Many people take some time out of their daily routine to stand back and reflect on their lives. An individually guided retreat offers you the opportunity to do this prayerfully, in an environment which is conducive to silence and so to listening deeply within to the God whom we believe always wants to speak to us.
The retreat begins with supper, during which you will meet the other retreatants who will journey with you, albeit in silence, throughout your retreat. This is followed by an opening meeting, where you will be allocated a director and make the practical arrangements needed. The silence begins after this meeting and continues from then on until breakfast on the day of your departure. All meals are in silence with some background music.
You will meet with your director daily at the same time. Ignatian Spirituality emphasises that God encounters us in our everyday experience, and so the director will listen to whatever you bring and listen out for the movement of God in your life. They will suggest ways in which you can spend your time during the day and offer material for prayer. There is no blueprint to follow. Strictly speaking, of course, it is God directing your retreat, and the director’s role is to listen and encourage you to stay with where God is at work!
There is no group prayer during the retreat, except for Mass, to which all are welcome. There is also a period of time in the evening when the Blessed Sacrament is brought onto the altar – a Catholic tradition, to which, once again, all are welcome. This is a silent time in which we gather together, when we can remember each other, and those back at home, in our prayer.
In order to enter more fully into the silence, you are strongly encouraged to switch off mobile phones and other technological equipment. Doing so will enable you to tune out of what is going on in the world and tune into the voice of God within. If there is a reason why you cannot do this, it is helpful to discuss this with your director.
Should you have any further questions about this style of retreat, please don’t hesitate to ask us!