On Saturday, June 13, 2026, the Living Faith retreat, “Listening to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary” took place on the campus of Assumption University. That beautiful spring day brought together some of the readers, writers and editorial team of Living Faith. It was an occasion to pray together, to consider Scripture, and to reflect on the Christian life in this moment in the liturgical year— with a focus on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary—especially in the wake of the U.S. Bishops recent consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart.
On any given day of the year, readers of Living Faith are scattered across the U.S.A. and elsewhere, praying asynchronously in their many time zones and prayer spaces. But on Saturday, more than 100 people from all over New England, and more distant states, were able to pray and share and reflect in unison, in the ballroom of the Tsotsis Family Academic Center, and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. (Enjoy photos below!)
Living Faith’s editorial director, Pat Gohn, emceed the event and opened the day with Morning Prayer, alongside a welcome from Living Faith’s publisher, David Dziena.
Keynote speakers included popular author, Amy Welborn, who took up the theme of “Listening to the Heart of Jesus.” Living Faith author and Assumption’s VP in charge of Mission, Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A., presented “Listening to the Heart of Mary” on Living Faith’s motto: “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart”(Luke 2:19).
Guests heard stirring reflections by author and editor of Living With Christ, Terence Hegarty, and author Claire McGarry. Later in the day, Hegarty and McGarry teamed up to lead an
outdoor Scriptural Rosary on the Chapel’s beautiful grounds. It was part of session three that invited guests to choose an option for the hour. Some chose the Rosary, some chose some quiet time and personal prayer outdoors or in the Chapel, or attended one of two special talks: Living Faith and Twenty-third Publications author Melanie Rigney presented the inspiration of saints devoted to the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts, and the University’s own Augustinian scholar, Fr. Roger Corriveau, A.A., was an unadvertised “bonus” on the day’s schedule offering a talk delving into the Gospel of John.
Alongside their goodie bags, filled with free spiritual resources, Living Faith team member Ben Kupiszewski ran a book table offering guests a range of Bayard books and booklets related to the day’s subjects and more.
Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Dennis and Fr. Roger in Chapel of the Holy Spirit, with hymns led by cantor Ms. Caleigh Ducharme, accompanied on the organ by Mr. Leonardo Ciampa.
The Living Faith team was assisted by Bayard interns Maia Campbell and Michael Klofft, and volunteer, Bob Gohn.
Future retreat opportunities will be announced in the October issue of Living Faith, Daily Catholic Devotions, and online at LivingFaith.com.
