A Letter from Our Director
Dear Friends,
A rosary hung from the bedpost in my parents’ bedroom. As a little child, I was fascinated by it and wondered what all the “beads” meant. I remember when my mother took the rosary off the bedpost to show and teach me what each bead meant and the prayers that accompanied them. Gradually, I learned how to pray the rosary and to ponder the meaning of each decade. I later discovered that my mother prayed with that rosary almost every night before she went to sleep. My devotion to Mary and to the rosary stems from her own devotion to our Blessed Mother.
Over the years, the meaning of these prayers and the “mysteries” of the decades has changed for me. At first, I saw Mary as a child would: a beautiful lady, mother of Jesus and our mother. As time went on, she became a confidant, source of joy and comfort, during the ups and downs of life. In my later years, Mary has become all of these and so much more. She is friend and companion, sister and mother, mentor and motivator, example of loving obedience and joyful service. I tend, now, to pray the rosary and each decade through her eyes. What was it like that day of the Annunciation? How did she carry her breaking heart on the way to Calvary with her Son? What did she witness at the wedding in Cana? What joy enveloped her on that first Easter? The rosary reminds us that Mary continually said “yes” though all the glories, joys and sorrows that made up her life. This is evidenced in each mystery of the rosary.
During this beautiful month of the holy rosary, we should allow Mary to speak to our hearts and help bring us closer to her Son. Devotion to Mary is as relevant today as it was centuries ago. There is nothing we experience – good or bad -- that Mary doesn’t understand. That is because she loves with a mother’s heart!
A rosary hung from the bedpost in my parents’ bedroom. As a little child, I was fascinated by it and wondered what all the “beads” meant. I remember when my mother took the rosary off the bedpost to show and teach me what each bead meant and the prayers that accompanied them. Gradually, I learned how to pray the rosary and to ponder the meaning of each decade. I later discovered that my mother prayed with that rosary almost every night before she went to sleep. My devotion to Mary and to the rosary stems from her own devotion to our Blessed Mother.
Over the years, the meaning of these prayers and the “mysteries” of the decades has changed for me. At first, I saw Mary as a child would: a beautiful lady, mother of Jesus and our mother. As time went on, she became a confidant, source of joy and comfort, during the ups and downs of life. In my later years, Mary has become all of these and so much more. She is friend and companion, sister and mother, mentor and motivator, example of loving obedience and joyful service. I tend, now, to pray the rosary and each decade through her eyes. What was it like that day of the Annunciation? How did she carry her breaking heart on the way to Calvary with her Son? What did she witness at the wedding in Cana? What joy enveloped her on that first Easter? The rosary reminds us that Mary continually said “yes” though all the glories, joys and sorrows that made up her life. This is evidenced in each mystery of the rosary.
During this beautiful month of the holy rosary, we should allow Mary to speak to our hearts and help bring us closer to her Son. Devotion to Mary is as relevant today as it was centuries ago. There is nothing we experience – good or bad -- that Mary doesn’t understand. That is because she loves with a mother’s heart!
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 ihmconferencecenter@gmail.com 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 ihmconferencecenter@gmail.com and our office phone is 610-581-0120.
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.