WELCOME!
|
As "Joyful Bearers of
God's Redeeming Love," we... ...offer service,
hospitality and opportunities for spiritual and educational enrichment for everyone |
|
CELEBRATING OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY!
The following announcement appeared in our Fall 1997 IHM publication of the “Issues of the Heart Matter” magazine: “In 1997, anticipating the arrival of a new millennium, with the Church…’We the IHM Community respond, as we always have, from our simple beginnings to today, to the needs of God’s people. We were founded in simplicity and service to provide an environment of welcome to the immigrants of the 19th Century. Our mission was to educate and nurture the sacramental growth of the people. So today, we initiate a new - yet old - service. We open an IHM Conference Center at the Wootton Estate in Bryn Mawr. Born of collaborative brain-storming...the idea evolved as a practical response to a two-fold need. Maintaining the historic site of Wootton and perceiving the much publicized need in contemporary society for “time out” in overcrowded and over-busy lives, the General Administration approved the Center as a valid apostolic extension of IHM graced hospitality to a church relearning the art of welcome through evangelization, immigration and renewal.’”
Fast-forward to the Fall of 2022, we realize how blessed we are to look back on 25 years of breathing life into that initial idea! Today we extend sincere gratitude to the Sisters who “began it all” and to those who continued the mission, to our IHM Congregation for its ever-present support and encouragement, to our benefactors and, most especially, to the countless men and women who have graced our Center with their presence at our programs, Conference Days, faculty retreat days, Carol Nights and even our Irish Tea! Through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, may God continue to bless and prosper “the work of our hands” as we offer “Praise, Love, Thanksgiving” for these past 25 years!
The following announcement appeared in our Fall 1997 IHM publication of the “Issues of the Heart Matter” magazine: “In 1997, anticipating the arrival of a new millennium, with the Church…’We the IHM Community respond, as we always have, from our simple beginnings to today, to the needs of God’s people. We were founded in simplicity and service to provide an environment of welcome to the immigrants of the 19th Century. Our mission was to educate and nurture the sacramental growth of the people. So today, we initiate a new - yet old - service. We open an IHM Conference Center at the Wootton Estate in Bryn Mawr. Born of collaborative brain-storming...the idea evolved as a practical response to a two-fold need. Maintaining the historic site of Wootton and perceiving the much publicized need in contemporary society for “time out” in overcrowded and over-busy lives, the General Administration approved the Center as a valid apostolic extension of IHM graced hospitality to a church relearning the art of welcome through evangelization, immigration and renewal.’”
Fast-forward to the Fall of 2022, we realize how blessed we are to look back on 25 years of breathing life into that initial idea! Today we extend sincere gratitude to the Sisters who “began it all” and to those who continued the mission, to our IHM Congregation for its ever-present support and encouragement, to our benefactors and, most especially, to the countless men and women who have graced our Center with their presence at our programs, Conference Days, faculty retreat days, Carol Nights and even our Irish Tea! Through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, may God continue to bless and prosper “the work of our hands” as we offer “Praise, Love, Thanksgiving” for these past 25 years!
|
Our Faithful and Faith-filled Volunteers During this "Anniversary Year," we would like to recognize the special, on-going service of our Volunteers! Ever-faithful, totally dedicated, and blessed with enormous generous hearts, we wish to thank them for always being ready to answer the "call" (literally!) to come and help us at the Center. Each month we will highlight two or three volunteers with a little biography and a photo so that our guests will also have the opportunity to get to know them! Please join us in whispering a prayer of great gratitude to God for gifting them to the Center and its ministry! |
|
Introducing...Lois Carita
Following forty plus years in health care administration and various parish activities at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church in Bryn Mawr, I discovered the IHM Conference Center in the fall of 2019. Like many retirees who seek a sense of purpose at this stage in life, I felt welcomed, at home, and even needed from the moment I walked up the Conference Center steps to attend my first program. Since then, whether working in the pantry or in the kitchen, decorating for a holiday or shopping for those festivities, I have found volunteering at the Conference Center is nothing less than a blessing. |
|
|
And...Nancy Lowry
I first met the IHM Sisters at Archbishop Carroll High School and then at St. Alice Parish in Upper Darby where my husband Vince and I raised our two children, Maura and Andrew. We then moved to Drexel Hill where I currently live. I am a member of St. Dorothy Parish. Vince and I were happily married for 45 years. Our daughter Maura had Down Syndrome and was our precious gift from God. Maura was always happy and she taught us everything that we needed to be happy. I am so proud of Andrew. He is the best son with twin sons, Andrew and Joey, age 8, who are my pride and joy. Andrew is the Principal at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Glen Mills. Vince and Maura are now our angels in heaven watching over our family. My grandsons are very active in sports and I enjoy cheering them on at all their events. I also follow the Eagles, Phillies and Villanova basketball although I am a St. Joe's Graduate. As a volunteer at Camilla Hall, I enjoy serving lunch to the elderly Sisters and talking with them. I am so inspired by all the work they did in so many places here, in other states, and in South America as well as the number of years that they were engaged in active ministry. I attend the 12:05 daily Mass at St. Thomas of Villanova Rosemont Chapel where I am a Lector, belong to the Rosary Group and participate in the Ministry to the Homeless by making casseroles. |
I have just completed my first year as a Volunteer at the IHM Conference/Retreat Center. This experience has truly been my “Dream Job” after I retired from the County of Delaware as a Human Services Administrator. It is a privilege to work closely with the Sisters who are so warm and welcoming and all the other wonderful volunteers, who have become my friends, to provide hospitality and service at educational events and spiritual enrichment gatherings.
