Our organization began in 1912 when investment banker John J. Ferreck met with the Rector of St. Charles Seminary to plan for weekend retreats by laymen.
 
To mark the 100th anniversary, Anniversary Chairman John Kozakowski is leading the team of Board members and Malvern Retreat House staff to plan the year-long series of events. 

The Anniversary Year has four key components:

100th Anniversary Calendar of Events 2012:

Download a PDF of the full schedule of 100th Anniversary activities here

January:

• 100th Anniversary opening ceremony during Epiphany Group Retreat

February:

• Malvern Retreat House Art Show

March:

• Malvern Retreat House brigade marches in St. Patrick's Day Parade in Philadelphia
• President's Reception and Dedication of the new Stations of the Cross at McShain-Horstmann Family Life Center

April:

• Pilgrimage to St. Katherine Drexel & St. John Neumann shrines

May:

• Malvern Retreat House Golf Classic at Talamore.  To view photos, click here
• Centennial Gala dinner dance at City Line Hilton.  To view photos, click here

June:

• Outdoor Concert with West Chester Community Band at Malvern

July:

• Malvern Retreat House at Minor League Baseball evening games and a Phillies game.  To view photos, click here

August:

• Malvern Retreat House Day at the Shore at 12th Street Beach in Ocean City, NJ

September:

• 9/16 at 10:30 a.m.--Dedication of the new statue of St. Joseph the Worker outside of St. Joseph's Hall at Malvern Retreat House.  To view photos, click here

October:

• 10/8--Don Gallagher Memorial Golf Outing at Sandy Run Country Club
• 10/28 at 11:30 a.m.--Communion Mass at Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.  Lunch will follow at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.  Our keynote speaker will be Cahtolic ethicist and theologian George Weigel , who will receive our Centennial Award and the inaugural St. Joseph medal.  The Religious Activities Committee is chaired by Tom Keiser and Dan DeLucca.  To view photos, click here and also here.

November:

• 11/11--Recognition of our military veterans during the Ave Maria Group Retreat

December:

• 12/9--100th Anniversary Closing Ceremony with Immaculate Conception Group Retreat

For information on 100th Anniversary Sponsorship opportunities, contact Beth Racine or Michael Norton.

Giving Back to Our Communities

An aspect of our 100^th Anniversary celebration is to encourage each of our retreat groups to get together at a time in addition to their retreat weekend and contribute hours of service to a project in their community in the name of Malvern Retreat House. This includes the Men of Malvern as well as Women of Malvern, Legion of Mary men and women, Cana married couples, and the family retreat groups on July 4, Labor Day and with Our Lady of the Rosary. In this way, Malvern gives thanks to the community for all that we have received over the past 100 years from the men and women of this community.

The volunteer service project can be either a religious or a community-based charity. The project can entail physical labor or collecting money. It can be a group project, one of several group projects, or an individual effort by a group member.

Suggested service projects include cleaning up a park or vacant lot, collecting donations for a local or national charity, driving for Meals on Wheels, volunteering at the local parish on a project identified by the parish or diocese, or spending time at a nursing home.

Throughout the year, we will post news about the service projects as they are completed.

Groups are asked to report the total volunteer hours to Dave White (484-321-2521). At the close of the Anniversary Year, we will recognize outstanding volunteers or groups.