Malvern Retreat House Works To Help Recovering Heroin Addicts

By MALVERN RETREAT HOUSE for Patch

Tarah Oxley is just one of several people who are looking forward to sharing their stories during a special healing retreat this month at Malvern Retreat House outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Oxley was struggling in life when she says retreat director Kathleen McCarthy told her during a previous Malvern event that she would be healed of her heroin addiction. Oxley says she didn’t believe McCarthy at all.

“I was in too bad of darkness,” Oxley said. “Then all of a sudden one night in the midst of a heroin detox I woke up to my guardian angel saying ‘He called you by name.’ I woke up a completely different person, and my life completely changed.”

Oxley’s change was so pronounced, she hopes sharing her story at the November 16-20 retreat will help give others hope. The retreat called For These Urgent Times: Sacraments. Healing. Deliverance. will include a healing service, along with many traditional retreat offerings, such as daily Mass, Adoration, the Stations of the Cross, and Confession. Retreatants also will have plenty of time to reflect as they walk the beautiful 125-acre grounds at Malvern Retreat House.

Kathleen McCarthy, who is directing the retreat, has spent decades in the healing and evangelization ministry. She recently conducted retreats and healing services in Betania, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Ireland and France. In addition, she travels to charismatic conferences throughout the United States offering hope to those in need.

“Regardless of how broken an individual is today, this is the type of retreat in which the Lord offers His unconditional forgiveness and mercy,” McCarthy said.

Joining McCarthy will be well-known priest Fr. Dermot Roache, SMA from Boston, Massachusetts. He will be celebrating daily Mass for retreatants and sharing his powerfully documented healing gifts.

As a retreat master for decades, McCarthy says what she and Father Dermot will offer is only possible through the glory of God.

“Believe me, this ministry isn’t about Kathleen McCarthy; it’s about the love of the Lord for all of His people. I am nothing more than an instrument for this love,” McCarthy said.

For more information on this retreat, please visit malvernretreat.com or call 610-644-0400.