|
Upcoming EventsOur Fall Brochure has been mailed! You may also view the programs being offered by clicking on this link to our Program Page: https://www.ihmconferencecenter.com/program-brochure.html where you'll also see a special four-part series on the Women Doctors of the Church. ````` ````` ````` ````` ````` ````` ````` September Programs Movie With Meaning: “The Shack” Wednesday, September 7, 2022 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Stipend: $25 (includes lunch) *Lunch will be served at noon for both groups “Connecting With Passionate Women, Part I: St. Therese of Lisieux Thursday, September 15, 2022 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon Presenter: Sister Rose Adams, IHM Stipend: $20 (includes refreshment break only) Conference Day: “Dancing With Life: Living From Our Abundance” Tuesday, September 20, 2022 Presenter: Sister Mercedes Rojos, OSF Stipend: $40 (includes breakfast, lunch and Mass) A SPECIAL PRAYER OPPORTUNITY: Join us in community as we embark on a labyrinth journey. Come with your curiosity and wiliness to explore this ancient spiritual practice. You will learn about concepts, history, and benefits of labyrinth walking. You will have the opportunity to engage in holy listening while walking two different labyrinths. This nonjudgmental path opens new possibilities for prayer and spiritual practice. There will be time for journaling, group reflection and questions. Tuesday, September 27, 2022 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Presenter and Guide: Anne Montgomery Schmid, Certified Labyrinth Facilitator Stipend: A Good will offering Refreshments will be offered upon arrival (Additional information about each program may be found on the brochure and in this link: Program Brochure Our new Zoom and YouTube Library, found under the Home Menu, contains links to all of the Zoom and YouTube videos that were completed during the months we were closed for the pandemic. You can view these at any time by clicking the links for each video or Zoom session. You may also quickly reach that page by using the link above or in the box at the bottom of this page! If you are not receiving our monthly newsletter and would like to, please send a note to S. Marie asking to be put on that mailing list (ihmconferencecenter@gmail.com) or see the text box below to do this yourself! Thank you! ````` ````` ````` ````` ````` ````` ````` To see our latest e-newsletter, please click here: https://mailchi.mp/4261edccf433/exciting-news-enclosed Or to read previous e-newsletters: https://mailchi.mp/48bb850f6139/lessons-of-a-gardener https://mailchi.mp/2baae14a2e75/what-is-essential-is-invisible-to-the-eye https://mailchi.mp/0e183a68ccda/marythe-perfect-role-model-for-all-women https://mailchi.mp/d61c3412f8be/celebrate-our-175th1-anniversary-with-us mailchi.mp/229c8a3d0a05/do-you-forward-our-emails If you would like to subscribe...or "re-subscribe"... to our monthly e-newsletters, please click the link under our previous e-newsletters (do-you-forward-our-emails) and you will be able to subscribe very easily! |
Join Us for a Virtual Tour!Have you seen the Wootton Mansion lately? We would love to have you visit, virtually, by viewing below... Please know that we have a Handicapped Person Entrance available for all participants of our Programs! If you wish to use this, kindly call Sr. Marie at 610-581-0120 to make arrangements before you arrive. DID YOU KNOW...? We are now on Facebook...and have added additional Photo Gallery Pages! Read below for more details! The IHM Conference Center is now on Facebook! If you use Facebook, please look us up...at IHM Conference/Retreat Center in Bryn Mawr, PA...and like us, but also SHARE us; you'll help spread our ministry when you share our posts with your Facebook friends! You'll find information about up-coming events, photos of recent groups that have been at the Center for one of our programs or their own day of reflection. There are so many wonderful things happening here! We are seeking to expand our present groups so that others can take advantage of the beauty of our Center and enjoy the opportunities it affords...not only for spiritual renewal, but also as a place to gather for business meetings "away from the workplace!" Thank you! Know that we always look forward to seeing our friends and appreciate your confidence and participation in our events! Photo Gallery: Click Photo Gallery 2019 - 2020 to see the added page under About Our Programs with slide shows of those groups that have visited our Center in the past! Click here to see the Photo Gallery for 2021-2022! We hope you will visit the page often as new presentations are added. As you know, our last photos were taken at our last, wonderful event, our Irish Tea, on March 12, 2020, the day before everything was "shut down." We are happy to begin anew in 2021! Please be sure to see our Note of Gratitude for your many kindnesses to us! It may be found at the bottom of the Letter from the Director page! (Click the link!) Hello, Everyone!
We have created a new page for our website: Zoom and YouTube Library - that may be found under HOME on the menu above. On this page we have "re-located" all of the Zoom Sessions and YouTube Videos that we completed during the time of the pandemic. Happily, we will continue to add to these "tools" as we progress through the upcoming year and as we reopen the Center for our guests. We hope that you continue to find them helpful on your spiritual journey! For Links to past videos and Zoom sessions, please click here to view these on our new page: Zoom and YouTube Videos! |