God communicates to us through all created realities. Fr. Rick Malloy will lead us in praying through popular Christmas movies and help us experience the Advent of Emmanuel appearing to us through the medium of films that touch our hearts and enlighten our minds. Using the biblical scriptures of Advent and the practices of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, we will wonder anew at the power and transformation with which the incarnation gifts us. We will seek and find God’s Good News for us today, creatively proclaimed in these heartwarming and challenging parables of our times. From George and Mary Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, to Little Kevin in Home Alone, to the true tale of the Christmas Truce of 1914, we will open our imaginations to God’s grace this Advent.
Check-in begins at 4pm. There will be a brief welcome session at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6pm. The retreat begins after dinner at 7pm on Friday and concludes before lunch on Sunday. Mass will be celebrated in the Chapel on Sunday morning for those who would like to attend.
Fr. Richard G. Malloy, SJ, aka “Mugs,” was born in Philadelphia, which he jokingly refers to as “the friendly city of brotherly shove.” Having studied Cultural Anthropology at Temple University, he — as he says — “didn’t go far in life!” His three books from Orbis — A Faith That Frees: Catholic Matters for the 21st Century; Being on Fire: The Top Ten Essentials of Catholic Faith; and Spiritual Direction: A Beginner’s Guide — were all recognized with awards by the Catholic Press Association. From 1988-2003, Fr. Rick lived and worked as a member of the Jesuit Urban Service team in Camden, New Jersey. During those years he also taught at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. From 2010-2019, he taught anthropology, sociology, and theology at the University of Scranton while living for 15 years in first-year dorms (aka anthropological fieldwork!). In 2019, he began serving as director of Mission Integration at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore. For the past 15 summers, he has been lucky to be a Catholic Chaplain in Yellowstone National Park. Fishing is his passion in life. He is convinced that catching a 10-pound trout, the Eagles winning (another!!!) Super Bowl, or the Phillies beating the Yankees in the World Series are all sure signs that the second coming of Jesus is imminent. Fr. Rick brings humor and levity to his retreats and writings. Follow him on social media @FrMalloy.