Today's blog is written by retreat presenter, Andrea Springer. Andrea will be presenting a retreat that corresponds with this theme on Saturday, August 27 and you can click here if you'd like to learn more. Now, let's read her incredible insights about the courage we can each find within! Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. ~ Winston Churchill Winston Churchill really gets my attention with…
Summer is upon us and the grounds around the Retreat & Conference Center are bursting with color! We are so grateful for the beautiful creation God has given us during this season of longer days. Will you take a few quiet moments to pray this summer prayer with us? Breath of Summer Creator God who breathed this world into being, who is discernible within the harmony of nature, the perfection of a butterfly's wing, the grandeur of a mountain…
Sr. Ji Choi shares today's blog, focusing on Pope Francis' encyclical and a mission that we should all share. Let's prayerfully read, watch a beautiful video and let God guide us to take steps of our own to care for our home. Our common home, the creation of God Every creature belongs to the Earth community and the entire community belongs to our Creator. A Greek word for this Earth community is oikos…. Our common home, the Earth belongs to…
Let's take a few moments to center ourselves with prayer and a (virtual) walk through the forest. Many of the scenes in this beautiful video could be from the woods around our Center. May you have a deeper appreciation for the simple vine wrapping around a tree in the sunlight or the diligent ant making it's journey home on your next walk in nature. Pray with us. Creation Prayer God our Father, you created the world and sent your own…
Today's post comes from Fr. Michael Schleupner. Fr. Mike offers mass regularly at our Center and just finished serving as a spiritual director during our August Directed Retreat. We're so grateful for him! Today he reminds us to keep God's love at the forefront of our lives. Hatred versus Love? Dear Friends, At Jesus’ baptism and again at his Transfiguration, the voice of God from the heavens declares: “This is my beloved Son.” I believe that God speaks these words…
Amy Kulesa, Director of the Sisters of Bon Secours Associates and frequent retreat presenter here at the Center, shared this beautiful poem with us. Never forget that there is only one you! Among the billions of people on this planet there is only one YOU. There is not another soul on earth who can make the unique contributions that you can. The most wonderful paradox is that the more I choose authenticity-- the truer I am to being myself-- the…
After a much anticipated build-up of cicada talk, we are finally starting to see a few around the Retreat & Conference Center. Their "buzz" hasn't begun yet and we do hope these new neighbors will be able to keep it down a bit during their stay. ;) The unique life cycle of these insects certainly piques our interest every 17 years, doesn't it? Can you imagine the anticipation if our lives were so brief? The amazing features of the cicada…
Fr. Michael Schleuper offers another reflection in his series about Pope Francis. Are you familiar with Laudato Si? Fr. Michael shares his thoughts on this letter and and easy way for us to apply these insights to our daily lives. Pope Francis - 4 Dear Friends, In 2015, Pope Francis wrote an encyclical on the earth, our environment – the first encyclical ever written on this topic. (By the way, an encyclical is a long letter that popes write on…
Today's post is shared by upcoming presenter Sr. Chris Koellhoffer, IHM. We are excited to be able to host her in 2022 for a Lenten retreat. Her blog 'Mining the Now: Uncovering the Sacred in the Dailiness of Life' features many inspiring reflections from nature like this. As the seasons are changing and we're noticing God's brushstrokes in the fall colors we thought you would enjoy reading this reflection about lessons from nature. The Expectations of Beauty Let’s hear it…
The season is changing here at the Retreat & Conference Center. We have all appreciated the brisk mornings and cooler evenings as summer says goodbye. The fall leaves will display their glorious transformation very soon! It's a favorite season for all on our campus. Let's take a quiet moment in gratitude for the beauty of autumn. Golden Leaves We see signs of summer's passing in golden leaves, shortening days, misty mornings, autumn glow. We sense its passing in rain that…
