Perpetual Help Retreat Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary
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March 28, 2022On February 19, 2022, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat and Spirituality Center in Venice, FL held their 25th anniversary celebration.
At the celebration Bishop Frank Dewane recalled the contributions of Father Charles Mallen, C.Ss.R., and all the Redemptorists who ministered at the Retreat House.
Father Peter Sousa, the last Redemptorist to serve at the center represented the Redemptorists. He, along with Sister Carmella DeCosty, SNJM, Carmelite Father JJ McCarthy, and various members of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary who currently staff the center were able to join in the silver anniversary celebrations.
In the mid 1980’s, Bishop Nevins, the first bishop of the diocese of Venice in Florida, asked Father Mallen if he would build a retreat house for the Diocese of Venice. Fr. Charlie, with the OK of the Vice Provincial, moved from Miami to Venice. With God’s grace and the help of many of individuals, especially Sister Carmella DeCosty, SNJM, Father Charlie built the “Miracle on the Myakka,” Our Lady of Perpetual Retreat and Spirituality Center.
The retreat center began operations in 1996 and for the next 10 years Fr. Mallen, with the part time assistance of a few confreres, directed retreats, Cursillo weekends, and days of prayer. In September 2006, Fr. Sousa was assigned to assist Fr. Charlie who completed his work at OLPH in September 2007 with his assignment to the St. John Neumann Residence in Saratoga Springs.
Father Sousa continued the ministry until August 2008 when the Redemptorists relinquished the ministry to the Diocese. It was wonderful to see this Redemptorist retreat ministry continuing and being supported by Bishop Dewane and the Oblates of the Virgin Mary.
For more information on the event https://dioceseofvenice.org/retreatcenter-celebrates.../.
(Photos courtesy of Mr. Bob Reddy, Diocese of Venice in Florida.)
