News and events at the Malvern Retreat House - St. Joseph's-In-The-Hills - Malvern, PA... a spiritual sanctuary and Catholic retreat house

Welcome Dave Pokorny, Malvern's Director of Fiscal Affiars/Controller

We would like to welcome David J. Pokorny, CPA, as Malvern’s Director of Fiscal Affairs/Controller. Dave began working at Malvern on Tuesday, April 30. He brings with him a wealth of experience in non-profit work and in the private sector. As a CPA and Controller, he possesses a strong background in financial analysis, budget development and strategic planning.

Dave earned his BS in Accounting from Villanova University, with membership in Gamma Phi, the Accounting Honor Society. He worked for 25+ years in public accounting at Margolis Becker, where he rose from staff accountant to partner. He left public accounting to work in industry where, for four years, he has worked as Controller/CFO.

A resident of Havertown, David has been married for 24 years, and is the father of three sons. He is active in his community, and serves as a baseball coach, is active on the board of directors for several organizations, and is a committed member of his church ministry.

“I’ve heard great things about Malvern Retreat House,” says David. “I look forward to joining the staff there, and helping Malvern continue its mission of bringing people closer to Christ.”

Dave White Retirement Announcement

We are writing to announce the retirement of our own Dave White, Assistant to the President at Malvern Retreat House. Dave has informed us that he is going to be retiring as of May 31, 2013, but still plans to continue his affiliation with Malvern as a retreatant and as a volunteer.

“I will miss the day-to-day association with the hundreds and thousands of captains, recruiters, staff and retreatants that make up this special ministry,” said Dave. “It’s been a great blessing to have met and worked with so many good men and women of Malvern.”

Dave, a 53-year retreatant, began his legacy at Malvern when he was recruited to make his first retreat by Dan Corry, VP of the League at the time. “It’s been a tremendous blessing to me to be associated with Malvern all these years, first as a volunteer and then as an employee,” said Dave.

Soon after his first retreat, Dave began volunteering on the retreat committee, which he did for most of his years here, and he also served on the board of directors for nine years during that time. He became an employee of Malvern Retreat House in 1994, after his retirement from his position as Logistics Manager at Sears. Malvern’s then-president, Jim Foley, asked him to join Malvern as Director of Development. Then, when Malvern’s Director of PR retired, Dave took on that role as well, and then also began chairing the retreat committee, a position he held for 15 years. He has served as Assistant to the President for the past eight years.

He will not be lacking for activities to keep him busy during his retirement. In addition to continuing his affiliation with Malvern as both a retreatant and a volunteer, his plans include spending time with his grandchildren, tutoring at the DePaul School in Germantown, and teaching Bible study and serving on his parish Pastoral Council at St. Alphonsus in Maple Glen. He also hopes to find the time to travel, spend time at the track, play some golf, and watch the Phillies.

“I want to thank all the great people I’ve come to know all these years, for all they have done to grow our mission,” said Dave. “I have enjoyed being a part of Malvern’s past, and I look forward to being a part of our future as well. I am hopeful and optimistic that Malvern will continue to grow; I believe that the retreat experience we offer is more needed today than ever before.”

We at Malvern offer our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Dave on his retirement. He has shown so much care and concern for all he comes into contact with, and his commitment to Malvern Retreat House is unparalleled. We are sorry to lose him as a co-worker, but we are delighted that he plans to continue volunteering with Malvern on an ongoing basis. We will miss you, Dave, and we wish you all the best!

To view the "History of Malvern" video from our YouTube channel, click HERE.

Click HERE to view what Archbishop Charles J. Chaput established for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia regarding the Gift of Indulgences for the Year of Faith. This was approved by Archbishop Chaput on the first day of Advent (December 2, 2012). For more information on the Year of Faith, visit the Archdiocesan website.

"Ever since the tragic events occurred at Sandy Hook, I have been searching for words to say to provide some type of insight towards what has happened to this small town, and our thoughts as Catholics & as a nation. It has been difficult to process everything these past few weeks, but I have organized some eloquent reflections HERE from other clergy & lay people regarding the recent events in Connecticut.

Please continue to pray that God will bring light and hope out of this darkness to Sandy Hook school's families and community of friends." To view more of Fr. Zlock's blog, click HERE.

Click on the picture below to hear a Christmas tune from the Six-Three Group for Sandy Hook Elementary School, and ways to contribute towards organizations helping this Connecticut community.

Click HERE to read CatholicPhilly.com's article about our Veterans Day Observance Dedication Ceremony

Click HERE to read CatholicPhilly.com's article about our Communion Mass to celebrate Malvern Retreat House's 100th Anniversary, and Archbishop Chaput's thoughts for our future.

Click HERE to read PhaithMagazine.com's article about our Chairman, Frank Marx, and how he was able to strengthen his faith in God after tragic losses.

The largest Catholic retreat house in the country, Malvern Retreat House celebrated its 100^th Anniversary in 2012 with a series of events designed to honor its past, re-fresh the spirituality of its retreatants, and introduce newcomers to the retreat experience.

Malvern Retreat House has hosted more than 1 million people who have come for spiritual guidance in an atmosphere of prayerful reflection. Each year, more than 20,000 people -- men, women, teens, married couples, and clergy and religious – attend a weekend or weekday retreat.

