In-Person Centering Prayer Session
2026-11-10 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-12-08 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, 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.

Welcoming Divine Love: A Quiet Day with Poetry
2026-11-11 09:30 - 16:00 | Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD, 21104, United States
“Love bade me welcome, but my soul drew back” writes the poet George Herbert. We know we are invited to love God, but we don’t always find it easy to receive or even to experience God’s love for us. The words of poetry can help us to move into our hearts, to listen, and to respond to the love that always surrounds and blesses us. This one-day silent retreat will use poetry, Scripture, and other creative media to invite and deepen our meditations on what it means to love and to be loved, in the embrace of the Holy. Lunch is included. Guided by Dr. Kathleen Henderson Staudt.
Kathleen Henderson Staudt, PhD works as a teacher, poet, spiritual director, and retreat leader in the greater Washington, DC area. She serves as adjunct faculty in theological studies at Virginia Theological Seminary and has taught frequently in the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute. A poet and writer, Kathy has published four volumes of original poetry, including her recent title, Viriditas: New and Selected Poems. She has published two books and many articles on the British Catholic artist and poet David Jones, as well as writings on Christian spirituality and practice, most recently Shaping a Faithful Life: Discernment and Discipleship for Young Adults. Kathy is a Companion in the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross (SCHC). Her website is KathleenStaudtPoet.com.

Seeking God With All Your Heart: Exploring Different Forms of Prayer
2026-11-13 16:00 - 2026-11-15 13:00 | Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD, 21104, United States
Seeking God With All Your Heart: Exploring Different Forms of Prayer
For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—says the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)
Come to explore and expand diverse ways to pray to God interiorly and with others.

What does it mean to seek God, and to seek God with all your heart?
Do you have the desire to enliven your relationship with God?
Are you being invited to a new or old or different ways to pray?

Please feel warmly welcome to join us as we ponder these questions and experience various prayer forms, including Visio Divina (praying with a painting or image), Ignatian Contemplation (placing yourself in a Gospel passage), Centering Prayer (listening in silence), Video Divina (praying with a short film), and Art Journaling (praying with color).
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 after lunch on Sunday. Mass will be celebrated in the Chapel on Sunday morning for those who would like to attend. Guided by Nancy Santamaria.
Nancy Santamaria ministers as a spiritual director on the clinical team at Saint John Vianney Center, a residential behavioral health center for religious men and women, and at Daylesford Abbey. She is a Norbertine Associate and Formation Director for the Associates. She holds a master’s degree in both Holistic Spirituality and Art, as well as certificates in bereavement, clinical pastoral education, and spiritual direction.

Virtual Caregiver's Support Group - November
2026-11-14 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. Guided by Gordon Creamer.
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.

Lunch & Dialogue with the Mystics: Spiritually Navigating the Seasons of Life with Gratitude
2026-11-20 12:00 - 15:30
Join us this autumn for some intentional time to celebrate the diverse heritage of the mystics. This lunch and dialogue program is an invitation for a delicious meal and engaging conversation just before the holiday season begins its unfolding. During our time together, we will briefly explore the personal biographies of certain mystics alongside their incredible contributions to contemporary spirituality, especially around encountering the Divine in everyday life. Moreover, we will specifically consider their legacy on spiritually navigating the seasons of life with the practice of gratitude and how being grateful can serve as an entry point into mysticism and its transformative, empowering grace. While engaging with a broad range of these figures across the arc of Christianity, a significant portion of the program will unfold around the wisdom of Julian of Norwich, Henri Nouwen, and Br. David Steindl-Rast.
As we ground our encounter of these cherished mystics and their teachings within our personal experiences, we will participate in creative exercises and contemplations to access our unique voice and deepen our respective journeys. Additional time for reflection through prayer, meditation, and group dialogue will also be integrated. Prior familiarity with mystics or mysticism is not mandatory but welcomed. Please bring along an open heart and mind and a journal for use throughout the program. Lunch is included. Guided by Gordon Creamer.
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 contemplative theologian and creative 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.

