Oct 15, 2005 3 min read

A Ladies Day of Recollection will be held at St. George Maronite Church in Uniontown on Saturday, Oct. 22, beginning with 9:30 a.m. registration and ending with a 5 p.m. Liturgy with the Rev. Joseph David, pastor, officiating. Theme for the daylong retreat, sponsored by the St. George Altar & Rosary Society, is “We Believe, O Lord.’

Many activities are planned for the event, including two guest speakers. Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, a member of the Sisters of St. Basil, serving as program director of Mount St. Macrina, will conduct a morning session.

Mihalchick is the associate director for the community and has served on the leadership team since June 2005. She previously taught in parochial schools for nine years and earned a master’s degree in Christian spirituality from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. Mihalchick served at the retreat center in the past and also in parish ministry. Beginning in 1989, Mihalchick spent 12 years as the assistant general superior of the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great with residence in Rome and frequent ministry among the sisters in Eastern Europe.

The Rev. Philip Michael Kanfush, a Benedictine monk and priest of St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, as well as author of a recently published book titled “Renewed Each Morning, Reflections from the Rocking Chair,’ will hold a book signing and address the gathering in the afternoon.

Kanfush entered the Benedictine Community of St. Vincent Archabbey on July 1, 1993, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 20, 2000. Kanfush has served as an adjunct faculty member in the education department at St. Vincent College since 1993 as well as a teacher at the Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children in Greensburg since 2002. From 1998 to 1999, he was administrative secretary to the archabbot. He also served as parochial vicar of St. Vincent Basilica Parish from 2000-03. Besides holding several master degrees, Kanfush recently began doctoral studies at West Virginia University.

His book is a collection of reflections on the wisdom and grace needed to lead healthy, happy lives rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

His personal stories provide a framework for illustrating the opportunities for spiritual growth that can result from being attentive to the voice of God in the surprisingly ordinary moments of daily life.

A limited number of books will be available for purchase at the retreat.

A light lunch as well as other refreshments through the day will be provided by the altar and rosary society.

Reservations can be made by calling Joanne John at 724-437-9028 or Pat Rogers at 724-437-5854.