be available Sunday morning for those who wish to attend.
Lorie Conway, MA, Spiritual Companion has a passion for deep listening and accompanying others on their spiritual journeys through spiritual companionship, contemplative small groups, and spiritual retreats. Lorie received her certificate in spiritual direction from the Kairos School of Spiritual Formation and holds a master’s degree in Religion from Lancaster Theological Seminary and a master’s degree in Behavioral Management & Human Resources from Johns Hopkins University. Lorie is on the programming staff at Well for the Journey and is the director of the Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Spiritual Groups & Retreats program at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. Lorie’s spirituality is rooted in the Christ tradition and is welcoming of the many paths and unique journeys enfolded within Divine Mystery.

African American Mystics: Bowman, Murray, Thurman
2026-06-14 16:00 - 2026-06-20 13:00
“Hope Is a Song in a Weary Throat”
…Hope is a song in a weary throat.
And a world where I can sing it.
Give me a song of faith
Give me a song of hope
And a people to believe in it.
Give me a song of kindliness
And a country where I can live it.
Give me a song of hope and love
And a brown girl’s heart to hear it.
~An excerpt from Pauli Murray’s poem, Dark Testament Verse 8
The concept of mysticism invites exploration, particularly within the framework of African American spirituality — a tradition shaped by both the profound challenges of racial injustice and the deep assurance of knowing that you are a cherished child of God. Within this context, African American mysticism reflects the inner experience of Divine hope and Divine love that is filtered through the struggle to survive in a system that devalues the body, mind, and soul. As Pauli Murray eloquently states, “Hope is a song in a weary throat.”
This week-long retreat focuses on the mystical experiences of three African American faith leaders: Thea Bowman (Roman Catholic Nun, Mystic, and Teacher), Howard Thurman (Preacher, Theologian, Mystic, and Prophet), and Pauli Murray (first female African American Episcopal Priest, Mystic, Poet, Civil Rights Lawyer). Participants will engage with the perspectives and experiences of these individuals through their autobiographies, poetry, music, prayer, and meditation. Participants will learn how African American spirituality and mysticism intersects with Black cultural distinctives. Activities will include music, poetry, journaling, prayer, solitude, and opportunities for creative expression. Guided by Rev. Joan Crawford.
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 Sunday and concludes after lunch on Friday. Mass will be available Monday-Friday for those who wish to attend.
The Reverend Joan Crawford is a Spiritual Director, Deacon and Benedictine Oblate. Joan has an ecumenical background and inclusive vision. She received a Master of Theology from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard Illinois; and a Certificate in Spiritual Guidance from the Siena Dominican Center in Racine Wisconsin. Her ministry now includes workshops to promote interracial healing and dialogue. Joan brings spiritual awareness, insightful humor, and tender seriousness to her presentations. Her candor, sensitivity, and deep listening will help instill the building blocks for better understanding between the African American and Anglo-American communities.
Testimonials:
“Joan is an educator and minister who serves from a heart of hope while sitting comfortably with the complex set of issues facing our world. She values and recognizes the importance of engaging across differences.”
“… deeply emotional material. Hard to walk away without being touched.”
“It was great. Thank you…for opening your heart and life to us. I never realized the depth of fear,
pain, death and danger in the history of African Americans.”
“Joan was an excellent presenter and engaged people…you could feel the energy in the room
open up.”
“…participants felt a personal connection and warmth while hearing challenging things…”
“I especially liked the integration of music and the arts!”
“Marvelous, meaty, intelligent and fearless.”

