San Alfonso Retreat House: Where God and Sea Come Together

Good news! Our 2026 schedule of retreats and programs is now available and open for registration.

Visit our 2026 Events page for more info.

We look forward to seeing you!

Fr. John McGowan, C.Ss.R. 1936 - 2026

It's with a heavy heart that we announce that Fr. John McGowan, C.Ss.R. passed peacefully into eternal life on Friday, September 18th at the St. John Neumann Residence in Timonium, Maryland with his Redemptorist brothers gathered in prayer around him.

Fr. John ministered here at San Alfonso for close to 30 years. We cannot even begin to imagine how many lives he touched, how many souls were nourished by his prayer and preaching, how many times he brought joy and laughter to those in his presence. Just the sound of his warm, loud, and cheerful greeting instantly made you feel welcomed and at home.

What an extraordinary gift he has been to our Redemptorist community, our staff, and so many retreatants who walked through the doors of this retreat house.

We thank God for Fr. John's presence and ministry in his almost 70 years as a Redemptorist. He surely has received a loud, warm, and cheerful welcome into eternal life!

An Invitation from Fr. Anthony

The Beatitudes:

A Call to Holy, Humble Discipleship -

In Christ

Led by Fr. Anthony Michalik, C.Ss.R.

(as seen on CatholicTV!)

SEPTEMBER 25 - 27

Cost: $325

Register Online

BEATITUDES RETREAT PAY ONLY

PLEASE NOTE: Despite the inclement weather forecasted for this coming weekend, the Beatitudes Retreat will still be going on as planned.

Join us October 13 for a special retreat day for Caregivers!

Register Here!

Printable Form (PDF)

We're ever grateful for all those who helped make our 100th Anniversary Gala on November 15th a fitting honor as we celebrate a century of service at San Alfonso. Your generosity will help continue the great ministry here on this holy ground for years to come. To see our commemorative ad journal, click here.

Ad Multos Annos!

Daily Mass Readings

SEP

24

Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

By:

USCCB

Reading 1 Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!What profit has man from all the laborwhich he toils at under the sun?One generation passes and another comes,but the world forever stays.The sun rises and the sun goes down;then it presses on to the place where it rises.Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north,the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.All rivers go to the sea,yet never does the sea become full.To the place where they go,the rivers keep on going.All speech is labored;there is nothing one can say.The eye is not satisfied with seeingnor is the ear satisfied with hearing.What has been, that will be;what has been done, that will be done.Nothing is new under the sun.Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!”has already existed in the ages that preceded us.There is no remembrance of the men of old;nor of those to come will there be any remembranceamong

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