We're so excited to see you soon!
Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center is located at 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104.
RECONNECTION ~ REST ~ RENEWAL ~ RADIANCE
During our weekend away, we will rest and renew our energy, and we will also focus on reconnecting with our inner selves and how to embrace our inner radiance.
Two texts, Radiant Rebellion and I Am Diosa, with two distinct styles of bringing out our inner emotions and authentic selves, will be used to guide our activities and discussions.
Two texts, Radiant Rebellion and I Am Diosa, with two distinct styles of bringing out our inner emotions and authentic selves, will be used to guide our activities and discussions.
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What to Expect Upon Arrival
Friday Arrival: between 3pm and 5pm
Before or after parking, bring your luggage into the lobby. Bon Secours staff will check you in, give you your room key card and badge, and direct you to our meeting room and your guest room. Join us in the Angelique Geay Room (downstairs) when you are ready. Dinner begins at 6pm (dining room is also downstairs).
What to Wear
Most women wear comfy casual clothes during the retreat. The weather might be on the cool side, especially during our evening by the fire, so bring layers or a snuggly blanket. Sneakers/walking shoes are helpful as we will be making time to go outside for walks, but feel free to bring slippers/house shoes.
What to Bring:
- journal for writing and reflecting
- favorite pens, pencils, markers, colored pencils
- reusable water bottle/travel mug (water, juices, teas, and coffees are available all day)
- foldable camping chair for outdoor gatherings
Workshop-specific items:
-journal or notebook for Cultivating Our Own Healthy Longevity with Jenny
-a favorite photo of yourself (print one out if you can, though digital also works) for Seeing the Glow from Within with Jessica, a photo from any time in your life that when you look at it you just think how amazing and beautiful you are
Optional Items to Bring:
- a book to swap (bring a book & take a book)
- drum or noise maker
- craft items to use and share with others
- a treat to share like a bottle of wine, a salty snack, or a sweet treat
- yoga mat, beach towel, meditation cushion, cozy blanket
- extra journal for book bullet journaling
Bon Secours Phone Number:
The main line is 410-442-3120. Cell phone service can be spotty, so please share this number with anyone who may need to reach you.
Friday Arrival: between 3pm and 5pm
Before or after parking, bring your luggage into the lobby. Bon Secours staff will check you in, give you your room key card and badge, and direct you to our meeting room and your guest room. Join us in the Angelique Geay Room (downstairs) when you are ready. Dinner begins at 6pm (dining room is also downstairs).
What to Wear
Most women wear comfy casual clothes during the retreat. The weather might be on the cool side, especially during our evening by the fire, so bring layers or a snuggly blanket. Sneakers/walking shoes are helpful as we will be making time to go outside for walks, but feel free to bring slippers/house shoes.
What to Bring:
- journal for writing and reflecting
- favorite pens, pencils, markers, colored pencils
- reusable water bottle/travel mug (water, juices, teas, and coffees are available all day)
- foldable camping chair for outdoor gatherings
Workshop-specific items:
-journal or notebook for Cultivating Our Own Healthy Longevity with Jenny
-a favorite photo of yourself (print one out if you can, though digital also works) for Seeing the Glow from Within with Jessica, a photo from any time in your life that when you look at it you just think how amazing and beautiful you are
Optional Items to Bring:
- a book to swap (bring a book & take a book)
- drum or noise maker
- craft items to use and share with others
- a treat to share like a bottle of wine, a salty snack, or a sweet treat
- yoga mat, beach towel, meditation cushion, cozy blanket
- extra journal for book bullet journaling
Bon Secours Phone Number:
The main line is 410-442-3120. Cell phone service can be spotty, so please share this number with anyone who may need to reach you.
Recommended Materials
These materials caused sparks in us and relate to the topics we'll address over the weekend.
Books
The Lightmaker's Manifesto by Karen Walrond
Everybody Come Alive by Marcie Alvis Walker
Outlive by Peter Attia
The Body Liberation Project by Chrissy King
Naked: On Sex, Work, and Other Burlesques by Fancy Feast
NPR's LifeKit (listen or read)
How to Stop Being Self-Critical and Silence Negative Self Talk: Would I talk to my best friend this way?
Diet Culture is Everywhere, Here's How to Fight It: "We're often taught to see our bodies from a deficit model. Like, what doesn't it do? What isn't it getting me? And I encourage people to kind of flip that on its head. You know, regardless of your ability level, your body is absolutely doing rad stuff." - Virgie Tovar, author and public speaker on befriending your body
Articles
What is the Mother Wound? by Elise Loehnen "It starts with the idea that every wounding mother is a wounded child inside—and an outsize cultural expectation of selflessness that’s too large for any woman to bear."