Interspirit/Interfaith Mind, Body & Breath Retreat
2026-06-26 09:30 - 16:00
Nervous System Reset for Grounding & Courage
“What is mine to do?” “How can I care for myself in this moment?” These are questions you have no doubt have asked yourself more than once in recent times.
Whether you are dealing with a personal loss, change, transition, or other issue, or if you are struggling with something that links personal with the global as we navigate living in a world in crisis, you are invited to remember that you are not alone…AND that you have tools — in community and solidarity — at your disposal.
Join us for day retreat around resetting the nervous system through embodiment and other contemplative practices. ALL are welcome; no prior experience needed. This time together in individual and collective practice and sharing will help fortify us for the weeks and months ahead and to recall that the other side of grief is love…and that we can turn that love into action. Lunch is included. Guided by Anna Franklin.
Anna Franklin is a graduate of the 2024 Transforming Communities Program (TCP) with Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, where she first met beautiful Bon Secours during the TCP residencies. She works with Shalem on a variety of initiatives and projects including systems functionality, curricula inventory, and developing Shalem’s social media presence. Anna has a decade of experience in politics, government, and organizing and another decade+ in teaching yoga, meditation, and leading retreats. Anna is currently a seminary student at One Spirit’s Interfaith/Interspiritual Seminary Program and is also a 2019 graduate of the Living School with Fr. Richard Rohr. She graduated from American University with a focus on Peace & Conflict Studies in International Relations and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria. A proud West Virginian & the middle child of five siblings with even bigger personalities, Anna splits her time between the US and Portugal, where her partner is from. Anna appreciates finding God in all things, whether a cup of coffee, birds, squirrels and trees, or a conversation with a friend. She enjoys walking with folks on their path and is excited to contribute to the many gifts of the Spirit at Bon Secours.
Want to extend your retreat experience? With at least 48 hours’ notice (and subject to availability), Bon Secours offers “private retreats” with lodging and meals. Register for two back-to-back day retreats and add an overnight stay as a private retreatant for the night between. Call the Welcome Center at 410-442-3120 to inquire about booking a private retreat.

Falling Upward, Living Whole, Discovering True Self Through Vulnerability and Faith
2026-06-27 09:30 - 16:00
Integrating Faith, Courage, and Wholeness in the Second Half of Life
Join Arianne Rice — Episcopal priest, facilitator, and leadership coach — for a reflective and interactive workshop inspired by Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward: Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life and enriched by the work of Dr. Brené Brown. Whether you’re familiar with Rohr and Brown or simply curious, this day offers a powerful exploration of spiritual growth, authenticity, and vulnerability. Brown, who wrote the book’s introduction, calls Rohr’s teaching a “homecoming” to our true selves. Her insights into embracing imperfection and living wholeheartedly beautifully complement Rohr’s spiritual frameworks. Through teaching, personal reflection, and small group conversation, you’ll engage practices and exercises to take with you. Together, we’ll explore how to move beyond the false self, deepen our spiritual lives, and embrace the gifts and challenges of life’s second half. Lunch is included. Guided by Arianne Rice.
Anna Franklin is a graduate of the 2024 Transforming Communities Program (TCP) with Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, where she first met beautiful Bon Secours during the TCP residencies. She works with Shalem on a variety of initiatives and projects including systems functionality, curricula inventory, and developing Shalem’s social media presence. Anna has a decade of experience in politics, government, and organizing and another decade+ in teaching yoga, meditation, and leading retreats. Anna is currently a seminary student at One Spirit’s Interfaith/Interspiritual Seminary Program and is also a 2019 graduate of the Living School with Fr. Richard Rohr. She graduated from American University with a focus on Peace & Conflict Studies in International Relations and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria. A proud West Virginian & the middle child of five siblings with even bigger personalities, Anna splits her time between the US and Portugal, where her partner is from. Anna appreciates finding God in all things, whether a cup of coffee, birds, squirrels and trees, or a conversation with a friend. She enjoys walking with folks on their path and is excited to contribute to the many gifts of the Spirit at Bon Secours.
Want to extend your retreat experience? With at least 48 hours’ notice (and subject to availability), Bon Secours offers “private retreats” with lodging and meals. Register for two back-to-back day retreats and add an overnight stay as a private retreatant for the night between. Call the Welcome Center at 410-442-3120 to inquire about booking a private retreat.

