A Letter from Our Director
Dear Friends,
When waiting for news or information, have you ever been asked, “Do you want the good news or bad news first”? When given that choice, it jolts you into making a quick decision. They say most people prefer the bad news first so that there is no way to go but up when you get the good news!
The truth is that good news for some might be bad news for others and vice versa. For instance, you are planning an outing with friends or family which includes being outdoors and the weather calls for rain. Bad news for you, but good news for farmers! In this day and age, it seems like the bad news far outweighs the good news we receive every day. The media — TV, newspapers, periodicals, the internet—sensationalize news to sell their product because, as some sociologists say, people are attracted to it. The constant consumption of bad news is even given a name: “doomscrolling”! And we are warned that this type of behavior can affect our mental health.
So, what should be do? Avoid the news? Stop reading newspapers? Perhaps this would support the adage that “ignorance is bliss,” but it also takes us out of the real world, where we live and work and play and worship together. In John’s gospel we read that we should be IN the world without being OF the world. We need to be informed Christians, encouraged to listen to the good and the bad—and discern what it means for us. And perhaps it would be a good idea to look for good news that will lift our spirits and give us a positive perspective. Often this will lead to a sense of gratitude that good things DO happen and good people make them happen.
Sometimes we need to take time out from the bad news and plug into some good news. I don’t want to make this a commercial, but I would suggest that you watch “On the Road” with Steve Hartman on CBS news each Friday evening. You can even get repeats of his stories on YouTube. These stories are always positive and filled with good news. I recently watched a segment about a lonely man who decided to make soup (his specialty) and give it away to whomever wanted it—rich or poor, homeless or not, young and old. He proclaims that his whole life has changed; he is no longer lonely, and the people who benefit from his goodness are now supporting him with vegetables for his soups. Good news all around!
Jesus told his apostles (and us) to “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.” That Good News is what our world most needs. How do we spread that Good News without being “preachy” or “pushy”? Most of us are called to do it by our lives, our actions. We have a faith given us by God, a gift to be shared. But, as we heard just recently at Mass, faith is empty without good works. Our kindness, compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, love, mercy are the Good News in today’s world. It all is a result of our belief in a Savior who shares his desire “that all may be one.” It’s true, some might say that the bad news about Jesus is that he suffered and died. But we know that the Good News about Jesus is the he suffered, died and rose again!
Let’s start spreading the Good News in our little worlds. It’s amazing how that can improve our mental, emotional and spiritual health—and that of others! Happy Good News-ing!
When waiting for news or information, have you ever been asked, “Do you want the good news or bad news first”? When given that choice, it jolts you into making a quick decision. They say most people prefer the bad news first so that there is no way to go but up when you get the good news!
The truth is that good news for some might be bad news for others and vice versa. For instance, you are planning an outing with friends or family which includes being outdoors and the weather calls for rain. Bad news for you, but good news for farmers! In this day and age, it seems like the bad news far outweighs the good news we receive every day. The media — TV, newspapers, periodicals, the internet—sensationalize news to sell their product because, as some sociologists say, people are attracted to it. The constant consumption of bad news is even given a name: “doomscrolling”! And we are warned that this type of behavior can affect our mental health.
So, what should be do? Avoid the news? Stop reading newspapers? Perhaps this would support the adage that “ignorance is bliss,” but it also takes us out of the real world, where we live and work and play and worship together. In John’s gospel we read that we should be IN the world without being OF the world. We need to be informed Christians, encouraged to listen to the good and the bad—and discern what it means for us. And perhaps it would be a good idea to look for good news that will lift our spirits and give us a positive perspective. Often this will lead to a sense of gratitude that good things DO happen and good people make them happen.
Sometimes we need to take time out from the bad news and plug into some good news. I don’t want to make this a commercial, but I would suggest that you watch “On the Road” with Steve Hartman on CBS news each Friday evening. You can even get repeats of his stories on YouTube. These stories are always positive and filled with good news. I recently watched a segment about a lonely man who decided to make soup (his specialty) and give it away to whomever wanted it—rich or poor, homeless or not, young and old. He proclaims that his whole life has changed; he is no longer lonely, and the people who benefit from his goodness are now supporting him with vegetables for his soups. Good news all around!
