New Beginnings: San Alfonso Retreat House in Transition
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June 24, 2024The writer William Bridges once wrote: “We have it backward. Endings are the first, not the last act of the play.” Last August, the community here at San Alfonso began to experience quite a transition with a new Redemptorist community coming in. Talk about large shoes to fill! Those of us beginning our new ministry here were and continue to be aware of the extraordinary ministry of those who were here before us. Both the Redemptorist community and the entire staff were wonderful in welcoming us and helping us in the transition.
So, the ministry here continues, and we are starting to expand our ministry in some new directions. Our theme for the year has been “The Eucharist and the Hungers of the Human Heart” and it has been a great experience working together as a team and welcoming the many who come to spend time in prayer.
We are slowly beginning to explore some new directions for the future. Br. Ken Stigner has begun an outreach to young adults with a Lenten day of reflection for the students from Monmouth University back in February, scheduling weekly masses for the students, and getting ready for a young adult weekend retreat in July. Fr. Anthony Michalik has begun an outreach to the Filipino community with a weekend retreat back in March. Fr. Anthony has also been working on a Partners in Mission retreat in November.
Besides his work on the music ministry here at San Alfonso, Fr. Jim Dowds has begun plans for a musicians’ retreat directed by the Fr. Ricky Manalo, CSP and also scheduling Fr. Ricky for a Priests and Deacons Renewal Week next summer.
We have begun an outreach to the Hispanic community. We welcomed eighty members of the Hispanic community for an Advent Day of Prayer. Back in March, O.L.P.H. in Brooklyn and Sacred Heart in Baltimore gathered together for a weekend R.C.I.A. retreat in Spanish. Back in February, we welcomed members of the Hispanic Community from Newark, New Jersey, for a day of prayer.
Finally, we have a Hispanic women’s retreat scheduled for the weekend of July 5th and a men’s retreat for the weekend of August 23rd. As San Alfonso prepares for its 100th Anniversary next year, we move into the future full of hope and possibility!