Bon Secours Charism Retreat
2026-07-06 16:00 - 2026-07-10 13:00
A Journey of Compassion, Justice, and Service
Join us for a transformative retreat where participants are invited to experience the charism of the Sisters of Bon Secours — compassion, healing, and liberation. This immersive experience offers a unique blend of spiritual reflection, community engagement, and personal growth.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with ministries in both Marriottsville and nearby Baltimore, serving alongside those who embody the Bon Secours mission in healthcare, social services, and outreach to marginalized communities. These hands-on experiences will be complemented by guided reflections, group discussions on social justice, and contemplative prayer.
Throughout the retreat, we will explore how individual ministry can be a source of personal healing and hope in today’s world. Whether you’re discerning a call to service or seeking deeper spiritual connection, this retreat offers a sacred space to listen, learn, and live the charism of Bon Secours. Guided by Mickey Reed.
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 Monday and concludes after lunch on Friday. Signed waivers will be required for all participants. More details about this retreat will be available in the spring issue of Bridges.

Silent Directed Retreat - July 2026
2026-07-12 16:00 - 2026-07-18 13:00
An individually directed retreat focuses on the way God is active in the individual’s life, and each retreat follows a uniquely personal path. Retreatants meet with a spiritual director once a day to reflect on God’s presence and movement in their life as revealed in prayer, the events and relationships in their life, and the response to God that is being made. The spiritual director may make suggestions (prayer forms, Scripture, reading materials, etc.) to support and deepen the retreatant’s awareness of and response to God. Aside from the introductory session and daily spiritual direction meetings, retreatants are on their own to experience a week of quiet, peace, and personal reflection in the Retreat Center and around our beautiful grounds. Mass will be available throughout the week.
This is a silent retreat. Check-in begins at 4pm, and the retreat will begin with an orientation session at 5pm. Silence will begin after dinner. The retreat ends after lunch on Saturday.
Please indicate your preference for a spiritual director in the “Special Needs” part of the online registration form.
Joanne Cahoon, D.Min. holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, master’s degree in Religion/Pastoral Ministry, graduate certificates in spiritual direction and in spirituality studies, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where her specialization was spirituality and practical theology. Along the way, Joanne has taught in elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and graduate school settings. She has also served as youth minister, high school campus minister, consultant, writer, national trainer, diocesan staff member, staff member of a graduate school, spiritual director, facilitator of retreats, and professional coach. Joanne has welcomed and worked with many individuals and groups, serving them as they listen for God’s invitations in their personal and corporate lives. She finds it a privilege to be involved in spiritual and human formation — bringing deep listening, presence, creativity, and a commitment to her own ongoing formation to her work.
Amy Sorensen Kulesa, M.Div., MSW is a spiritual director, retreat leader and certified Introspective Breathwork™ facilitator. She earned a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University. She is a graduate of Epiphany Academy of Formative Spirituality, Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute, and One Breath Institute. Immersed in both the Bon Secours and Franciscan charisms, Amy enjoys facilitating retreats in which participants have the opportunity to discern the narrative of their own lives within the larger story of God’s abundant healing, grace, and mercy.
Sr. Jo-Ann Flora, a native Philadelphian, is a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur and resides in the Washington, DC area. She serves as a spiritual director, meeting individuals in person and virtually, and a retreat director. Originally trained by the Jesuits as a director of the Spiritual Exercises, she has engaged in retreat ministry since 1980 in many spirituality centers, parishes, and schools. She is also a certified Music Imagery (MI) facilitator and Focusing facilitator. She served as Coordinator of Notre Dame de Namur Associates in the mid-Atlantic region for fifteen years. She holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and a doctoral degree from the University of California.
Sr. Jean Marie Holup, SS.C.M., a Sister of Saints Cyril and Methodius, has previously ministered as the Director of St. Cyril Spiritual Center in Danville, PA for the past 20 years. Before that time Jean was on staff at Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, MD from 1996 -1999. She is the proud recipient of a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality in 1995 from Creighton University, Omaha, NE, and did her practicum at the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth in Wernersville, PA. Jean has the privilege of being a spiritual director involved in retreat work on the East Coast, in several Mid-Western States, and in Nova Scotia, Canada. She has been giving retreats at Mercy Center in CT, and Gonzaga Eastern Point Jesuit retreat house in Gloucester, MA. An experienced spiritual director, she has witnessed the profound insights discovered through the working of the Holy Spirit during each person’s spiritual journey. Jean is currently the Director of Formation for her Congregation. She enjoys singing, dream work, creating sacred life patterns with collage, and taking walks in nature.
Fr. Michael Schleupner, JCL was ordained in 1972 and has been a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore for fifty-three years. For the past eight years, he has devoted himself to a ministry of spirituality. This includes spiritual direction, some retreats or retreat days, sacramental assistance at a parish, and a weekly electronic spirituality column called Inbox Inspirations which one can receive at no cost (fathermikeinbox@gmail.com). Fr. Michael’s Sunday homilies are also available at www.fathermikeschleupner.blogspot.com. His weekend Mass schedule is on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FatherMikeSchleupner). Fr. Michael offers spiritual direction at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Parkton, at the Caritas Counseling Center in Lutherville, and at the Saint Luke Institute in Silver Spring. He is a graduate of the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute. In recent years, he has also done studies in spirituality and secularism.

