by guest writer Barb Hall
— An imagined reflection from St. Benilde Romançon, FSC
At Dunrovin, we often seek God in the quiet rhythms of preparing for, welcoming guests, and fostering their retreat life. In the same spirit, St. Benilde Romançon, FSC —a humble schoolteacher in rural France—reminds us that holiness is not found only in grand gestures but in the faithfulness of daily tasks. His story invites us to discover Christ’s presence in the ordinary moments of our own lives.
Each morning the bell would ring, and I would rise to meet the day much as I had the day before. There was nothing grand in my routine: a walk to the small schoolhouse, the unlocking of the door, the chalk and slate laid out for the lessons ahead. My pupils were country boys, sons of farmers and laborers, who arrived with muddy shoes and bright eyes, carrying with them all the energy and restlessness of youth. The older children would help the younger ones—teaching them letters, guiding them through prayers, and showing them by example how to learn. This, too, was by design, for education is not merely instruction but formation, where one soul helps lift another.
There were moments of trial, of course—days when the children were restless, or when my own body grew weary of the repetition. In those times I turned again to the Lord, remembering that His own life in Nazareth was marked by years of quiet labor alongside his father, Joseph. This labor was known only to a few. If Christ could sanctify the carpenter’s bench with quiet labor, could He not also sanctify the teacher’s desk?
I have come to believe that holiness does not demand extraordinary feats. Rather, it is born in the ordinary acts, done faithfully and with love, in whatever vocation God has entrusted to us. For me, it was the classroom. For others, it may be the care of a family, the tending of a field, or the service of a community.
So I say to you: do not wait for the extraordinary to live a holy life. Begin with what is before you. Welcome the interruptions, embrace the routine, and offer your tasks—however small—as a prayer. In doing so, you will discover, as I did, that God is found most often not in the noise of great events, but in the quiet fidelity of each day.
And so, too, it is at Dunrovin. The cooks who prepare each meal, the housekeepers who create spaces of rest, the maintenance and administrative staff who sustain the rhythm of this sacred place—all walk beside the program and retreat staff in daily acts of unseen love. These small, faithful works, like St. Benilde’s, are seen by God and blessed by Him.
Barb Hall works as the Administration and Operations Manager for Dunrovin Retreat Center. She aptly brings her mechanical engineering career experience to this multi-faceted job along with a deeply caring personality, quirky sense of humor, and authentic faith-filled life.