One of the nice aspects of this retreat, which is very local-not in a secluded rural area, is meeting many Catholics from the diocese and discussing the good and the bad of the local Church. After a talk given by the organizer of the retreat, many people asked questions and gave comments about the situation today. I wish this had been a little longer or an actual planned event. People need to vent and to share ideas on how to help spread orthodoxy here.

I want to give a plug to John Moreno, the organizer of the weekend, who wrote A SPIRITUALITY FOR POLICE OFFICERS. The story he tells in the book is interesting. Basically, he retired from the NYC police force in order to be the retreat director at a large retreat house. After 13 years doing this, he was replaced after his orthodoxy became a problem for the new priest in charge. He founded Catholic Lay Preachers with his ex-partner Tom Cook, and they would speak at various Catholic events. Meanwhile Fr. Benedict Groeschel was doing yearly retreats at another local retreat house and became alarmed at the other types of retreats being held there. When he was told that the retreat house would not stop holding these questionable retreats, he simply stopped holding his retreats there. [His retreats were the only ones consistently sold out]. In his search for a place to hold annual talks and retreats, he contacted Mr. Moreno who discovered the retreat house at Kellenberg High School. Since it is not used on most weekends, it was graciously offered for use by Fr. Phillip Eichner. Now, Long Island has an orthodox retreat series and night of recollection series for adults. The popularity has been growing. I have attended a few retreats and nights of prayer there and my favorite is the annual summer “Teaching Retreat” held in the summer. This year the presenters are:
Fr. Benedict Groeschel
Fr. Andrew Apostoli
Msgr. George Graham
Msgr. William Smith
Bishop Ignatius Catanello

This will be held from July 25 to July 27 so anyone interested email me and I will give you the contact info for Lay Preachers.


Also, Fr. Groeschel is starting the Oratory of Divine Love as a loosely organized group of prayer groups.