May Stillness Be Your Companion
2026-07-17 16:00 - 2026-07-19 11:30
Given the busyness of our work, summer activities, and more, you are invited to come and allow holy stillness to become the invited guest at your table. We will let Psalm 46 inform our contemplative time of silence, along with experiences of lectio divina, journaling, and how to be a companion to stillness. The contemplative practices will invite us to define and welcome stillness as a rhythm of life. How can we encounter stillness for the rest of the calendar year? Let the gift of being in community embrace the attributes of stillness. Guided by Sandra Dorsainvil.
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 Sunday. Mass will be available Sunday morning for those who wish to attend.
Rev. Sandra Dorsainvil is an ordained minister with the American Baptist Churches, USA. She serves as a ministry coach and women’s group retreat facilitator with the Center for Career Development & Ministry. Rev. Sandra offers ministry coaching accompaniment to clergy and BIPOC women through her private consulting agency, CONNECT-SD, LLC. Her bilingual abilities in English and French and experiences living in Africa, Europe, and North America offer a unique cross-cultural approach to clients and organizations. She has graduate degrees in pastoral ministry from Boston College and in rehabilitation counseling and psychology from Boston University. She is an ICF coach certified. She has completed Level 1 of Group Spiritual Direction and the Transforming Community program at The Shalem Institute. Rev. Sandra brings over 35 years of human services, including mental health and disability advocacy, group retreat facilitation, and pastorate, national, and international ministry engagements. Rev. Sandra is a published author of several books in English and in Spanish. The ministry of deep listening and presence is a core element in her work, and she makes sure participants in her retreats and one-on-one coaching sessions are seen, heard, and covered in prayers.

Virtual Caregiver's Support Group - July
2026-07-18 13:30 - 15:30

Creator and the Cosmos — DAY Retreat Option
2026-07-23 09:30 - 16:00
It seems that the dawning of each new day brings with it another discovery of the immensity and complexity of our cosmos. With each finding, the awesomeness of our creator becomes ever clearer. In the words of the title song by Rich Mullins, “Our God is an Awesome God!” During this day of meditation, we will have the opportunity to engage with our creator and the cosmos through visio divina and audio divina. Similar to lectio divina, which focuses on scripture, visio divina focuses on sacred seeing. It is an ancient form of prayer involving meditating through sight. It invites one to engage with an image in a way that will move our minds and hearts to the presence of God. In addition, there will be recordings of sounds from space so we may enter into audio divina. These forms of prayer will encourage us to sharpen our senses of seeing and hearing as a way to connect with the divine, deepening our awareness of God and God’s love. The day will include communal prayer, meditation, visio divina, and audio divina, as well as free time to journal, walk with nature, or simply rest in the presence of our God. Lunch is included. Guided by Donna Bilek.
There is also an overnight option for this retreat. If you would like to stay overnight as part of the Creator and the Cosmos Retreat, please see details below for “Creator and the Cosmos — Overnight Option” and register for your preferred option.
Donna Bilek, a 2018 graduate of the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute, is a spiritual director and companion with over fifteen years’ experience. As an Associate with the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND), she serves on the Ongoing Personal Development in Community Committee for the SSNDs, presenting reflections and prayer on various topics, including grief and loss. Donna teaches and guides prayer at “earthwalk Center for Wholeness,” which she founded in 2005. For thirteen years, Donna taught Spirituality, Biblical Studies, and Death and Dying at Notre Dame of Maryland University. She has a master’s degree in Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary & University.