With seven buildings nestled on 125 wooded acres in Chester County, Malvern is owned by a volunteer board of lay people and can accommodate 400 people overnight.

“We continue to be an important spiritual resource because people never lose the desire to get close to God,” said President Jim Fitzsimmons. “We look forward to continuing this special experience into the next century.”

Best known for the Men of Malvern and Women of Malvern weekend retreats, the Retreat House attracts people who reserve the same weekend each year on their calendar and come to Malvern from Friday evening through Sunday noon for a “time away” for prayer, Mass, group discussion, and religious devotions.

Many retreatants have come faithfully for 25-, 50- and even 75 years. And they proudly pass on this tradition to the next generation in their family.

These retreatants are the heart of Malvern. While many are from the Greater Philadelphia area, where Malvern is widely regarded as a local Catholic treasure, the retreat house has hosted people from all 50 states and several foreign countries.

When the McShain-Horstmann Family Life Center opened in 2003, Malvern Retreat House began to offer special themed retreats. Annual attendance has increased more than 40 percent since 2004.

In the coming months, Malvern will sponsor a retreat on St. Gianna Beretta Molla and the Lay Saints of the New Millennium directed by Fr. Tom Rosica, CSB, who is the CEO of the Canadian Catholic television network; Archbishop Fulton Sheen: His Life and Legacy in the Church , directed by Fr. Andrew Apostoli; and two Healing Retreats by Eileen George.

In addition, Malvern hosts non-profit groups that provide services for people in recovery, returning veterans and caregivers, for example.

The Men of Malvern as well as other retreat groups traditonally have relied on personal invitation to recruit new retreatants to experience a weekend. Today, one-on-one recruiting is still the most effective strategy. But it is not the only means. In addition to traditional print and email communication, Malvern’s website and Facebook page have higher-than-average traffic.

To raise awareness for the 100^th anniversary, Malvern Retreat House opted for two first-time strategies. There were radio ads running each weekend on WMGK (102.9) and BEN-FM (95.7) asking listeners to “take a deep breath” at Malvern. Also, a billboard on I-76 W (the Schuylkill Expressway just before South Street exit) encouraged drivers to “reflect, refresh, rejoice” at Malvern Retreat House.

“These ads and events are all part of reminding our community that Malvern continues to be a destination,” said Fitzsimmons. “What sustains Malvern Retreat House is the never-ending, very personal desire of men and women to spend time in God’s presence away from the distractions and demands of the world.”

As part of the 100^th anniversary celebration, Malvern planned a series of spiritual, community and social events each month. These include a trip to the shrines of Saints John Neumann and Katharine Drexel (April 21), a Gala Dinner Dance at the City Line Hilton (May 12), and an outdoor concert by the West Chester Community Band (June 13) on the retreat house lawn.

Also, retreat groups are encouraged to perform community service, such as cooking dinner in a homeless shelter or helping in a neighborhood clean-up, as an outward sign of thanksgiving for Malvern’s reaching 100 years.

It was John J. Ferreck who introduced the idea of a retreat for lay men, rather than religious or clergy, to Philadelphia in 1912. He had been in New York on business and, delayed over a weekend, on impulse decided to sign up for a religious retreat at Mount Manresa, the new retreat house the Jesuits had opened for lay men on Staten Island. The retreat was so inspiring that Ferreck came home determined Philadelphia ought to have similar Catholic retreats. He talked to his friends and later that year to the rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary as the retreat idea was transformed into action.

A Laymen’s Retreat League was formed after the first retreats for lay men at St. Charles in 1913. Each year the numbers increased, ultimately to more men than St. Charles could comfortably accommodate. After a long search, in 1921 a portion of the Coxe Estate in rural Malvern, Chester County was purchased and renovated. The first retreat was conducted for 33 men June 3-5, 1922.

The Malvern Retreat House 2011 Annual Report
The Malvern Retreat House, owned and operated by Catholic laity since 1912, serves the spiritual needs of lay men and women of all ages, as well as clergy and religious of many denominations through the retreat experience. Rooted in the Gospel truths of Jesus Christ, we provide a place of hospitality in a unique and peaceful environment.

The Annual Report recognizes those individuals, families, corporations, foundations and organizations who have made gifts to St. Joseph’s-in-the-Hills, Malvern Retreat House in the 2011 calendar year.

Retreats for Men, Women, Married Couples and Families
Look at our schedule and find a retreat for you! If you have not been on a retreat in years, “Come home to Malvern.”
If you have never been on a retreat, or if you are searching to reconnect with the Lord, call us at (610) 644-0400 and we will help you to choose a retreat. Be assured, you are welcome to participate in any retreat. Come alone... or bring a friend

MEN OF MALVERN traditional retreats are held each weekend. Returning retreatants as well as newcomers are invited to participate. You will be hosted in comfortable, private rooms with a hall bathroom. The voluntary contribution is a suggested donation of $235.00 including five delicious meals. Each weekend is known by a religious name.

Other Retreats for Women and Men may be hosted in the beautiful McShain-Horstmann Family Life Center.

To register or for more information, please call (610) 644-0400 or CLICK HERE.