These materials caused sparks in us and relate to the topics we'll address over the weekend.
Books
The Lightmaker's Manifesto by Karen Walrond
Everybody Come Alive by Marcie Alvis Walker
Outlive by Peter Attia
The Body Liberation Project by Chrissy King
Naked: On Sex, Work, and Other Burlesques by Fancy Feast
NPR's LifeKit (listen or read)
How to Stop Being Self-Critical and Silence Negative Self Talk: Would I talk to my best friend this way?
Diet Culture is Everywhere, Here's How to Fight It: "We're often taught to see our bodies from a deficit model. Like, what doesn't it do? What isn't it getting me? And I encourage people to kind of flip that on its head. You know, regardless of your ability level, your body is absolutely doing rad stuff." - Virgie Tovar, author and public speaker on befriending your body
Articles
What is the Mother Wound? by Elise Loehnen "It starts with the idea that every wounding mother is a wounded child inside—and an outsize cultural expectation of selflessness that’s too large for any woman to bear."
Retreat Schedule
At OMO retreats, everything is optional; give yourself permission to participate as much or as you little as you need.
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
At OMO retreats, everything is optional; give yourself permission to participate as much or as you little as you need.
- Whole Group Gatherings meet in the Angelique Geay Room (unless otherwise noted), our main gathering space. These gatherings bring all of us together to listen and talk through guided topics.
- Workshops meet in the Angelique Geay Room or the Burger Room and will have a presenter guiding the activity or discussion.
- Independent Time is just that--time for you to process what you've learned during workshops in whatever way suits you best
- Movement sessions reconnect us with our body's strengths
Friday
- 3:00pm: Check-in begins
- Independent Exploration of the retreat center or Casual Gathering in Angelique Geay Room
- 5:00-6:00pm: Workshop
Let the Sun Shine In watercolor and line art lesson with artist and art teacher Jenn - 6:00-7:00pm: Dinner
(Attendees with dietary restrictions--have one of the OMO team introduce you to the catering staff to verify your dietary needs) - 7:00pm: Whole Group Gathering
Introductions and Setting Intentions for the Weekend Get to know the retreat leaders and each other in conversations (introvert- and extrovert-friendly), then we'll dive into what we hope for the weekend away - 8:30pm: Movement: Dance Party!
Radiating Joy Did you know that listening to music from your youth can help you really connect with your body? Time to de-stress by jamming out to some favorites.
Saturday
- 7:00-7:30am: Movement
Mini Morning Yoga Start your day with mindful movement with Carla, a certified yoga instructor. Bring a yoga mat and towel/blanket. - 7:30-9:00am: Breakfast
- 9:00am: Whole Group Gathering Waking to the Light
- 9:30am: Workshop
Seeing the Glow from Within Recognizing your beauty (and dealing with the nonsense and noise of the culture of criticism) with Jessica - 10:45am: Workshop
Revealing Our Radiance Getting in touch with our inner strength with Corinne - 12:00-1:00pm Lunch
- 1:15pm: Workshop
Somatic Stress Release an introduction to somatic care with Karen - 2:15pm: Workshop
Cultivating Our Own Healthy Longevity a guide to tracking preventative care, important screenings, and perimenopausal/menopausal symptoms with Jenny - 3:15pm: Workshop
Through the Fire: an exploration of grief and loss Discover what matters most to your life in this moving guided reflection with Kris - 4:15: Meditation
Learning to Walk the Labyrinth with Amy - 4:30-6:00pm Independent Time
Take time to process what you learned during the workshops. Rest, nap, meditate, exercise, explore the Self-Guided Activities, practice meditative drawing, or gather in the Burger Room for a chat or to craft. - 6:00-7:00pm Dinner
- 7:15pm Whole Group Gathering: Book Discussion
The Goddess and the Soul Fire What did the books bring up for you? with Amy - 8:15pm Whole Group Gathering: Firepit
Releasing Time to let go of what is no longer serving you (firepit is weather-dependent)
Sunday
- 7:00-7:30am: Movement
Independent Time--Gather with others in the Burger Room for casual, self-guided yoga, a labyrinth walk, or use the time for your preferred exercise - 7:30-9:00am: Breakfast
- 9:00am: Whole Group Gathering
Building a Radiant Alliance each guided activity station offers tangible ways to carry the lessons learned this weekend back home with you - 10:45-11:00am: Room Check Out
Room Checkout must be done by 11:00am, but luggage can be stored in our meeting room until the retreat ends at 2:00pm - 11:00-12:00pm: Whole Group Gathering
Building a Radiant Alliance Cont'd - 12:00-1:00pm Lunch
- 1:00pm Whole Group Gathering
Igniting Our Light we'll share ideas for carrying lessons learned back to our home life and then close our gathering
- 2:00-5:00pm: Retreat Center is available for you to explore
Reconnecting with Our Inner Selves
Working toward becoming your version of your best self takes reflection and sometimes also benefits from being sparked by a fascinating workshop or thought-provoking conversation. During all aspects of the retreat, we offer a variety of experiences for you to connect with your inner self and reignite her wants, needs, and goals for the future.