Creator and the Cosmos — OVERNIGHT Option
2026-07-23 09:30 - 2026-07-24 11:30
It seems that the dawning of each new day brings with it another discovery of the immensity and complexity of our cosmos. With each finding, the awesomeness of our creator becomes ever clearer. In the words of the title song by Rich Mullins, “Our God is an Awesome God!” During this day of meditation, we will have the opportunity to engage with our creator and the cosmos through visio divina and audio divina. Similar to lectio divina, which focuses on scripture, visio divina focuses on sacred seeing. It is an ancient form of prayer involving meditating through sight. It invites one to engage with an image in a way that will move our minds and hearts to the presence of God. In addition, there will be recordings of sounds from space so we may enter into audio divina. These forms of prayer will encourage us to sharpen our senses of seeing and hearing as a way to connect with the divine, deepening our awareness of God and God’s love. The day will include communal prayer, meditation, visio divina, and audio divina, as well as free time to journal, walk with nature, or simply rest in the presence of our God. Lunch is included. Guided by Donna Bilek.
The main part of this retreat will take place on Thursday from 9:30am-4pm, with lunch included. The overnight option also includes lodging, dinner on Thursday, and breakfast on Friday. There will be optional stargazing on Thursday night and morning meditation and prayer on Friday. The retreat ends before lunch on Friday. Check-out is at 11am.
There is also a day-only option for this retreat on July 23 from 9:30am-4pm. Please see details for “Creator and the Cosmos — Day Retreat Option” above and register for your preferred option.
Donna Bilek, a 2018 graduate of the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute, is a spiritual director and companion with over fifteen years’ experience. As an Associate with the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND), she serves on the Ongoing Personal Development in Community Committee for the SSNDs, presenting reflections and prayer on various topics, including grief and loss. Donna teaches and guides prayer at “earthwalk Center for Wholeness,” which she founded in 2005. For thirteen years, Donna taught Spirituality, Biblical Studies, and Death and Dying at Notre Dame of Maryland University. She has a master’s degree in Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary & University.

8-Day Ignatian Directed Retreat
2026-07-25 16:00 - 2026-08-01 13:00
New in 2026: The 8-Day Ignatian Silent Directed Retreat will be the only group in-house at the Retreat Center during these dates!
The Ignatian Directed Retreat will be privileged time for you to deepen your relationship with God. You will be assigned a trained spiritual director with whom you will meet briefly each day to discern the movements of God in your life as revealed through your prayer.
The “direction” of directed retreats is that of discovering and exploring your own journey in faith and life and what path better helps you go in the direction you seek and Jesus invites. Embedded in the tradition of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, your retreat is made with a retreat director who supports, listens, and has made the journey before. For those who are able, daily walks with Ignatian teachings will also be available. Aside from these daily conversations and the time you set aside for your own personal prayer, your retreat time is unstructured. Mass will be available throughout the week.
This is a silent retreat. Check-in begins at 4pm, and the retreat will begin with an orientation session at 5pm. The retreat will end after lunch on Saturday.
Please indicate your preference for a spiritual director in the “Special Needs” part of the online registration form.
Nancy Bickel has served as a hospice nurse and as a nurse in psychiatry. She has a master’s in Pastoral Care and Spirituality, has studied Ignatian Spirituality, and is a certified spiritual director. She has been serving as a spiritual director since 2004. Nancy is a member of the Secular Carmelite Order and is a wife, mother to three daughters, and grandmother to three teenagers. She enjoys living on a small farm in Maryland.
Fr. Patrick Bergquist, M.Div. spent nearly 20 years as a missionary along the Yukon River in Northern Alaska, but now explores a wilderness far less chartered — that of the human spirit and soul. A diocesan priest of Fairbanks, he holds a Master of Divinity degree from St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore and Certificates in Spiritual Direction from the Heychia School in Tucson, Arizona and the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University in Chicago, where he specialized in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Additionally, he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Literary Arts from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He’s a poet, a spiritual memoirist, and the author of The Long Dark Winter’s Night: Reflections of a Priest in a Time of Pain and Privilege, as well as various articles in publications such as Spiritual Life and American Magazine.
Paul Gallagher, D.Min. is a longtime faith formation leader in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is currently the Director of Faith Formation at Sacred Heart Parish in Glyndon. He received his doctorate at Catholic University of America, focusing on the positive effects Ignatian Spirituality can have on a person’s health and well-being. His blog, makingallthingsnew.com, has been viewed by thousands of people all over the world. Through his retreats, blog posts, and spiritual direction, he looks to help people transform their lives by integrating Ignatian practices into their daily routines. Paul used the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius to get his own health back on track and looks forward to helping you with your transformation.
Dee Papania, D.Min. began her career in professional ministry over 23 years ago and continues to serve at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church in Woodstock, Maryland. Previously filling roles as Pastoral Associate, Director of Faith Formation, Director of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality, and coordinator for the parish’s Retreat Directors Team, in September 2018 she was appointed Parish Life Director by Archbishop Lori. Her academic accomplishments include a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, master’s degrees in Theology and Church Management, and a Doctor of Ministry degree. She is a trained Spiritual Director in the tradition of the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. She has completed formation through the Jesuit/Lay Collaborative (now called the Office of Ignatian Spirituality) and has taught in the Archdiocesan Equip for Ministry Program.
Biographies for 8 additional directors will be added soon.

