ST. PATRICK'S RETREAT GROUP

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A. O. H. Saint Patrick Retreat Group

ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS

ST. PATRICK RETREAT GROUP

St. Joseph in the Hills ~ Malvern Retreat House

5TH ANNUAL RETREAT

FRIDAY - SUNDAY

FEBRUARY 12TH - 14TH, 2010

(Check-In @ 6:00 PM Friday)

ABOUT US...

Our Retreat Group is open to all members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (their family and friends), but especially those Hibernians living in the six county Philadelphia area (Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks and Berks County).

Because of our size, our group is currently a part of the larger St. John Neumann Group, but we one day hope to be large enough to stand on our own. That is why we need to have every AOH Division representated; so that our group can grow.

The Malvern Retreat House (also known as St. Joseph's in the Hills) has served millions of people over the past 70 years and is situated on 125 woodland acres.

A retreat at Malvern is a great opportunity for you to get in touch with the really important things in your life; your relationship with your God and your fellow man. It’s an opportunity to get away from the daily rat race, to relax and to refresh your body and spirit.

In order to assure confirmation of reservations, a contribution of $25.00 is requested with the return of your reservation form. A free will offering is requested for this Men's Weekend Retreat, but no one is ever turned away from our retreats due to inability to pay.

If you are willing to help our Group grow, need a Reservation Form, or just have a question, please contact:

Phil Bowdren, C.A. Captain

(267) 254-2219 or phil.bowdren@verizon.net

THIS YEAR'S RETREAT DIRECTORS...

FATHER JOHN J. NORDEMAN (St. Joseph’s Hall)

Fr. Nordeman is a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty HS and Penn State University with a BS in Finance. After working for seven years, he entered St. Charles Seminary in 1995. He was ordained in 2001. He has worked in parishes, gives Days of Recollection, youth retreats, and also the RCIA program. He is on the faculty of Cardinal O’Hara High School residing in Sacred Heart Parish in Havertown.

FATHER GREGORY J. HICKEY (Our Lady’s Hall)

Fr. Gregory Hickey was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1979. He has served as a Parochial Vicar in the following parishes: SS. Simon and Jude, Westtown; Saint Augustine, Bridgeport, and Saint Leo in Tacony. The majority of his priestly assignments have been in education: Cardinal Dougherty, Saint Hubert’s, Bishop Conwell, Roman Catholic, and Kennedy-Kenrick where he was both Principal and President. While serving in the high school apostolate, he was in residence at both Our Lady Help of Christians in Philadelphia and Saint Helena in Center Square. He is a post-doctoral candidate in education at St. Joseph’s University. In addition, he served on numerous boards as well as chairing several Middle States evaluations, which is an accrediting agency in education. He is currently the Chaplain of Immaculata University and a full-time member of the Theology Department and assumed the full-time position of Rector, Malvern Retreat House, on January 3, 2007.

HISTORY OF OUR GROUP...

First Retreat:

The first retreat of the AOH St. Patrick Group was held from Friday to Sunday, February 17th to 19th, 2006 at St. Joseph's in the Hills - Malvern Retreat House. While we officially only had twelve Hibernians attend as part of our group, there were a number of Hibernian Brothers who were attending as part of the Knights of Columbus group that was there. For the time being our Group has been merged into the larger DeSales Group.

Second Retreat:

Our second retreat was held over the weekend of February 16th to 18th, 2007. Our numbers increased to twenty one Hibernians, including Malvern's new Rector, Father Gregory Hickey, a member of Wolfe Tone Division 1, Chester County.

Third Retreat:

Our third retreat was held over the weekend of February 8th to 10th, 2008. Our numbers remained about the same as last year, but there seems to be a lot more interest in the group. This year we were incorporated into the St. John Neumann group, and our over all numbers for the weekend topped 312, which is about all the Retreat House can handle.

Fourth Retreat:

Our fourth retreat was held over the weekend of February 13th to 15th, 2009. Our numbers increased to about 25, but we are still getting a lot of positive feedback from the Divisions.

Our Future:

We hope to increase the size of our group each year until we are large enough to stand on our own, but we need the support of every AOH Division in the six-county area to make this a reality. If every Division in the six-county area would send just (1) one man to the retreat our numbers would jump. If your Division does not have a recruiter, please consider becoming one and helping us grow.

THE MEMBERS OF THE AOH SAINT PATRICK RETREAT GROUP:

MEMBERS OF AOH ST. PATRICK RETREAT GROUP:

Father Greg Hickey - Rector (Chester 1), Phil Bowdren - C.A. Captain (Philly 51), Joe Fox (Philly 17), Deacon Jerry Whartenby (Philly 17), Jay McCarrie (Philly 51), Joe Hand (Philly 51), Bill Ragen (Philly 51), Jack Kennedy (Philly 51), Dave Rudy (Philly 51), Tom McCloskey (Philly 51), Bob Haley (Philly 22), Dan Lafferty Sr. (Philly 22), Dan Lafferty Jr. (Philly 22), Tim Lafferty (Philly 22), Jim Haggerty (Philly 61), Dan Herron (Philly 65), Hank Mullen (Berks 1), Warren Holohan (Berks 2), Ray Bechtle (Berks 2), Jim McNulty (Montco 2), John Engle (Berks 2), Charlie Wilson (Montco 2), Joe Smith (Montco 2).

If I missed anyone, please send me a message with the correct information. Thanks!

In Our Motto....

Phil

Prosit!