Ascending the Holy Mountain

This past weekend, 25 women from the Tristate Regnum Christi community gathered at Graymoor — The Holy Mountain, home of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement — for a beautiful Triduum of Renewal. Led by the inspiring preaching of Fr. Josef Hare and with the prayerful assistance of Fr. Eric Nielson, the retreat offered a sacred time of reflection, renewal, and deep encounter with Christ. Surrounded by the peaceful beauty of Graymoor, we stepped away from daily responsibilities to rest in the Lord and strengthen our vocation as apostles in the world.

Throughout the weekend, we were blessed with thought-provoking talks, meaningful silence, and moments of sisterhood that reminded us of God’s deep love and His desire to walk with each of us. In the sections below, you’ll find highlights and reflections from the women who attended — and we invite you to join in by listening to the talks, viewing the Stations of the Cross we prayed, and learning more about Fr. Josef Hare through the links provided.

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The Holy Spirit in the Wind

One woman beautifully reflected on the power of nature that surrounded us all weekend: “I felt like the Holy Spirit was blowing with the winds.”

The winds were howling in an impressive way throughout the retreat. She continued, “That’s because all of you are praying and meditating and wanting to be closer. Every time the winds blew through my room, I felt the Holy Spirit touching someone. I was grateful for that wind — it really made me feel like we’re more than just human beings. There’s a supernatural power of the Holy Spirit blowing through all of us together.”

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Welcoming Violeta Baguio

We were also blessed to welcome our newest RC member, Violeta Baguio. She shared these heartfelt words: “I came here physically tired, but now I feel refreshed. The talks and the meditations were so inspiring. What struck me the most is that Jesus wants me. So that’s why I’m here. He wants me back. He loves me for who I am — not the future me or my brokenness. Thank you all so much for the warm smiles and welcome. I’ll be back more and more, to learn and grow one day at a time with His help. And I love this place — very peaceful. Everything. Thank you. You are all God’s grace and blessings to me.”

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Wisdom from the Talks

Some of the women shared moving insights from Fr. Josef’s talks:

“I love how Father said, ‘If you don’t allow yourself to experience deep sorrow, then you cannot experience deep joy.’ I’m so used to running away from sorrow — that really stayed with me.”

“In our relationships with other women— we’re designed not to compete, but to complete one another. I think our little family here really shows that.”

“This sisterhood — it’s always there. The priests are always there. I just feel such a love for everyone.”

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The Examen: Listening to God

Fr. Josef also offered a new way to approach the Examen, shifting the focus from simply reviewing the day to listening to God’s voice in our hearts. One participant shared: “I learned that it’s not about what I have done during the day, but more about what God is trying to tell me — how I can improve and be better with Him, not on my own.”

We encourage you to take some time to listen to this transformative conference for yourself.

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The Stations of the Cross: A Time for Deeper Reflection

One of the most meaningful parts of the weekend was praying the Stations of the Cross. Fr. Josef used a version prepared by Pope Francis for last Easter and invited us to slow down — praying half of the stations on Friday and the other half on Saturday. This gentle pacing allowed each of us to truly enter into the meditations.

As one participant reflected, “I like very, very much the Stations of the Cross. On the way there, they were already on my heart, and I loved how we did them this weekend — half and half. It gave me more time to really think about them and internalize each one.”

At the end, we were encouraged to return to the station that spoke most deeply to us and spend a few quiet moments reflecting on it. It was simple, yet profoundly moving.

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An Invitation to Continue the Journey

As we returned home from The Holy Mountain, our hearts were full — renewed, inspired, and strengthened for the path ahead. But the grace of this Triduum doesn’t have to stay on the mountain. We are so grateful to Fr. Josef and Fr. Eric Nielson for their presence and guidance throughout the retreat. May the fruits of this time continue to grow in each of our hearts — and may we all continue ascending the holy mountain, one step at a time, with Christ by our side.