A Letter from Our Director
Dear Friends,
Marina Berzins McCoy, in an article printed on the Ignatian Spirituality website, says “What if this Lent we didn’t approach the practices of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting with an eye to what we can do to transform ourselves, but rather with an eye to what God wants to do in order to transform us? . . . Lent is not about self-improvement. Lent is a time of conversion in which God is in charge of our conversion. Not us.”
This past year has been different and difficult, to say the least! Why shouldn’t we expect Lent to be different? Better yet, why don’t we deliberately approach Lent differently this year. Marina McCoy hits the nail on the head. If you are like me, you make all these “resolutions” to pray more, fast a little, do charitable things. The only thing wrong with any of them is that the emphasis is on what WE will do—not on what God will do in and through us. Conversion, the goal of our Lenten practices, is God’s work. We sometimes think it is all up to us. Yes, we need to cooperate with God’s grace, but it is GOD’S GRACE, not our own efforts, that brings about a metanoia in each of us.
This past year at the Conference Center certainly has been “different”—and in many ways, difficult. Our hearts are saddened by the absence of our friends and events that bring us so much joy. We are trying to keep in touch through the weekly Lenten YouTube reflections and monthly Zoom presentations and hope that you have been able to join us for some of these. The Zoom presentation registrations are full to active participants, but each Thursday you will receive an email with the link for each week’s Lenten reflection. Enjoy them at any time. We have also placed at the top of the Home Page of our website (www.ihmconferencecenter.com) the links to all the videos we have completed since September so that you will have easier reference to them. And beginning with Sr. Cathy’s Zoom presentation on March 16th, we will also provide a YouTube video of those presentations…just a way of trying to reach those who were unable to join the live session because we had to cut back on the number of participants. Another way of “keeping in touch with you” as much as possible because we miss you!
Please continue to remember Sister Janice in your prayers. She had surgery last month and is recuperating in Camilla Hall. She is doing well, but will need a combination of rest and rehabilitation.
If there is anything that we can do for you, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. Know that your intentions are placed in our Book of Prayer and are remembered each day at our Evening Prayer. If you have a special intention, please contact us.
May these remaining days of Lent bring you much joy and many blessings. As Pope Francis reminds us, Lent IS a joyful time because God is working in us and desires to draw us closer to himself. Now, isn’t THAT a blessing??!!
Continue happy Lent!!
Hopefully, you have seen the news on our Home Page about the upcoming Reflections we will be offering during the coming months, via YouTube! We miss you and wish to keep connected with you in any way possible during this pandemic, so we have chosen this format to try to "keep in touch." 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.
On Thursdays during Lent the Conference Center Staff will offer brief reflections on the gospels for each Sunday of the season. They will be available on YouTube and can be viewed at any time. We hope you will join us if and when you are able.
The dates for the reflections are: February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25.
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.