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Retreats 2023

Retreats and Courses 2023

Here at the Loreto Spirituality Centre, we have a wide range of options available depending on your needs. Please use the links below or scroll to find out more information.

All our retreats begin with supper at 6 pm on the day of arrival and finish after breakfast on the day of departure. Weekend retreats finish after lunch. All our accommodation is en-suite. Our retreats are fully catered. We can provide for a wide range of dietary needs, please let us know your requirements upon booking.

On the day of your departure we ask that you vacate your room by 9.30 am. You are welcome to use the communal areas after this time.

Please note that 6-day retreats are 7 nights and 8-day retreats are 9 nights. Day 1 of the retreat is the first full day of your stay and the last day of the retreat is the day before your departure.

If you are a group wishing to book a stay or conference with us please click here for more information.

All of our suggested offerings can be found by clicking here, or following the link at the top of the page.

Preached Retreats

20th – 24th March

Lenten Triduum

Praying Matthew’s Gospel in Lent

led by Fr Nicholas King SJ

3 crosses on a hill silhouetted with the moon above and a golden sky

3rd – 10th July

Led by: Fr Perry Gildea CM

“Life as a Pilgrimage or Journey?”

Perry is a Vincentian priest based in Belfast. He has extensive experience as a Spiritual Director and University Chaplain as well as having served as a parish priest in London. He is the Regional Spiritual Advisor of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Perry is a member of the Adult Faith Development team at Drumalis, developing and delivering programmes in collaboration with St. Mary’s University College, Belfast.

7th – 14th August

Led by: Fr Peter Verity (Diocese of Lancaster)

“Glimpses of God”

Peter is a priest of the Lancaster Diocese. For the past eleven years, he has been the spiritual director at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome. He has extensive experience in giving retreats in England, Rome and the Middle East.

4th – 8th December

Advent Triduum

Led by Fr Tim Dean (Diocese of Westminster)

More information to follow

Individually Guided Retreats

April 17th – 26th

8-day retreat
 
Ewa Bem IBVM
Anne McEvoy IBVM
Fr John Rafferty

April 17th – 21st

4-day retreat
 
Ewa Bem IBVM
Anne McEvoy IBVM
Fr John Rafferty

May 5th – 7th

Weekend Retreat

Lord, teach us to pray: a silent Individually Guided Retreat with workshops on prayer.

Anne McEvoy IBVM
Ewa Bem IBVM

July 17th – 24th 

6-day retreat
 
Anne McEvoy IBVM
Marion Bettenworth CJ
Fr Brian O’Leary SJ

July 25th – August 3rd 

8-day retreat
 
Ewa Bem IBVM
Josette Zammit-Mangion IBVM
Anne Farren IBVM
Fr Brian O’Leary SJ

August 16th – 25th

8-day retreat
 
Ewa Bem IBVM
Anne Farren IBVM
Fr John Rafferty (celebrating Mass)

September 11th – 20th

8-day retreat
 
Una Coogan IBVM
Josette Zammit-Magion IBVM
Fr Paul Daly

September 11th – 15th

4-day retreat

Una Coogan IBVM
Josette Zammit-Magion IBVM
Fr Paul Daly

November 7th – 16th 

8-day retreat
 
Anne McEvoy IBVM
Anne Harrison
Fr Jim Crampsey (celebrating Mass)

Individually Guided Retreats may be possible online at any time of the year. These may take the format of a silent retreat, or else a retreat in daily life. For more information please contact the Centre.

30 Day Spiritual Exercises

Full Spiritual Exercises

(30 Day Retreat or can be made in daily life).

By private arrangement.

Ongoing Spiritual Direction

Spiritual direction is available on a long-term basis. 

Please contact us for more information.

Living Theology Summer School

June 30th – July 2nd

Living Theology: A Summer School in Christian Faith

An opportunity to deepen our knowledge of the Christian faith, learn new and helpful ways of looking at the Christian tradition, and develop a personal reflection on Christian living and belief.

You can find more information about the courses as well as a booking form by clicking the following link:

Living Theology Summer School 2023

At the moment, there are no available residential places for this course. However, we are still accepting bookings for non-residential places. If you’re interested in making a residential booking, we do have a waiting list in place.

