Posted August 5, 2014

The priest who works on the cause for sainthood of Matt Talbot, a Catholic model for people recovering from addiction, is visiting the Philadelphia area this week.

The Philadelphia units of the Calix Society, a support group for Catholics in recovery, sponsors the visit of Father Brian Lawless from Ireland at a talk Tuesday, Aug. 5 at St. Gabriel Church, 29th and Dickinson Streets in the Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia. Mass begins at 6 p.m. followed by a talk by Father Lawless from 7-8 and concluding with a social.

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On Aug. 6 radio host Ken Johnston will have a conversation with Father Lawless and Michael Murphy on In His Sign radio on 800 AM in the Philadelphia region or catholicinternetradio.com from 5 to 6 p.m.

At Malvern Retreat House on Aug. 7, Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and a talk. Cost of the event is $25 with online registration. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. See registration and event information here. Malvern Retreat House is located at 315 South Warren Avenue, Malvern.

At each event donations will be accepted to support Father Lawless’ apostolate of spreading the word about addiction recovery and the cause for Matt Talbot’s canonization. Prayer intentions will also be collected and sent to Dublin, Ireland to be placed near the tomb of Talbot, who has been declared “venerable” by the church, the first step toward possible sainthood. The intentions may also be sent by email to ken@philly-calix.com.

Also this week, Father Lawless had celebrated Mass and spoken at St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Glenside.