First Annual Retreat

Perched high on the bluff about the town of Mission, Westminster Abbey’s Church bells rang on May 6, 2022, just as the 24 members of the Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus excitedly arrived for their First Annual Silent Retreat.  After almost three years of not setting foot on this holy place, because of COVID restrictions, a maximum of only 25 people were allowed to attend.

Fr. David Bellusci, OP, the Spiritual Director of this newly-formed Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – Vancouver group, was the Retreat Master for this year’s silent retreat.  The weekend, from May 6-8, 2022, provided an opportunity for our members to hear God’s voice in silence, pray the Liturgy of the Hours, celebrate Mass and reflect on an important theme, “St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”

There were five (5) talks during the retreat, each aimed to build and strengthen the ‘way of life’ of the members of the Guard of Honor in consoling the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Fr. Bellusci gave us a glimpse on the lives of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque as well as Blessed Marie of the Sacred Heart Bernaud, both Visitation Sisters and instrumental in the formation of the Guard of Honor Association.

Typical of a life of a saint, the Apostle of the Sacred Heart, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was exposed to suffering, especially in her early childhood. This was to prepare her for the mission that Jesus had planned for her.  She received the grace of numerous apparitions of the Sacred Heart two centuries earlier.

This event touched the fervent soul of Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart Bernaud, who wished to be able to respond with all the strength of her faith to the Lord’s complaints to St. Margaret Mary:

“Behold this Heart, which has loved men so much, that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify to them its love; and in return I receive from most of them nothing but ingratitude and scorn….”

On June 13, 1863, the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart Bernaud wrote:

“I felt more than ever, what the Heart of Jesus is: an abyss of love, misunderstood, rejected, pushed back to its source.  How much this very gentle Heart has suffered and suffers daily from our tremendous ingratitude.  I will implore Him to grant me this grace of making Him known and loved a little.”

The Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Association was founded through the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the perseverance, docility and hard work of Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart Bernaud.  Throughout her whole life and activity, until her death on August 3, 1903, Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart was a docile instrument in the hands of the Lord.

“Mine is the immense happiness of working, suffering, loving….my part is too beautiful.”   …..SISTER MARIE OF THE SACRED HEART BERNAUD

It was wonderful to conclude the Retreat with a Mass offered by the Benedictine monks and to hear their Gregorian chant soar to heaven in this lovely, serene and uniquely architectural unique church.

After Mass, with silence broken, everyone had a chance at lunch time to bond, catch up on things and exchange pleasantries before heading home after an enriching, faith-filled retreat!

                                       By:  Remi Vasquez

Rev. Fr. David Bellusci, OP, surrounded by the members of the Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

I am pleased to share my experiences at our First Guard of Honor Retreat at Westminster Abbey for a weekend, from May 6-8.

We were blessed to have our Spiritual Director Fr. David Bellusci, OP, facilitating the retreat and giving us five talks, on the Sacred Heart, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Foundress Mother Marie Bernard of the Guard of Honor, St. Claude De La Colombiere and on the letter from St. Margaret Mary to Mother de Sumaise at Moulins.

It was an amazing and inspiring weekend that was indeed spiritual growth for myself, deeper love for the Sacred Heart and a blessing to pray, worship, adore and participate Mass with my dear Associates.  Meditations and reflections were a bonus, peaceful, soothing and calming.

The entire silent retreat was enlightening, full of joy, very personal with Jesus and a true intimacy with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

There were many moments that I felt not only the presence of Jesus with our Blessed Mother, I almost felt I was at the foot of the Cross during His crucifixion.

Our retreat organizer Remi had a well-planned and well-thought-out retreat which I have no doubt is Holy Spirit filled. It was almost flawless, much needed time to be with our Lord and worthy of every second we were there.

The time at the retreat was an experience that I am thankful, grateful, loved and blessed and honored to be amongst many faith-filled Guards of Honor.

Glory and Praise be to God! St. Margaret Mary pray for us!

                                                                    By:  Julie Lee