Making this kind of retreat entails praying privately each day for a period of time.

One has regular meetings with a trained prayer companion. At these meetings the conversation focuses on the retreatant’s felt experience both during and after prayer.

Retreats begin with an introductory meeting for all who are making the retreat. At this meeting the retreatants are introduced to some ways of praying, and they arrange a place and time for a meeting with their prayer companions, which will last for about half an hour. There is a final meeting for everyone taking part in the retreat.

These retreats can be spread over one, three and even six weeks, companions and retreatants meeting individually on five or six occasions within whatever is the chosen period. Retreats are organised within parishes, work-places, colleges, etc.

Such retreats are based on the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. The Spiritual Exercises are a series of Scripture-based, Christ-centred meditations and contemplations leading us to explore our felt experiences during prayer and after it so that we learn how to discern and come to know God’s action in our lives.

For more details about retreats, please contact the secretary. Details in the right-hand column.