2010 - Last Minute Retreats
- Weekend Retreats & Shorter
Retreats - Offerings
- Booking Form
What are Retreats About?
Alone with God
A retreat is principally a time for you to be alone with God.
That is not to say we expect you to be kneeling all day in a
chapel.
Fresh air and exercise
Many people who come on retreat at St Beuno's take advantage
of the beautiful countryside and the safe walking area to breathe
fresh air and to exercise. If you are not too mobile you might
like to spend time sitting or strolling round the
garden.
Creative Imagination
Often Scripture will be used as a lead in to prayer, reading,
imagining or pondering. But you might find that the use of art
materials, or a courntry walk will also be a great stimulus
to prayer.
Away from noise and bustle
A retreat is a time for leaving behind much of what normally
fills our time: television, work, computers, telephones, commuting,
preparing meals, chatting etc. and having time to reflect, to
ponder, to pray, to be.
Daily Guidance
There is a daily personal meeting with a retreat guide to reflect
on each day.
The retreat guide is there primarily to be a listener and companion
on the journey. Guides are there to help you discern how God
is working in your life. Confidentiality is part of the code
of each guide who is there to support your and certainly not
to judge you.
The guide usually offers guidelines and resources.
The Spiritual Exercises
All retreats given at St Beuno's follow the inspiration of Ignatius
of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises drawing on some of the approaches
and ways of reflection they suggest.
A time of Silence
These retreats are conducted in a prayerful silence both during
the day and at mealtimes when some quiet music helps to foster
a reflective atmosphere.
Daily Eucharist
There is an optional daily Eucharist to which all retreatants
are welcome to attend.
All retreats, with the exception of weekends, begin with the
evening meal on the first day and end after breakfast on the
last day.
(The first and last meal are usually not in silence!)
6 to 8 Day Individually Guided Retreats
If you feel, like many others, that you need time away to pray,
sort out your thoughts, get away from the demands of work and
home, then you need a retreat.
If you go on holiday you can forget your worries for a week
or two, if you go on retreat you may well be able to put your
worries in perspective and, who knows, perhaps sort them out,
with the help of God.
No Fixed Programme
There is no fixed programme of meditations or prayer, how you
arrange your day depends upon you. The guide will consider with
you how best to spend your time on retreat.
Inspired by the Spiritual Exercises
All retreats given at St Beuno's follow the inspiration of Ignatius
of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises drawing on some of the approaches
and ways of reflection they suggest.
Options
Apart from the daily meeting with the guide, the optional daily
Eucharist, there will be the opportunity for the Sacrament of
Reconciliation (Confession).
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Last Minute Retreats
If you would like a retreat within the next month, then please
contact the Director
giving the dates you require. This is only for the shorter
retreats as the 30 day retreat requires a formal application
process.
Dates of Retreats for 2010
Top
Shorter Retreats & Quiet
Weekends
If you feel you need a break and perhaps some prayer and
someone to bounce thoughts off, then you may well find a weekend
or midweek retreat is suitable for you.
Midweek retreats are particularly suited to busy clergy who
find getting a Sunday off difficult.
Both weekends and midweek retreats are great 'tasters' if
you are wondering whether a longer retreat is for you. St
Beuno's Quiet Weekends are an introduction to a short silent
retreat with an individual prayer guide. There will normally
be some guideline sessions, for those who wish, about
ways of praying and finding space for reflection in a busy
life. There are usually three individual meetings with the
retreat guide on the weekends.
Above all these will be restful and deepening days for all
participants.
Weekend arrival and departure times:
Weekend retreats, begin with the evening meal at around
6.30pm on Friday and end in the afternoon of Sunday. Ideally
if you could aim to arrive between 3pm and 5pm. You can plan
on getting away by 3.30pm at the latest. Long Weekend retreats
which include a Bank Holiday Monday end at 3.30pm on the last
day.
Dates of Retreats
2010
