Back row (l-r) - Don Ritter, Dick Bosse, Dan Murphy, Bob Honzik, Ron Boudreaux, Pierre Faure, Larry Cruz, Al Kuhn, Chuck McDonald, Gerald Krawczynski, Ken Huber, and John Bodensteiner. Front row -Tom Yerina, Bob Earhardt, Bob Brandt, Mike Kerwin, Tom Thornton, Ed Doyle, Tim Murphy, Jim Ashley, Chuck Ralph, Bill Hartnett, Marshall Garrison, Tom Quevillon, and Bill Maher

The annual two-day silent retreat commencing on Palm Sunday at the Montserrat Retreat House in Lake Dallas TX was recently completed by 23 knights from Council 10208.   Most of the knights had attended a retreat there previously, so they were familiar with the St. Ignatian retreat model led by Tim Murphy, a layman Jesuit administrator who conducts about 15 retreats annually in addition to his other duties.   Tim and his wife, a speech therapist, live in New Orleans with their three children.

The mission of the Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House "is to bring Christ's message for transforming individuals and society by assisting the local churches of the region through Spiritual Exercises and faith development offered in a variety of forms that are culturally and ecumenically sensitive and inviting."

The retreat house is near the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, about 325 miles southwest of the Village.  Knights from this council have been journeying to Montserrat since 1995, when Bob Brandt, Bill Maher, and George Mahowald joined a group of retreatants from other parishes.  Over the years the number of men from Sacred Heart of Jesus has varied, with this year's group being the largest.  Tom Yerina has been coordinating the retreat for several years for all men of the parish; however, with a few exceptons, most of the attendees are knights for what has become known as the "Arkansas Men's Retreat." 

After arrival on Sunday evening, the knights had dinner followed by a session with the retreat master and evening prayers.  On Monday after morning prayers and breakfast, there were four sessions interspersed with time for confessions, private conferences, stations of the cross, personal prayer, mass, and meals.  Tuesday began with morning prayers and breakfast followed by the last session and mass.  Silence was broken during lunch prior to departure at noon.