Hidden Treasure Retreat for Couples
2026-08-07 16:00 - 2026-08-09 11:30
Christian Marriage Is Hard…and Beautiful
Robert and Lori Fontana, relationship educators, return to Bon Secours to help couples discover the amazing gift of married love (even if that love has been frayed a bit).
The retreat begins with The Marriage Jackpot Date Night on Friday evening, where you will meet Murphy the Marriage Salesman, do the “how well do you know your spouse” quiz, sing old love songs, meet other couples, and enjoy great snacks and spirits.
The retreat continues into Saturday and Sunday, building on the insights and fun from Friday night. You will reflect on the beauty and challenges of Christian marriage; strengthen skills in communication, active listening, and self-awareness; explore together emotional needs for intimacy, affection, fun, and sexual fulfillment; and have an opportunity to bring healing and forgiveness to relationship hurts. This is a participatory retreat with opportunities during each session for spouses/partners to separately complete relationship inventories related to the topic, share their answers with each other, and dialogue. Guided by Robert & Lori Fontana.
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 Sunday. Mass will be available Sunday morning for those who wish to attend.
The price of $570 is per couple. Please place BOTH NAMES within the name field (i.e First Name: John&Jane, Last Name: Doe/Smith). For single rooms or commuter options, please email Doris.Gallagher@BonSecoursRCC.org.

Lori and Robert Fontana have been married since 1978. They have six children and seven grandchildren. Together they direct Catholic Life Ministries NW (CLM), a non-profit educational and counseling outreach.
Lori was primarily a home mom. She has a certificate in Spirituality and Theology and taught elementary school for 12 years. Robert has a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and has a clinical counseling practice in Seattle. Robert also has a Doctorate in Ministry and has worked professionally at the parish and diocesan levels in the Catholic Church, and now for CLM. Robert has taught throughout Washington State and in Catholic parishes around the country, as well as internationally in Swaziland, South Africa, Tanzania, Haiti, and Belize, Central America.

