Members of Order of Malta’s New Jersey Area, joined by members from Connecticut and New York, gathered June 5–7 at the Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown for the first-ever Area-wide overnight spiritual retreat. Sixteen members attended the retreat, held under the theme, The Better Part: The Contemplative Heart of Our Vocation.

Rev. Alex Nevitt, ChD, curated and coordinated the program and served as Retreat Director. New Jersey Chaplains presented conferences centered on one spiritual thread: all service flows from a deep encounter with Christ in prayer.

Spiritual conference contributors included:

·         Msgr. William Fadrowski, ChM — “Our Lords the Sick”

·         Rev. Owen Moran, ChM — “Come Away and Rest”

·         Rev. Philip-Michael Tangorra, ChD — “Mary Has Chosen the Better Part”

·         Rev. Carmine Rizzi, ChM — “Do This in Memory of Me”

·         Rev. Alex Nevitt, ChD — “Go Forth as Servants”

Following the success of this inaugural event, New Jersey plans to hold an area-wide retreat each year.