In the News Young Adult Retreat
Retreat for Men in Transition
Attendees and staff of the 3rd Annual Retreat for Men in Transition enjoy the scenic overlook during quiet time during the retreat, held June 6-7. This year’s theme was “Homecoming: Home in God; Home in Our Own Skin.” Thanks to the efforts of the Bethesda Project, Neumann University, St. John’s Hospice and our staff here at Malvern, attendees enjoyed a pleasant, spiritually enriching opportunity to draw closer to God. Young adults relax on the porch of St. Joseph’s Hall, and later enjoy learning about their spiritual gifts using the Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory at the Young Adults Retreat in May.
Catholic Business Leaders’ Retreat Fr. William Byron encouraged attendees of the Catholic Business Leaders’ Retreat to listen with both their hearts and their heads. “If we conduct our lives in accordance with the words of our Lord, we will not have any problem making the correct decisions. Your gut will tell you when you are right and wrong.” The time spent in quiet reflection with our Lord helped to renew participants’ faith and recharge them spiritually.
Mothers of Children with Disabilities
Sr. Kathleen Schipani reads a beautiful prayer of blessing for the mothers, specifically blessing their hands during the closing of the Mothers of Children with Disabilities Retreat, held on Tuesday, May 7th at the Family Life Center.
7th Annual Women of Grace Retreat & Benedicta Leadership Institute In a powerful weekend program, Johnnette Benkovic and Fr. Philip Scott, FJ, shared how God manifests His love in so many ways, and attendees witnessed firsthand how God heals the wounds in their hearts, and the pain of their memories. Preceding the retreat was the Benedicta Leadership Institute, featuring Dr. Margaret “Peggy” Hartshorn, president of Heartbeat International, who taught participants The L.O.V.E. Approach, a powerful leadership model which helps build trust and communication. Large Photo: Johnnette joins in a lighter moment with some of the attendees the weekend of July 12-14. Inset photo, right: Fr. Philip Scott during one of his deeply spiritual talks. Inset photo, left: Dr. Margaret “Peggy” Hartshorn teaches The L.O.V.E. Approach at the Benedicta Leadership Institute.
Malvern Retreat House Hosts The Michael J. Strange Foundation’s First Retreat for Families of Fallen Service Members “Healing the Family—Moving Beyond Loss”
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he Michael J. Strange Foundation (www.michaelstrangefoundation.org) chose Malvern Retreat House as the site for the first of its series of weekend retreats offering a healing environment to the parents and siblings of fallen military heroes through support and grief counseling. Founded by Charles Strange, father of Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J. Strange, the Foundation is named for his son, who was one of the Fallen Heroes of Navy Seal Team Six, whose Chinook Helicopter was shot down after completion of their mission to support an Army Ranger Unit pinned down by hostile enemy fire on August 11, 2011.
Because Mr. Strange and a number of the Foundation’s Board Members had first-hand experience attending retreats at Malvern Retreat House, they felt its serenity and welcoming hospitality would be the perfect place to help families begin this healing process. Following his son’s death, Charles and his family had difficulty finding counseling that helped them deal with the death of a loved one in military service. “No one understands our loss; you cannot begin to understand what it is like unless you have been through it,” said Charles. He kept searching, and when he found a program which helped him begin to heal, “Vets Journey Home,” he used their program as a model for his
new program for fami lies, “Healing the Fami ly— Moving Beyond Loss.” The retreats, which feature experienced grief counselors to help family members begin healing in a private, comfortable setting, are provided at no cost to families. Transportation, food, and housing are covered by the Foundation and its generous donors. “We look forward to helping many families from across the country with this project,” said Charles Strange. “This is our mission: to give comfort and grief counseling to families of our fallen service members.”
facebook.com/MalvernRetreat | Summer 2013 | Prosit 5