Rest and Renewal
All workshops and gatherings are optional!
Attend as much or as little as you'd like. We want you to feel empowered to take from this weekend what you need and for some of us, that will mean attending all of the sessions and gatherings, and for others it will mean catching up on much needed sleep or going for a long walk through the beautiful grounds. OMO retreats are designed with introverts and extroverts (and all of us in-between) in mind.
Reconnecting with A Community of Women
Women thrive in spaces where they feel seen, heard, and understood. Whether you are a repeat attendee or new to our retreats, this weekend is a chance for you to build relationships with women that you may not see in daily life, women who may help you reconnect with the parts of yourself you haven't been giving enough light to lately, women whose stories are familiar to yours, women you may just want to sit and be still near.
Working toward becoming your version of your best self takes reflection and sometimes also benefits from being sparked by a fascinating workshop or thought-provoking conversation. During all aspects of the retreat, we offer a variety of experiences for you to connect with your inner self and reignite her wants, needs, and goals for the future.
Rest and Renewal
All workshops and gatherings are optional!
Attend as much or as little as you'd like. We want you to feel empowered to take from this weekend what you need and for some of us, that will mean attending all of the sessions and gatherings, and for others it will mean catching up on much needed sleep or going for a long walk through the beautiful grounds. OMO retreats are designed with introverts and extroverts (and all of us in-between) in mind.
Reconnecting with A Community of Women
Women thrive in spaces where they feel seen, heard, and understood. Whether you are a repeat attendee or new to our retreats, this weekend is a chance for you to build relationships with women that you may not see in daily life, women who may help you reconnect with the parts of yourself you haven't been giving enough light to lately, women whose stories are familiar to yours, women you may just want to sit and be still near.
About Bon Secours
We chose the Bon Secours Retreat Center because of its integration in the beauty of nature, recently renovated facilities, affordability, delicious food, COVID safety over the pandemic, and convenience for us in Howard County. The extensive grounds of Bon Secours are open for you to explore alone or with others. The renovated, private rooms are fully stocked with everything you need, and rooms are even TV-free, so you can take a break from screens. With cozy meeting rooms, meditative spaces like the Labyrinth and Peace Garden, and quiet private rooms, our retreat group will have the space we need to laugh, to learn, and to just be.
From Bon Secours:
Lodging Accommodations
Delicious Dining
The professional food and beverage staff will help you refuel with a delicious selection of choices, prepared fresh each day in the Bon Secours kitchen.
We chose the Bon Secours Retreat Center because of its integration in the beauty of nature, recently renovated facilities, affordability, delicious food, COVID safety over the pandemic, and convenience for us in Howard County. The extensive grounds of Bon Secours are open for you to explore alone or with others. The renovated, private rooms are fully stocked with everything you need, and rooms are even TV-free, so you can take a break from screens. With cozy meeting rooms, meditative spaces like the Labyrinth and Peace Garden, and quiet private rooms, our retreat group will have the space we need to laugh, to learn, and to just be.
From Bon Secours:
Lodging Accommodations
- 70 guest rooms, all with queen-size beds, private baths, linen and towel service and free Wi-Fi
- Guests frequently comment about the superb cleanliness of our lodging rooms and comfort of our beds and linens
- A host of other amenities, including a fitness center and outdoor swimming pool
Delicious Dining
The professional food and beverage staff will help you refuel with a delicious selection of choices, prepared fresh each day in the Bon Secours kitchen.
- Light refreshments are available throughout the day in hospitality lounges located on each floor of the Center (coffee, tea, water and a bowl of fresh fruit)
- Dietary Allergies/Restrictions:
- OMO provides Bon Secours a list of those attendees reporting allergies/restrictions
- In order to guarantee a positive dining experience, those guests who have special dietary requests or needs (allergies, restrictions, etc.) are asked to speak to a supervisor in the Food and Beverage Department upon arrival.
- Those guests who require a very restricted diet (gluten free, organic, vegan, etc.) are welcome to bring some of their own food items to supplement what the Center provides. Refrigerators and microwaves are available for guest use.
- Vegetarian options are available upon request (at each meal time).
Payment Information
- Full payment must be received by April 1, 2024.
- $100 deposits are refundable until December 31, 2023; deposits received January 1, 2024 or later are non-refundable.
- Registration fees are non-refundable starting April 1, 2024.