Soulful Companioning
2026-11-21 09:30 - 16:00 | Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD, 21104, United States
The Holy Journey Home: The Ancient Hospice Way of Companioning the Dying
Are you called by the Divine Spirit to be a soulful companion for a family member, a friend, or a loved one near the end of life? Is someone you know experiencing the passage from this life alone?
Would you like practical guidance and sacred tools on how to companion another with compassion, presence, and peace in a way that transforms your soul and the lives you touch?
This retreat/workshop shares the spiritual wisdom of over 500 years of hospice companioning known as “The Ancient Hospice Way.” It is the teaching of presenter Rev. Dr. Ken Patrick — a hospice chaplain for 20 years and author of Journeying to the End of Life: Discovering the Ancient Hospice Way of Companioning the Dying — who has walked beside countless souls on their sacred passage.
You are invited to a journey of spiritual depth and peace that shares the timeless spiritual wisdom of the hospice tradition through the ages. 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.

In-Person, Evening Centering Prayer Session
2026-11-24 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-12-22 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.

Friends Day of Prayer: Sr. Sara Dwyer
2026-12-02 09:30 - 15:00 | Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD, 21104, United States
Walk in the Light of Jesus
Advent is a season of waiting, watching, and preparing that happens in the ‘darkness of winter.’ It is a season that embraces darkness, stillness, and reflectiveness. We will consider various aspects of life that reflect the Scriptural themes of Advent. God’s Word invites us to open to a new discipleship, where we can more fully see, understand, and walk the path of Light.
God’s voice is often faint or unclear because it isn’t what we expected or wanted to hear. Perhaps we have settled for a religious complacency overshadowed by comfort or conformity.
Holiness is a challenging mission. Advent reminds us we don’t journey alone. We so often need a faith community and trusted family and friends. We need to find companions to be with us on the journey, so we can, as Isaiah says, “walk in the Light of the Lord.” Guided by Sr. Sara Dwyer.
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 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.
Sr. Sara Dwyer, ASC has been a member of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ, an International Congregation, for 55 years. Sr. Sara has served in various adult faith formation positions during those years. She was a member of her congregational leadership team and served as their Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation contact for over 10 years. Sara served eight years as the Director of the Washington Retreat House in Washington, DC. In January 2025, she accepted a ministry role within her community, where she continues to offer retreats and other faith formation programs. Sara holds a master’s degree in Theology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and a master’s in Education from Boston College. Sara enjoys interacting with people, reading, retreat ministry, and taking nature walks.

Testify to the Light: A Challenge for Christians
2026-12-04 16:00 - 2026-12-06 13:00 | Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD, 21104, United States
At this time in your life, what challenges come to you because you believe in Jesus’ witness?
Present-day realities — personally, nationally, and globally — invite us to “testify to the Light” in the midst of darkness as Jesus did. We are often faced with the unknown and unclear, which can stir doubt, confusion, fear, or complacency. Advent is a season that invites us to embrace darkness as a way of allowing LIGHT to illuminate the truth and shine through the darkness. We believe: Jesus “came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.” (John 1:7)
We will be in stillness and reflectiveness as we contemplate the Mystery of the Incarnation and the hope and gratitude it offers us on our faith journey. May this retreat be an experience that enhances our faith journey, so we can more fully see, understand, and walk through Advent on the path of Light.
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 after lunch on Sunday. Mass will be celebrated in the Chapel on Sunday morning for those who would like to attend. Guided by Sr. Sara Dwyer.
Note: This retreat has a natural flow from the Friends Day of Prayer on December 2 but adds more depth.
Sr. Sara Dwyer, ASC has been a member of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ, an International Congregation, for 55 years. Sr. Sara has served in various adult faith formation positions during those years. She was a member of her congregational leadership team and served as their Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation contact for over 10 years. Sara served eight years as the Director of the Washington Retreat House in Washington, DC. In January 2025, she accepted a ministry role within her community, where she continues to offer retreats and other faith formation programs. Sara holds a master’s degree in Theology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and a master’s in Education from Boston College. Sara enjoys interacting with people, reading, retreat ministry, and taking nature walks.

