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The Harder the Path

A person in blue shirt standing next to trees.

Double back, or press on? The trail map of Monhegan Island (population 65) clearly identified three walks recommended for day-trippers, so we had chosen the pleasant, 25-minute stroll to Lobster Cove.

Why Do We Need Retreat Centers?

A white and black logo with the words " welcoming space ".

We live in a world that is constantly inundating us from all sides with information (fake and real), often in the form of tweets and sound bites. We need places where one can stop, listen deeply and reflect clearly on what matters, with opportunities for silence and for sharing in more than hashtags and 140 characters. 

View Our New Brochure

A picture of the cover of sanctuary of trees, sanctuary of mere.

We invite you to join us this year at Cranaleith and trust that you will find in our offerings one or more that beckon you to this place of hope, this sanctuary of mercy.

Retreat Reflections

A park with trees and grass in the foreground.

Joanne Castner attended an Overnight Directed Retreat this spring at Cranaleith. “It was a time of peacefulness, healing and insight for me,” she said. While here, she wrote a poem and spent time roaming the grounds and capturing these accompanying images.

Composting 101

A greenhouse with many plants growing in it.

Remember the adage "everything in moderation" when putting together a compost pile. Composting is fundamental to gardening. It helps to amend the soil putting nutrients and minerals back in as well as helping with water retention. At Cranaleith, we have many different methods of composting

Planning a Youth Retreat

A group of people standing in front of a wall.

Do you remember Godspell, the Broadway musical from the 1970’s featuring young people loving God and singing about it? I recently had the great fortune of leading a retreat for a group of multi-talented, faith-fulled teens from St. Matthias Church Parish in Bala Cynwyd. They exhibited the same level of enthusiasm.

From the Executive Director: Charlene Flaherty

A house with a pink flower in the foreground.

With winter passing and the dawn of Spring, I have become increasingly aware of the need to tend and cultivate. As any good gardener knows, when we fail to plant, water and weed, nature has a way of following its own course. A different but also compelling example is the need to attend to our homes and investments. If we fail to maintain these fruits of our labor, they may be squandered. For twenty years, Cranaleith has borne the burden of all of the demands we have placed on her. During this time, she lovingly welcomed more than 53,000 people...

Welcoming New Board Members

Two people are side by side in a photo.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to our Board of Directors. Stephen G. Hart is Vice President of Human Resources and Human Capital Development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Dr. Maureen O’Connell is Chair the Department of Religion and Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at La Salle University. Mr. Stephen Hart joins Cranaleith’s Board following many years of service on our Work & Spirit Advisory Committee and as a program presenter. Steve resides in Willow Grove, PA. He holds a BS degree in Marketing from La Salle University and an MS degree in Organizational Dynamics from the...