A SHORT journey by tube and bus from the centre of London, in Wimbledon, the Sisters of the Society of Marie Reparatrice, have a retreat centre where they live and work, expressing their vocation of reparation by the two-fold means of prayer and apostolic service.
The sister's daily private prayer takes the form of an hour's meditation plus an hour of adoration before the Blessed sacrament exposed and their community prayer is expressed in the divine office and in the celebration of the Eucharist in their chapel, which they share with the people of the parish.
The work of retreats has been the main form of the society's apostolic service since it was founded in 1855 and the methods of retreat giving have varied according to the needs of the times.
Today with the pace and noise and stress of modern living, people are finding it more and more necessary to come apart into a quieter and more peaceful atmosphere in order to "be still" and reflect on their lives and their relationship with God and with their families and the world in general, to pray and so to find new meaning to their lives.
The Sisters are happy to offer people the facilities of their modern retreat centre for such purposes.
The retreat team organise a number of eight-day preached and directed retreats and weekend retreats and workshops which
are open to anyone and are limited only by the accommodation available.
Alternatively persons may come for an individually directed retreat geared to their own specific needs, and given by one of the sisters, or just make a private retreat on their own.
A type of group retreat which is growing in popularity is the open door retreat, which is given usually in a parish, and takes place one evening a week for nine weeks.
Individuals may also make use of the house for days of prayer or ask the sisters for ongoing spiritual direction.
In addition, some groups may organise their own retreat, conference or workshop in the centre.
Further information and the programme can be obtained from The Retreat Secretary, 115, The Ridgway, Wimbledon, enclosing sae please.