Advent Day of Prayer
2026-12-07 09:30 - 16:00 | Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD, 21104, United States
“The Lord will come and he will not delay.” (Cf. Habakkuk 2:3)
Advent is about waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus, commemorating his birth/first coming and also anticipating the second coming of Christ. But our Christian faith tells us that God is with us, already and still. This holy season invites us to encounter God in the present, in the day-to-day of our lives. Set aside some personal time and join us for a quiet day of prayer this Advent, a season of both hopeful waiting and encountering God who is ever present.
The day will begin with reflective input by Sr. Bernie, followed by time for private prayer and reflection, lunch in silence, the option of walking the labyrinth or beautiful grounds, journaling, or just relaxing with God. The atmosphere for the day will be reverent silence, which allows us to encounter God and be attuned to God’s promptings. There will be the opportunity to attend Mass if you wish. The day will close with us coming together to name the blessings of the day and for a closing prayer. Lunch is included. This will be a day of silence. Guided by Sr. Bernie Claps.
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.

Quiet Mornings - In Person Session
2026-12-08 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.

Grief Retreat
2026-12-11 09:30 - 16:00 | Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD, 21104, United States
We’re so sorry, but the presenter originally scheduled to facilitate this retreat is unable to join us. We still plan to offer a Grief Retreat on this date. Please check back soon for an updated description and presenter bio.
Program description and presenter information coming soon. Thanks for your patience and understanding!

Journeying to the Heart of the Nativity with a Celtic Spirit
2026-12-12 09:30 - 16:00 | Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD, 21104, United States
As you set your intentions this Advent to honor the Incarnation of God’s Love and celebrate the holiday season, what would it be like to do so with a Celtic spirit? What graces and gifts could be waiting for you at the heart of the Nativity by incorporating some of the rituals, music, and perspectives of the ancient Celtic way into your annual traditions?
Join us for a day-long retreat that invites you to explore Celtic spirituality with its intimate connection to the heartbeat of God and Mother Earth and its reverencing of the returning light at the Winter Solstice. Throughout the program, participants will be engaged in cherished Celtic legends about the birth of Christ and their intersection with various Christian saints from this tradition. Additionally, time will be spent participating in practices from Celtic spirituality that touch both the senses and the soul while offering moments for creating personal meaning.
During each of these activities and exercises, participants will have opportunities for contemplation and prayer, group dialogue, and mirthful expression related to all that is explored personally and within community. While this retreat is similar in theme to last year’s Celtic Advent retreat, the content offered will be different. Participants from the 2025 retreat are encouraged to register if interested. Lunch is included. Guided by Gordon Creamer.
In the Celtic spirit of blessing others:
The Light of the Christmas Star to you, the warmth of home and hearth to you, the hope of a childlike heart to you, and the joy of a thousand angels to you…

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 contemplative theologian and creative 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.

New Year’s Eve Retreat
2026-12-31 09:30 - 16:00 | Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD, 21104, United States
Humor and Laughter: Divine Gifts
Finding humor in both the joyful experiences and challenging situations in life — and embracing the freedom to laugh — are important elements of a healthy and balanced spirituality. The closing of one year and the opening of a new is a wonderful opportunity to explore our spiritual life through these elements. On this threshold of “what has been and what will be,” we will explore how the joyful sound of laughter calls us to action. We will discuss where humor can be a powerful testimony. We will answer together what it means to be a collective chorus and how we can make laughter an intentional practice. Bring the joys and sorrows of the year as we join with friends, old and new, to reflect, heal, look forward, and yes, have more than a few laughs! Lunch is included.
Andrea Springer, MA has spent many years in executive administration and formation. She is a graduate of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, now Notre Dame of Maryland University, with both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Liberal Arts and Religious Studies. In addition to being a graduate of the University, she is an adjunct faculty member. Andrea designs and facilitates workshops and retreats for a variety of organizations and has been a popular presenter for Women’s Wellness and other Bon Secours retreats.
