February 10th, 2008

TO:          Pennsylvania State Board, Ancient Order of Hibernians

FROM:    Phil Bowdren, A.O.H. Saint Patrick Retreat Group

SUBJ:      Report on the 3rd Annual Retreat of the A.O.H. Saint Patrick Retreat Group

On the weekend of February 8th to 10th, 2008 twenty three Hibernian Brothers came together at St. Joseph’s in the Hills - Malvern Retreat House for the third annual retreat of the AOH St. Patrick Retreat Group. In Attendance as part of the St. Patrick Group were Brothers;

Warren Holohan, Jim Haggerty, John Engle, Ray Bechtle, Mike Kirk, Joe Hand, Ed McBride, Dan Herron, Deacon Gerry Whartenby, Tom Babcock, Seamus Daly, Bob Haley, Jay      McCarrie, Joe Hand, Dave Rudy, Steve Lynam, Barney Boyce, John Flood, Pat Duddy, Dan Lafferty, Sr., Dan Lafferty, Jr., Tim Lafferty, and myself.

There were a number of other Hibernian Brothers in attendance that were there as part of the St. John Neumann Group, which is the larger group that hosted us. It should be noted that Brother Paul Phillips is the past C.A. Captain of the St. John Neumann group. Father Greg Hickey, Rector of St. Joseph’s in the Hills is a member of Wolfe Tone Division 1, Chester Co.

This year we increased our group by 3, but there are still a lot of divisions who are not participating. Every Brother in attendance agreed that if at least one Brother from every division in the 6 county area (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia) attended the next retreat and experienced all that Malvern has to offer, they would go back to their respective divisions and convince others to attend.

The liturgy, conferences and speakers were excellent; and as anyone who has ever been to Malvern for a retreat will testify, the grounds are beautiful, as are the buildings, chapels, oratories and rooms. The hospitality at the Retreat House is next to none, the food in the Dining Hall is well prepared, great tasting and plentiful.

Prior to this year’s retreat I mailed letters, brochures, flyers, etc. to every AOH Division in the six county Philadelphia area, as well as York and Lancaster County; every AOH Division in New Jersey south of Trenton, and the AOH Division in Newark, Delaware, inviting them to participate. I have also set-up and maintain a website for the group.

It is my hope that in 2009 I will be able to report to the State Board that we have doubled our group’s size, and that by 2016 we are a large enough group (150+) to be able to stand alone as a weekend retreat group. As I've said in the past, and again this weekend to the Brothers who attended; we have a Brother Hibernian as the Rector of Malvern Retreat House, and I think we need to do all we can to support his ministry here, by making the A.O.H. Saint Patrick Group one of the most active and vital groups at Malvern.

Sincerely,

In Our Motto…

Phil Bowdren, C.A. Captain

A.O.H. St. Patrick Retreat Group

Laymen’s Retreat League - Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Recording Secretary, Philadelphia County A.O.H. Board

Member, A.O.H. Division 51 - Fishtown