I’m New Here

Thank you for visiting our website and for looking for opportunities to go on retreat. Malvern Retreat House hosts more than 20,000 people each year in about 250 different retreats. Our 125 acres of wooded grounds are located outside of Philadelphia in the beautiful community of Malvern. If you need further information that you don’t see here, please feel free to call us at 610-644-0400. Here is an overview of what you may need to know before booking a retreat or when coming to our campus:

Types of Retreats

—Men & Women of Malvern: There are a number of Men and Women of Malvern groups that enjoy coming here yearly for an overnight retreat (Friday night-Sunday morning). Each group is assigned a weekend, which stays the same year after year (i.e. second weekend in May).  Each group also has a name and leaders called “captains,” who help organize the retreats and encourage their “recruiters” to find new retreatants to join their group. However, you do not need to be invited to attend.  If a weekend works well with your schedule, please feel free to register (please note Men of Malvern retreats are only for men and Women of Malvern retreats are only for women). The groups all follow the same traditional retreat schedule, which includes Mass, Adoration, Confession, Stations of the Cross, conferences, etc..

—Other Malvern Sponsored Overnight Retreats:  Malvern Retreat House also organizes a number of other overnight retreats each year. These retreats may follow a certain theme, revolve around a particular retreat director, or be geared towards a particular group of people. Examples include our Divine Mercy retreat, our retreats with Women of Grace Founder and President Johnnette Benkovic and our Labor Day Family Retreat. A complete listing of overnight retreats may be found here.

—Days & Evenings of Reflection: Throughout the year, we host a number of days and evenings of reflections, which usually revolve around a theme and last anywhere from two to six hours.

—Recovery Retreats — These retreats are designed for individuals recovering from alcohol addiction.

—Private Retreats — Malvern hosts many private retreats, which are organized by the group booking our facilities. 

Our Location

We are located on 125-acres at the following address:

315 S. Warren Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355

You can access our campus map by clicking here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens on an Overnight Retreat?

We offer different types of retreats at Malvern. During our traditional overnight retreats, the schedule is set, starting with 5:00 PM registration on Friday and closing with Mass at 11:00 AM on Sunday. In addition to four conferences by the retreat director, you will have an opportunity to go to Reconciliation if you wish, say the Rosary and walk the Stations of the Cross, alone or with others. You may participate in discussions, have a private conference with a retreat director, and enjoy time set aside for meditation. A highlight for Catholics who wish to have a personal visit with our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament is Private Adoration, which is provided in four magnificent Oratories (small chapels). This may be the greatest one-on-one
experience of your life. If you attend one of our thematic retreats, the schedule may vary but contains many of the same elements of prayer, meditation, Reconciliation, discussion and Eucharistic liturgies.

Do I Have to Make a Reservation for a Retreat?

Advance registrations are suggested although last-minute openings are usually available. For more information or to make reservations, call the Retreat House at 610-644-0400 or register online at malvernretreat.com. You will receive a confirmation in the mail one week prior to your retreat.

Is There a Dress Code at Malvern? What Should I Pack?

Please dress comfortably. Liturgies in the Chapels and Oratories, along with your participation in private Adoration, reflect a need to dress respectfully (business casual i.e.: collared shirts for men, kakis, etc.). Please remember to bring comfortable walking shoes or sneakers if you intend to explore our woodland paths.

The wearing of tank tops or bare feet while indoors, any garments, hats, etc. with political party references, candidates, politicians, or politically related themes is not permitted.

Towels, wash cloths and soap are provided, some toiletries are available for purchase at the Gift Shop. . All meals are provided by our dining staff.

When Does the Weekend Retreat Begin and End?

For most weekend retreats, registration at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and lasts through the closing 11:00 a.m. Liturgy on Sunday.

What are the Accommodations? Do I Have to Share a Room?

For retreats held in the Main Retreat House, which includes St. Joseph Hall, Our Lady’s (Immaculate Conception & Assumption Halls), and Corrigan Hall, each person has a comfortable private room that includes a bed, an easy chair, a desk with a chair, a sink, mirror and a clothes rack. The bathroom is in the hallway. Our Family Life Center has private rooms with a bath and a double and single bed. These are usually double occupancy, with a limited number of single rooms available.