Jesus told his apostles (and us) to “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.” That Good News is what our world most needs. How do we spread that Good News without being “preachy” or “pushy”? Most of us are called to do it by our lives, our actions. We have a faith given us by God, a gift to be shared. But, as we heard just recently at Mass, faith is empty without good works. Our kindness, compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, love, mercy are the Good News in today’s world. It all is a result of our belief in a Savior who shares his desire “that all may be one.” It’s true, some might say that the bad news about Jesus is that he suffered and died. But we know that the Good News about Jesus is the he suffered, died and rose again!
Let’s start spreading the Good News in our little worlds. It’s amazing how that can improve our mental, emotional and spiritual health—and that of others! Happy Good News-ing!
Spiritual Treasury Cards
If you were wondering how to obtain more of the Annual or Perpetual Enrollment cards for many various occasions...look no further! Simply click the link below, which may also be found with more information on how to order on the same page where you may leave Prayer Requests, right here on our website! The link will provide you with a peek at the many cards available at Camilla Hall, the Convent Home for our retired/infirm Sisters. All enrolled in the Spiritual Treasury as well as those who support the enrollment program are remembered in the daily prayers and works of the Sisters!
Check it out now: www.camillahall.org/spiritual-treasury
If you were wondering how to obtain more of the Annual or Perpetual Enrollment cards for many various occasions...look no further! Simply click the link below, which may also be found with more information on how to order on the same page where you may leave Prayer Requests, right here on our website! The link will provide you with a peek at the many cards available at Camilla Hall, the Convent Home for our retired/infirm Sisters. All enrolled in the Spiritual Treasury as well as those who support the enrollment program are remembered in the daily prayers and works of the Sisters!
Check it out now: www.camillahall.org/spiritual-treasury
WE OFFER OUR GRATITUDE!
We often have folks contact us by phone or email asking how they can be a help to us...as a way of showing their gratitude for just being a part of our Conference Center "Family!" First of all, we are always so very grateful for a remembrance in your prayers as that is the best support to us in our ministry. Each day at our Morning Prayer, which we pray in common, we specifically ask God's blessings on our "Benefactors"...those who have gifted us with their presence, their time, their prayers and their treasure. If you would like to become one of our monetary Benefactors, we will gratefully accept a donation in any amount toward our ministry. Checks should be made to IHM Conference Center and sent to Sister Marie Gipprich at the Center. We are most grateful for all that you do for us and continue to ask God's blessings on each one and your special intentions! Thank you!
We often have folks contact us by phone or email asking how they can be a help to us...as a way of showing their gratitude for just being a part of our Conference Center "Family!" First of all, we are always so very grateful for a remembrance in your prayers as that is the best support to us in our ministry. Each day at our Morning Prayer, which we pray in common, we specifically ask God's blessings on our "Benefactors"...those who have gifted us with their presence, their time, their prayers and their treasure. If you would like to become one of our monetary Benefactors, we will gratefully accept a donation in any amount toward our ministry. Checks should be made to IHM Conference Center and sent to Sister Marie Gipprich at the Center. We are most grateful for all that you do for us and continue to ask God's blessings on each one and your special intentions! Thank you!
Please be sure to look for us on Facebook: IHM Conference/Retreat Center in Bryn Mawr, PA...if you like and share our posts, you will be helping to spread the ministry of the Center to others! Thank you!
Also, be sure to check out our new Photo Gallery Pages by clicking here! We are posting, in slideshow format, all the photos we have taken at any event or program hosted here at the Center.
Hopefully, you have seen the news on our Home Page about the available Reflections we offered during the pandemic, via YouTube. Please see our new page, Zoom and YouTube Library, to access these. Simply click the link to view them!
Please remember that you are always in our prayers and we ask a remembrance in yours, as well. Don't forget that you are always welcome to call or email us with any special intentions you wish us to put in our Convent Book of Prayer Intentions! The email address is [email protected] and our office phone is 610-581-0120.
Hopefully, you have seen the news on our Home Page about the available Reflections we offered during the pandemic, via YouTube. Please see our new page, Zoom and YouTube Library, to access these. Simply click the link to view them!
Please remember that you are always in our prayers and we ask a remembrance in yours, as well. Don't forget that you are always welcome to call or email us with any special intentions you wish us to put in our Convent Book of Prayer Intentions! The email address is [email protected] and our office phone is 610-581-0120.