Each year, a group of girls from the tri-state area gather together on Long Beach Island to experience a restorative retreat before the summer officially kicks off. This year, the 3-day retreat held from June 7th to 9th was led by two lovely consecrated women, Mary Smith and Melanie Pilon.
The consecrated make the trek from D.C. down to the Jersey Shore to fill our weekend and our hearts with short talks, precious time in prayer, and spiritual direction. The retreat is hosted by Susie McGeough, who graciously opens her home and volunteers her time to make us feel welcome and well-fed.
On Friday night, the girls pour in and almost immediately let go of their daily-life anxieties as they catch a glimpse of the serene, twinkling water view from Susie’s porch. That night, the weekend kicks off with a beautiful catered dinner during which the girls have the opportunity to meet one another and excitedly share their hopes for the weekend. I am always amazed by how quickly each woman opens her heart to the stranger sitting next to them at the table. Although most women come as strangers, it’s not long before plans to see each other and group chats to stay in touch are made. Maura Fellin spoke of her experience as a newcomer,
“I felt blessed to be welcomed into a group that was so willing to hold meaningful conversations and uplift each other…It was an experience I will cherish and remember for years to come.”
From Friday night until Sunday morning, we hear various talks given by Mary and Melanie that are centered on embracing our Feminine Genius and identifying our strengths, needs, and weaknesses so that we may better live our mission and encourage others to do the same. Both consecrated women also gifted us small potted plants and flower bulbs without discussing these gifts prior, and thus, a theme of “flowers in bloom” serendipitously came to be as the weekend progressed. As I potted my seedlings and listened to Melanie’s talk on nourishing our spiritual needs so that we can better tend to the needs of others, I truly felt like my own internal garden was being watered and cared for by all the genuine and joyful women around me.
On Saturday afternoon, my favorite portion of the retreat, we head to adoration at the Maris Stella Retreat Center, a picturesque chapel overlooking the bay, to spend an hour contemplating the feelings stirred up in our hearts from the prior talks. Confession is offered during Adoration, and then we gather again for Mass. It is during these few hours of silent contemplation that the Holy Spirit touches our hearts. After Mass, we go back to Susie’s house, where a beautiful table and dinner is prepared for us. We spend hours on the deck laughing and decompressing with our newfound friends. I should add that this was the first year we experienced rainy weather during the retreat, but God cleared the skies just in time for us to watch a magnificent sunset as we sat down for our last dinner together.
On Sunday, just before we return to our busy lives in New York City and elsewhere, we participate in a closing activity. Each attendee, consecrated women, and even the host moms share their takeaways from the weekend. Having experienced four years of this concluding “ceremony”, I can confidently say the anecdotes shared usually vary immensely, from some girls feeling refreshed and relaxed, to others feeling grateful for the contemplative time, but nervous for the next steps that the Holy Spirit has inspired them to take. This year, however, a resounding theme of peace and hope for future ambitions prevailed among the group. Stefi Mendoza, a two-year attendee, shared her experience from this June,
“It left me energized, both spiritually and mentally, to continue tackling my busy life inspired by the strength and love emulated by the girls, leaders, and consecrated women that truly want to see us flourish in every corner of our lives.”
Each year, I appreciate the blessing of experiencing more fulfilling and genuine friendships in one weekend than some people may have in a lifetime. Living our Catholic faith boldly in an increasingly secular world is often an isolating venture. The chance to cultivate connections with other women who share your values, fears, and hopes is a rarity. That chance is offered to us annually through this retreat and the generosity of Regnum Christi and our consecrated community. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for this retreat and the graces I receive from it each year.
Despite almost all of us experiencing what seems to be a very uncomfortable or scary transitional period in our 20s, many girls, if not all of them, reveled in a feeling of refreshed confidence, inspiring us to re-enter the world and live our faith amidst our busy lives. Lexie Radonich, another first-year attendee, said,
“It’s a weekend spent shutting out the rest of the world so that I can strengthen my relationship with God and find my purpose…Being around other young, faith-filled women truly helped me open up and give my heart. I left with new friends, peace, and joy.”
As the summer unfolds, we remain in contact via group chats. Mary and Melanie have discussed conducting more online programs for us to partake in in the coming year. Myself and another four year retreat-goer have plans to lead a monthly Rosary club on Zoom to stay connected and create a designated time to catch up and pray for one another. I am eager to see these God-given friendships continue to flourish, and I am already counting down the days until next year’s retreat when I can reunite with old friends and meet all the new ones God has in store for me. Only eleven months to go!
-Sophia Spinelli
Interested in future retreats or a monthly zoom rosary?