Silent Directed Retreat - August 2026
2026-08-09 16:00 - 2026-08-15 13:00
An individually directed retreat focuses on the way God is active in the individual’s life, and each retreat follows a uniquely personal path. Retreatants meet with a spiritual director once a day to reflect on God’s presence and movement in their life as revealed in prayer, the events and relationships in their life, and the response to God that is being made. The spiritual director may make suggestions (prayer forms, Scripture, reading materials, etc.) to support and deepen the retreatant’s awareness of and response to God. Aside from the introductory session and daily spiritual direction meetings, retreatants are on their own to experience a week of quiet, peace, and personal reflection in the Retreat Center and around our beautiful grounds. Mass will be available throughout the week.
This is a silent retreat. Check-in begins at 4pm, and the retreat will begin with an orientation session at 5pm. Silence will begin after dinner. The retreat ends after lunch on Saturday.
Please indicate your preference for a spiritual director in the “Special Needs” part of the online registration form.
Sr. Ann Belmonte is a Dominican Sister of Hope and former elementary school teacher who has ministered for the past 33 years as a Pastoral Associate in West Virginia and Virginia. She now uses her gifts as a spiritual director and a leader of Days of Reflection and study. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Mount St. Mary’s College, a master’s degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Hunter College, and a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University. Her ongoing formation includes workshops in spirituality, sacred scripture, hospice care, caregiving, and issues of justice and peace.
Fr. Patrick Bergquist, M.Div. spent nearly 20 years as a missionary along the Yukon River in Northern Alaska. Now he explores a wilderness far less chartered — that of the human spirit and soul. A diocesan priest of Fairbanks, he holds a Master of Divinity degree from St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore and Certificates in Spiritual Direction from the Heychia School in Tucson, Arizona and the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University in Chicago, where he specialized in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Additionally, he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Literary Arts from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He’s a poet, a spiritual memoirist, and the author of The Long Dark Winter’s Night: Reflections of a Priest in a Time of Pain and Privilege, as well as various articles in publications such as Spiritual Life and American Magazine.
Joanne Cahoon, D.Min. holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, master’s degree in Religion/Pastoral Ministry, graduate certificates in spiritual direction and in spirituality studies, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where her specialization was spirituality and practical theology. Along the way, Joanne has taught in elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and graduate school settings. She has also served as youth minister, high school campus minister, consultant, writer, national trainer, diocesan staff member, staff member of a graduate school, spiritual director, facilitator of retreats, and professional coach. Joanne has welcomed and worked with many individuals and groups, serving them as they listen for God’s invitations in their personal and corporate lives. She finds it a privilege to be involved in spiritual and human formation — bringing deep listening, presence, creativity, and a commitment to her own ongoing formation to her work.
Amy Sorensen Kulesa, M.Div., MSW is a spiritual director, retreat leader and certified Introspective Breathwork™ facilitator. She earned a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University. She is a graduate of Epiphany Academy of Formative Spirituality, Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute, and One Breath Institute. Immersed in both the Bon Secours and Franciscan charisms, Amy enjoys facilitating retreats in which participants have the opportunity to discern the narrative of their own lives within the larger story of God’s abundant healing, grace, and mercy.
Sr. Mary Elizabeth Looby, GNSH began her training as a retreat and spiritual director at Bon Secours Spiritual Center in 1983. She later followed up with a master’s degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling, with an emphasis in Spiritual Care from Neuman University in Aston, PA. She currently lives in Philadelphia and is involved in spiritual direction and retreat ministry. She has directed retreats in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Pennsylvania. Her background includes education, educational administration, and congregation work in the areas of formation ministry, associates, spiritual animation, and congregational leadership.

Savoring Summer: A Self-Care Day for Women
2026-08-19 09:30 - 16:00
Late summer is nature’s soft exhale — a gentle pause between the outward energy of summer and the inward pull of autumn. It’s a season for centering, grounding, and savoring life’s simple abundance. In Chinese medicine, this “fifth season” invites us to come back to center, root into the present, and nourish ourselves deeply before the busyness of the next cycle begins. In this restorative one-day retreat for women, we’ll gather for guided meditation, reflective journaling, time in nature, art-making, and restful pauses. You will have space to breathe, listen inwardly, and replenish your energy — releasing the need to “do” and embracing the pleasure of simply “being.” Lunch is included. Guided by Michelle Lisenbee.
Michelle Lisenbee, RN, BSN, HNB-BC, LMT is a holistic registered nurse, a board-certified licensed massage therapist, and mixed media collage artist from Savage, MD. She received her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from George Mason University, her massage training at the Baltimore School of Massage, and her Board Certification from the American Holistic Nurses Association. Her training has included various bodywork and holistic therapies over the years. Michelle is also a self-taught mixed media artist who believes that connection is where healing happens. Exploring ways to cultivate space for connection both in her own life and the lives of others is her calling. She currently works at a small primary care practice in Montgomery County as well as offering workshops and retreats at various local venues. You can find out more at MichelleLisenbee.com.
Want to extend your retreat experience? With at least 48 hours’ notice (and subject to availability), Bon Secours offers “private retreats” with lodging and meals. Register for two back-to-back day retreats and add an overnight stay as a private retreatant for the night between. Call the Welcome Center at 410-442-3120 to inquire about booking a private retreat.