Themed Retreats

Holy Week Retreat

5th – 9th April

An opportunity to celebrate the liturgies of Holy Week in the context of a prayerful retreat. The preparation of the liturgies will be the main focus for the day. There will be a daily morning prayer, with suggestions for personal reflection and plenty of quiet time for those who wish.

Led by the Loreto Centre Team

School of Meditation/Comtemplative Retreat

16th – 25th August

This silent Contemplative Retreat with individual guidance provides a step-by-step introduction to the Gries Path of Prayer developed by Fr Franz Jalics SJ. For those familiar with this form of contemplative prayer, the retreat offers the opportunity to refresh and deepen it.

Led by Paddy Rylands & Team

Please use the contact form below if you would like more information and/or an application form.

'I shall live and recount your wondrous deeds'

8th – 10th September

A weekend of prayer and reflection discovering the interconnection of our story with the Scriptural Texts.

Led by Teresa Brittain nds.

Sister Teresa Brittain, a sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion, based in Manchester. She has a Personal passion for scripture and for discovering ways to explore our personal stories with the Word of God.

Wellbeing Weekend

22nd – 24th September

This weekend will offer time and space for quiet reflection and gentle, mindful body movement for recharging, healing and finding joy in everyday life. Through focus on aspects of creation during the weekend, we can be nourished by a renewed sense of our own strength and wisdom, in harmony with our planet Earth.

Led by Anne Harrison

Film Retreat

25th – 29th September

Community Church: A midweek retreat, using a selection of films to help our reflection.

What does the idea of ‘community’ mean to us today?

A group of people who communicate via the internet?
A collective who share the same ideas or interests but may never meet?
Or a local population who know and support each other?

During this retreat, we will use film to reflect on such questions in our society and church. There will be time for individual reflection, as well as sharing in the group.

Led by Una Coogan IBVM

Visio Divina

16th – 20th October

A midweek retreat, using our smartphone or camera as a window to encounter the divine within the ordinary.

Discover the power of your camera or smartphone to see God within the ordinary. This retreat is for anyone with a camera or smartphone and will help you discover the art of contemplative photography, using image as modern icons. No photographic skills are required, simply a camera you can use. There is a mindful-photographic prayer walk each day but for those who find walking more challenging exercises can be practised around the house & gardens. Retreatants will receive one printed photo after each prayer walk.

Led by Steve Radley

Steve Radley is an Anglican priest, trained professional photographer and members ambassador for the Guild of Photographers. A military veteran he found healing from his military experiences through photography. His experience of war left him with a passion to help people find peace by seeing in new ways. This desire saw Steve pioneer a new direction in his ministry using image to promote resilience and build relationships through his organisation, Soulful Vision.

21st October

A day of prayer: Visio Divina. Led by Steve Radley

Space to Grieve

17th – 19th November

A weekend for those who are grieving someone who has died. There will be opportunities to share our stories, reflect and pray together, and plenty of space for yourselves. Individual accompaniment will be available.

Please ensure that at least six months have elapsed since the death of your loved one before coming on this retreat.

Led by Rev. Kate le Sueur & Ewa Bem IBVM

Kate is a Methodist presbyter who has worked most of her ministry in chaplaincy and is currently Head of Chaplaincy (North) at Methodist Homes. Kate has developed a particular interest in end-of-life care and bereavement support.

Ewa is an IBVM Sister working in retreats and spiritual direction at Loreto Centre. She has a particular interest in bereavement support.

Praying with Julian of Norwich

27th November – 1st December

Preparation for Advent using the writings of Julian of Norwich.

This will be a silent retreat with daily talks, and an opportunity to share in groups for those who wish. There will be an opportunity for daily Mass.

Led by Gemma Simmonds CJ

Gemma is a sister of the Congregation of Jesus. She is a spiritual director and a lecturer in Pastoral Theology, Spirituality and Ecclesiology. Currently, she works at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge.

Advent Triduum

4th – 8th December

Is the Joy of Christmas for everyone?
 
Led by Fr Tim Dean
This retreat has been cancelled.

If you would like any further information about our retreats or would like to make a booking please use the form to get in touch with us.

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