Charmaine Moraes, M.A. '25
"Lord, you have touched my heart and left me speechless. Silence is all I need to sing your praise!"
Photo by Amanda Schar
Amanda Schar, M.A./M.S.W. '24
"The chance to turn off all distractions for a few days was so refreshing. I shared with my spiritual director that what I was craving most from the retreat was rest and she invited me to find an image that I could focus on for the next few days that represented rest to me. The image of a frog sitting under a mushroom is what popped into my mind and I found myself drawing frogs and mushrooms for the next three days - I'm not an artsy person, so the opportunity to just have fun doodling was an unexpected treat!"
Photo by Leslee Ambrosio
Leslee Ambrosio, Th.M. '24
Pilgrim's Theme by Johnny Go, SJ & Manoling Francisco, SJ
For Yours is the voice in my deepest dreams...
I think I'll follow the voice that calls within
Dance to the silent song it sings
One day we'll find our place
For all things fall in place
For all things have a place
In the greater scheme of things
Photo by Calista Robledo
Calista Robledo, M.Div. '26
"As I searched for a place for a midmorning stretch, this tiny green hill seemed like a good place for rest. I placed my feet on the moss of the stone, and I heard the voice of Jesus say, 'Upon this rock you will build my church.' A shiver swept through my spine as the breeze greeted the leaves, and the sun warmed my face. I inhaled, raised my arms to the sky, then I exhaled and touched the Earth next to my feet. I touched the ground on which I was called to help build God's Church. Like a flower amidst photosynthesis, I raised my head toward the sun and lifted my chest high toward the sky. Standing on this tiny yet mighty mountain, I understood where I am in accordance with God's plan. For here am I, confused and sometimes shy, fueled by divine hope that I will hold until the end of time."
Photo by Mary LaVigne
Mary LaVigne, BC Graduate Minister
"A poem by Hafiz that I was introduced to on retreat, and have continued to pray with: 'I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.'"
Miranda Myszka, M.A./M.Ed. '26
"As an achiever personality, I’m continually reminding myself that prayer is not a to-do list. Leading up to the retreat, I stumbled across a Catholic mindfulness book on my parents’ coffee table while visiting for Christmas. As I entered into the silence, I prayed that my experience on the retreat would feel like Jesus and I swinging on a porch swing. Not necessarily saying anything, just bobbing our heads together to create momentum for our swing. I wasn’t looking for an answer. I wasn’t looking for healing. I wasn’t looking for a miracle. I just wanted to be present in God’s presence. And God answered my prayers. I didn’t hear God’s booming voice echo in my skull. My head cold didn’t go away. I didn’t win the lottery. But I felt God’s presence while dodging muddy puddles on the wooded trails. I felt God’s presence in my buttered breakfast toast (it’s amazing how good your food tastes when you pause to appreciate it). I felt God with me in the 'now.' May we all have an opportunity to feel Christ accompanying us as we dwell with the Divine in the present moment."
