On a rainy day in November of 1940, Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, struck an unlikely friendship. It was 10 p.m. when his doorbell rang. Tom, the Club's maintenance man, said there was some bum from St. Louis to see him. Reluctantly, Bill said, "Send him up." To himself, he muttered, "Not another drunk." Bill welcomed the stranger, all the same. As the man shuffled to a wooden chair opposite the bed and sat down, his black raincoat fell open revealing a Roman collar. "I'm Father Ed Dowling from St. Louis," he said. "A Jesuit friend and I have been struck by the similarity of the AA twelve steps and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius." Bill said, "Never heard of them." Over the next 20 years, Bill and Fr. Ed became the closest of friends. This spiritual friendship often sustained Bill in difficult times.

This retreat will look at the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous through the lens of St. Ignatius of Loyola and his way of praying, The Spiritual Exercises. The similarities between the two led Fr. Dowling to travel from St. Louis to New York City to meet Bill Wilson and their spiritual friendship grew from there. 

Arrival:  9:45 AM

Program begins promptly at 10:00 AM and ends at 3:30 PM

Cost: $60 (overnight option also available; please call for more info)

For more information or to register, visit the Marie Joseph site HERE.