In 2012, the Malvern Retreat House celebrates

100 years of Catholic Lay Leadership

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:

Calendar of Events...

• March with the Malvern Retreat House Brigade in the St. Patrick's parade on Sunday, March 11, in Philadelphia. The parade route is 1.2 miles, from 16th St. and JFK Blvd to the Art Museum. Contact Michael Norton at 484-321-2539

• Visit the shrines of the Philadelphia saints. On Saturday, April 21, we will meet at 8:30 am at the shrine of St. Katharine Drexel in Bensalem. There is ample parking. After a tour of the shrine, we will travel by coach to the shrine of St. John Neumann in Philadelphia for a tour, movie and Mass. We will return to Bensalem by 2 p.m. A box lunch will be provided. To register, please contact Mary Flannery or call 484-321-2534.

• Our 100th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance will be held on May 12, 2012 at the City Line Hilton. The Anniversary Gala Committee is chaired by Frank Marx and Duane McCarthy.
• . Download the invitation here 
  
  Click here to register for the Gala online.
  
  
  
• Our 100th Anniversary Communion Mass celebrated by Archbishop Chaput and a Luncheon is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012 at the Cathedral Basilica. Lunch will follow at the nearby Sheraton Philadelphia City Center. 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.

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

• For information on 100th Anniversary Sponsorship opportunities, contact Mary Flannery or Michael Norton. Download the Ad Specs here 
  

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.