“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.”
— St Francis of Assisi
Operation Restore
We want to make you aware of an opportunity to serve first responders who may be burdened with high levels of stress and/or anxiety. Our program called “Operation Restore” has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of first responders, military, veterans, spouses, and their families, since 2013.
Operation Restore is a 3-night, 4-day educational program held at the Franciscan Center in Tampa, right outside of downtown on eight quiet acres on the Hillsborough River. First responders receive personal, confidential training about managing stress, and the general effects of pressure throughout their lives. Building skills for resiliency is the overall goal of Operation Restore. The program incorporates peer-support, and trained professionals who treat post-trauma stress using group processing, education, and a proven scientific technique called EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Since the emphasis is on training 40 CEUs are awarded each participant from St Petersburg College, Police Institute.
The program is limited to a small number of participants, so each may receive the attention they need. If you would like to attend, or have any questions, please contact us at 813-229-2695. If anyone you know would like to join us, we still have some spots available during our upcoming retreats:
- February 23-26, 2026
- March 23-26, 2026
- April 27-30, 2026
- June 8-11, 2026
Things to Know:
The Franciscan Center will provide you with a private room and bathroom. Wi-Fi is available.
All meals, snacks, drinks (coffee, tea, soda and water) included. May want to bring a refillable cup/mug.
You will have access to a refrigerator if you would like to bring any dietary restricted items, medications.. etc.
Bring what will help you to relax and to feel comfortable:
- Casual clothes (shorts, tee-shirts)
- Sweatshirt or jacket, room temperatures are kept cool
- Toiletries
- Phone or laptop chargers
- Anything that helps you sleep well:
- Own pillow
- Small fan
- Sound Machine, Streaming Music
- LINK: Download our brochure
The Reverend M. Richard (Rick) Malivuk, M. Div.
Rev. Rick Malivuk is a Lutheran minister, and Vietnam Veteran and has served as a chaplain for Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI in Tampa, and Tampa Fire Rescue.
He collaborated with the President of the Franciscan Center and fellow Tampa Bay Regional Critical Incident Stress Team member, Sister Anne Dougherty, developing Operation Restore.
After Sr. Anne’s retirement in early 2019, he now leads the program. The program has served over 400 of Tampa Bay’s first responders.
Father Ken Beale was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in May 1992.
For over two decades, he served as an Air Force Chaplain; often providing pastoral care amid active combat operations around the world. Each assignment reaffirmed the reality that, “in the midst of conflict and division, God is there.”
Today, Father Ken directs parish missions and retreats, employing Sacrament, Scripture, Story, and Song to spread the Good News. He is a published composer and released a CD, Go Into The World, which can be found on ILPmusic.org
Chaplain Will Murphy Credentialed by the SBC and endorsed by the NAMB
Will spent 26 years with Largo Fire Rescue as a Firefighter/Paramedic. After the tragic death of a friend and fire retiree, he started the Behavioral Wellness Committee at LFR, attended Operation Restore, became certified in IAFF Peer Support, CISM, and is a fully credentialed Chaplain. He was dispatched and served at the building collapse in Miami, FL. 2021 as a Disaster Response Peer Supporter and serves Largo Fire Rescue and IAFF L 4966 with a ministry of presence as their Chaplain.
Articles and Press
Legends Never Die 5K Run returns to Madeira Beach 2024
Hundreds showed up at Madeira Beach for the Legends Never Die 5K
The Publication of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association
First Responders Presentation and Lunch 2016
THE BADGE OF LIFE – Police Suicide Prevention Program – Badgeoflife.com
ABC Action News Story on Operation Restore
The Franciscan Center and Operation Restore would like to extend our deepest gratitude and thanks for their generous contributions to the Baer Foundation and the RBC Wealth Management Foundation.