Arthouse2B Retreat 2025!

Friday

2:45 a.m. — my alarm went off. Time to get up and catch a flight to New York City!

I was excited about the trip, though getting out of bed was still tough… but the cup of a cappuccino helped!

My parents were in town and heading to NYC too, to visit my mom’s family. My uncle dropped us off at the airport at 4:15 a.m. — just 20 minutes to get through security. Now I’m at the gate, waiting for my flight and writing this.

Should I vlog?

Should I write an article about Arthouse2B and take photos?

Or should I just take it easy and enjoy this retreat for Catholic artists?

Hah if you know me, you know the answer!

It’s my second time attending — the first was last year, and it was amazing. I always want to document and capture as much as I can, so we’ll see how it goes and what comes out of it!

New York greeted us with rain. Andrea, Clair, and I got soaked while looking for a coffee shop (we met at LGA airport). But even drenched, our spirits were high. Over coffee and breakfast, we chatted, laughed, and dried off.

A little exploration of NYC followed. We stumbled upon a huge Divine Mercy banner near Times Square and even saw a telebeam showing white smoke with an image of Pope Leo XIV. It felt like a clear sign: the Holy Spirit is truly at work in today’s culture.

Our NYC adventure ended at Penn Station, where we caught a train to Morristown — that’s where the real journey was about to begin.

The Arthouse2B retreat — my second time attending, but the first for Andrea, Clair, and Emily, who joined us at the dinner, as well as Ali (our Chicagoan New Yorker!).

The evening concluded with Mass, celebrated by Fr. Malachy. His inspiring homily set the tone for the retreat, followed by our first talk, led by Sr. Tirzah from the Sisters of Life.

Saturday

6 a.m. — my alarm rang.
A cloudy morning marked the start of a sunny day.

I met everyone at breakfast, and the room was full of joy and conversation. A few children’s smiling faces made us even happier.

Later, we decided to step outside and soak in the sunshine. Just then, the bell called us to morning prayer, followed by the first talk of the day, led by Samantha.

All the talks were recorded — you can listen to them on Arthouse2B website (I will update link when they ready!).
I also wrote down some thoughts and notes I’d love to share with you:

Reflections from talks

Don’t escape your wounds.
Art is the key to intimacy with the Lord Jesus.
We can’t be fully healed in this life — only in communion with the Holy Trinity in Heaven.
You can’t separate yourself from your heart, because God speaks to your heart.
The body is the self-expression of the spirit.

On art and pain

Bad art comes from two places:
1. When we reject our wounds and pretend pain doesn’t exist — this leads to “nice” art, which is often shallow and empty.
2. When we create from pure pain and reject redemption — that, too, lacks wholeness.
But if we embrace both pain and redemption, it leads to beautiful, authentic art.

On Growth and Creativity

Creating is hard — it involves suffering and sacrifice. But we can offer it up.
We have to learn how to be bored. That’s what unlocks creativity.
Patient discipline is the key to creativity.
We are made to be co-creators with God.
Temptations will always rise up against what God calls us to do.

On Passion and Emotion

Passion is a powerful and often uncontrollable emotion or experience. If we don’t learn to control our passions, we’re trying to play God.
Emotions are gifts from God meant to help us live virtuous lives — but they must be rightly ordered.

I Need God…

I need a God who pursues me.
I need a God who rescues me.
I need a God who searches for me.
I need a God who has my name written on His heart.
I need a God who is eternally in love with me.
I need a God who can handle me.

All I need to do is let go.

On Judging Others

“I don’t expect you to be better.” — God

From the Eucharistic Healing Prayer

The Eucharistic healing prayer on Saturday evening was something else…

After his talk, Fr. Issac blessed each person individually with the Blessed Sacrament. I knew these would be the shots — the powerful ones. And I wasn’t wrong. But God had so much more in store for me.

I picked up my camera, set it up, and stood just behind the first row — ready to capture the beauty of the moment.

But I’ve come to learn something about my work:

Capturing images of God Himself can be overwhelming.
Sometimes it hits like a brick.
But this time… it felt like a whole wagon of bricks.

I wasn’t ready.

In that moment, my whole life flashed before me — mostly the bad choices I’ve made.
And I suddenly realized how small I am.
How unworthy I am to even look at Him.

I couldn’t hold it in.
I broke.

I am just dust.
I am just a servant.
I am not even worthy to be a servant.

But He loves me anyway.
He loves me unconditionally.
He loves me infinitely.
He loves me eternally.

And I am grateful for that.
Grateful for my friends.
Grateful for Arthouse2B.
Grateful for my struggles.
Grateful for my suffering.

It’s all part of the journey.
I didn’t sign up for this…
But I’m going to live it.
Live it with everything I’ve got.

And in the end, meet my God and Savior —
With a smile on my face.

Sunday

It’s a new day.
I slept in — again. A mistake…
Only patient discipline can save my life and my soul.

I talked to Edwin, skipped breakfast, and fasted until Mass.
The last talk was given by Sr. Tirzah, and none of us wanted the retreat to end.

Fr. Malachy gave another inspiring homily (again! 😊), and we wrapped up with an open mic — I even got to be a part of it.

I thought it couldn’t get better than that… but it actually did.

I spent the rest of the day with my friends in New York City, having a picnic in Central Park, talking about life.
And those moments — they’re magical.
The energy of the city, the people, the nature, the perfect weather — it all aligned to create a perfect moment.

And we need to remember those moments when the hard times come.

Life is a great adventure that we all have to go through — whether we like it or not.
So why not try to take it easy and enjoy it? 🙂