PRODIGAL SIBLINGS:
Making The Journey Home Together
Through sharing his own experience, strength, and hope Father John Regan hopes to help us reflect on lessons from the recovery journey that impact and enrich our ministry. He was blessed from the early stages of recovery when he was in Guest House to experience the support of many people he called Prodigal Siblings, people who have made the journey home willing to help others on their journeys home. In recovery, we hopefully become better human beings, better followers of Christ, and better priests and religious. The retreat will include six talks, roughly titled: A Church of Prodigal Siblings; How Life Changes; Experiencing God in New Ways; A Recovering Addict at Prayer; A Recovering Addict in the Parish; and Prodigals Going Home Again – What can we do?
Event Leader
Father John Regan is a priest of the Diocese of Joliet, ordained in 1989. For four years he served as a parochial vicar and then for thirteen years as the diocesan vocation director before becoming a pastor in 2006. He was removed from ministry in 2008 to deal with a gambling addiction and face criminal prosecution for theft from his parish. He was a resident for many months at the Guest House program that was affiliated with St. John Vianney Center in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. When he was released from jail in 2012, the diocese welcomed him back to priestly ministry. Father John has served as a parish priest for over nine years at St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield, the largest Catholic parish in Illinois. He participates in 12-Step meetings for compulsive gamblers. Because his prosecution and sentencing was very publicly covered in the local news, he chose to be transparent with parishioners about his addiction and past when he was assigned back to ministry, believing if one tells the truth there is no place for rumors. He shares the lessons he has learned from recovery in homilies, talks, and individual conversations.
About the Location
Due to the recent hurricane and the devastating damage it created to the entire Fort Myers Beach area, we unfortunately will no longer be able to host our Men’s Retreat at the DiamondHead Beach Resort.
New Location Information:
Hampton Inn
3425 N. Atlantic Ave.
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Registration Fee: $499
Includes all presentations, three nights lodging (Jan 9. 10, & 11) and most meals. To guarantee a room, your registration must be received by December 10. After December 10, all remaining rooms in our group reservation will be released back to the hotel, and registration will be accepted on a room availability basis.
In addition, the Hampton Inn has a limited number of rooms available before and after the retreat dates. These rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the group rate of $189 plus taxes. Should you wish to extend your stay, please contact Colleen Richards at 248-393-8994 or crichards@guesthouse.org.
In Ministry Together: One Day At A Time
Alcoholics Anonymous tells us that we need to take things “one day at a time.” I was 14 years sober when I was ordained and I love being a priest. While I’m not always “happy, joyous, and free,” I thank AA and the God of my understanding that I’m no longer “restless, irritable and discontented.” An important aspect of recovery, for me, is in how “letting go” plays into my life. I’ll talk about the 12 steps, how I’ve learned to connect them with my life as a diocesan priest and the idea that “There are many helpful books also.” I hope that all in recovery from addiction will hear something that may resonate.
Retreat Leader
Father Tim Pfander
Fr. Tim is a priest in the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama. He is currently the pastor of Good Shepherd Catholic Parish in Huntsville. He has served on several diocesan committees including the Human Resources Committee, the Defined Benefits for Priests Committee, and the Priest Personnel Board. Ordained in 2004, he spent several years in the business world before studying for the priesthood. One of his great pleasures is offering occasional weekend retreats for married couples and for people in recovery from addictions.
Registration Fee
The registration fee for this event is $599 (a $1,000 value) and will cover all presentations, three nights lodging (Jan 8, 9 & 10) at the DiamondHead Beach Resort & Spa, and seven meals.
To secure a room, registration must be received by December 15, 2023. After December 15th, all remaining rooms will be released back to the hotel, and registration will be accepted on a room availability basis.
Location
DiamondHead Beach Resort & Spa is a full service, state-of-the-art conference facility with 124 luxurious hotel suites, located right on Fort Myers Beach. The hotel offers:
- Free Parking
- Private Screened Balcony
- Wireless Internet
- Fitness Center
- In-room Safe
2000 Estero Blvd
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
239-765-7654 | DiamondHeadFL.com
Hotel check-in time is 3pm & check-out time is 11am
Closest Airport
The Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is the closest airport to the hotel. The commute from the airport to the hotel is approximately one hour.
Transportation
Comfort Transportation is the recommended transportation company to use to and from the airport. Make a reservation prior to your arrival by calling 239-745-2845. When making a reservation, be certain to mention Guest House to receive a rate each way of $55. This rate is per vehicle for up to three passengers.
Questions? Contact Colleen Richards
SAVE THE DATE:
West Coast Retreat – Serra Retreat Center, Malibu, CA – January 15-19, 2024
Alumni Retreat – Capuchin Retreat Center, Washington, MI – April 8-11, 2024
Alumni Reunion – Joseph & Mary Retreat House, Mundelein, IL – August 26-29, 2024
