A Letter from Our Director
Dear Friends,
As I am writing this message, the Church is celebrating the great feast of Pentecost. Strains of “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the heart of the faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love” echo in our hearts.
In the famous newspaper cartoon “Family Circle,” Dolly is seen saying her prayers before bedtime. She is very serious, kneeling with her eyes closed and hands in the prayer position. With the deep piety of a small girl, she addresses God, “I’m not asking for anything in particular, but you can surprise me.”
The first Pentecost certainly was a day of surprises for those huddled together in isolation. They were hiding in fear behind closed doors. And then, a surprise! Into this place of fear and uncertainty Jesus bursts in with a greeting: “Peace be with you!” Through closed doors and locks and barriers he comes!
In a homily by Fr. Bill Bausch, a priest of the diocese of Trenton, he says this:
“Jesus sought out the disciples in their weakness and ignored the doors they thought would keep him out. Yes, he was there, and there to speak of forgiveness, and above all to give them the gift of the Spirit: the Spirit of Second Chance, the Spirit of a love greater than their shame, a Spirit that would break down doors and send them out, now as a community of wounded, forgiven healers, to spread the Good News of God’s love.”
Failure, fear, anger, disappointment, anxiety are doors we use to keep others (even Jesus) out. But those doors are opened by the Holy Spirit, who breathes on us new life, new vision, new love. This feast day is a day that is about the birth of a new community, a SENT community, a community called “church.” Now it is we who, with the help of the Spirit, are sent to open shut doors to let in the Good News. What a beginning it was that first Pentecost! Indeed, a day of great surprises!
Happy Birthday, Church!
The sisters at the IHM Conference Center miss all of you
and are praying with/for you and your families.
Stay safe, and with God’s grace, we’ll see you soon.
As I am writing this message, the Church is celebrating the great feast of Pentecost. Strains of “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the heart of the faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love” echo in our hearts.
In the famous newspaper cartoon “Family Circle,” Dolly is seen saying her prayers before bedtime. She is very serious, kneeling with her eyes closed and hands in the prayer position. With the deep piety of a small girl, she addresses God, “I’m not asking for anything in particular, but you can surprise me.”
The first Pentecost certainly was a day of surprises for those huddled together in isolation. They were hiding in fear behind closed doors. And then, a surprise! Into this place of fear and uncertainty Jesus bursts in with a greeting: “Peace be with you!” Through closed doors and locks and barriers he comes!
In a homily by Fr. Bill Bausch, a priest of the diocese of Trenton, he says this:
“Jesus sought out the disciples in their weakness and ignored the doors they thought would keep him out. Yes, he was there, and there to speak of forgiveness, and above all to give them the gift of the Spirit: the Spirit of Second Chance, the Spirit of a love greater than their shame, a Spirit that would break down doors and send them out, now as a community of wounded, forgiven healers, to spread the Good News of God’s love.”
Failure, fear, anger, disappointment, anxiety are doors we use to keep others (even Jesus) out. But those doors are opened by the Holy Spirit, who breathes on us new life, new vision, new love. This feast day is a day that is about the birth of a new community, a SENT community, a community called “church.” Now it is we who, with the help of the Spirit, are sent to open shut doors to let in the Good News. What a beginning it was that first Pentecost! Indeed, a day of great surprises!
Happy Birthday, Church!
The sisters at the IHM Conference Center miss all of you
and are praying with/for you and your families.
Stay safe, and with God’s grace, we’ll see you soon.
A reminder: we have changed our email address to: ihmconferencecenter@gmail.com.
Thank you for updating your own records for us!
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.
Thank you for updating your own records for us!
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.