Holy Yoga Retreat
2026-08-20 09:30 - 16:00
Holy Yoga Flow: Movement & Meditation with the Divine in Mind
‘Come away with me’ says our Lord. We are meant to live and move and have our being in Him. Let’s take a break from the busy, roll out our mats, and lay our worries down before The One who sees, knows, and understands all. Bring your yoga mat, a bottle of water, comfortable loose clothes, and a journal to this time of gentle, intentional movement and mindful meditation with the Divine in mind. Lunch is included. Guided by Sanyika Calloway.

Sanyika Calloway is a certified master yoga instructor with specializations in restorative yoga, vinyasa flow, yoga with weights, and yoga classes for all levels. Her classes are designed to accommodate beginners as well as advanced practitioners. She is passionate about helping participants move more freely and breathe easily, both on and off the mat. In addition to her yoga training and certifications, Sanyika holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and a master’s degree in Psychology.

Jesus and the Chakras: Exploring Ancient Wisdom, Living Incarnationally
2026-08-21 16:00 - 2026-08-24 11:30
“The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil, for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” ~Luke 6:45 (NRSVUE Translation)
“Speak with integrity. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.” ~Don Miguel Ruiz
Have you been curious about or desiring to live Jesus’ teachings in a more embodied, incarnational way? Are you interested in exploring the deeper spiritual connections between Christianity and other faith traditions? If the answer within you is ‘yes,’ you are invited and encouraged to join us for a 3-night weekend retreat in which we will consider with deep intention the person and Gospel message of Jesus in light of what has been understood through time and human experience as ancient wisdom. Through prayer and meditation, writing prompts, group dialogue, and other contemplative and creative exercises, participants will spend time discerning how the words and example of Jesus converge with contemporary embodiment of the throat chakra.
Altogether, this retreat will highlight the transformative teachings of Jesus as participants are guided to ground them within the reality of striving to live in a more incarnational way, including how we experience and express our truth, speak up and out from this truth, engage in various other forms of communication, and connect with the spiritual dimension of life. A focus on deepening awareness of our intuitive abilities will be explored in addition to how to enact our propensity to create — from the level of conceiving ideas and blueprints to manifesting them into a meaningful reality. There will be ample time for personal and collective reflection in between presentations on Jesus’ embodied wisdom, engaging with the chakra system, and some Eastern spiritual practices. A yoga session attuned to the throat and other chakras will be offered as an optional weekend opportunity. An outdoor gathering with music is scheduled for Saturday evening, and participants are welcome to bring their own drums and instruments to play.
Please bring along an open mind and heart for this journey! A journal, yoga mat, and comfortable clothes and shoes will make great companions for this weekend. Structured and optional time in nature will be offered throughout the retreat. It is not a requirement to have participated in last year’s retreat on Jesus and the Heart Chakra to register or participate in this retreat. Guided by Gordon Creamer.
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 Monday.

Gordon Creamer, MA, creator of the Mission Bridge, currently serves as Program Director at Well for the Journey, a spiritual wellness center in Lutherville, MD. As a creative and contemplative builder, he has held leadership roles in healthcare programming and operations since 2001 at various assisted living, skilled nursing, and hospice communities. He earned a Master of Arts in Spiritual & Pastoral Care from Loyola University and a Master of Arts in Theology from the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary & University. Currently, he is a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Ecumenical Institute. Gordon has facilitated numerous retreats and workshops that focus on creating opportunities for participants to explore and enhance their spirituality and well-being through various media and formats. He also participates as a peer group leader in the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation’s Transforming Community Program. His passions include uplifting the journey of adults, individuals with memory impairment, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as fostering support groups and programs for caregivers and those who are grieving losses. Trained as a spiritual director/companion, end-of-life doula, and Reiki practitioner, Gordon welcomes all in discovering the spiritual life as a means of healing, expanding, and flourishing. For more information, visit TheMissionBridge.com.
