Care from the community

SR AQUINAS of the Hengrave community commends retreat centres as a way of winding down for everyone
I
CC 'VE NEVER made a
retreat before, but my husband says it would do me good!
Is there anyone there who could show me how?"
"Hello, I'm just at the end of my tether — I need to get away — do you have somewhere I can stay? I just need to have some peace and quiet. I've just been on holiday but I came back worse than I went, it was all so hectic."
"Good morning. I'm ringing to found out if it possible to come to your centre for a few days quiet. I need space to think about my next step... Well, no I don't want to make a retreat... that's just for monks and nuns! I'd go crazy if I had to keep silence all day. I need to talk to someone... Yes, it would be fine if I could join the community for meals, and I could have a chat with someone to help me reflect. I've been under such pressure this last year."
"Hello. I came to your conference centre about IS years ago and now I am looking for somewhere to make a retreat, just on my own. Yes, just for a week. All I need is a room. some simple food and complete silence in your beautiful grounds."
Just few typical telephone calls at any time, any day of the year, but they all express an ever-increasing need in today's world for the opportunity to stop, think and...? ...pray? Yes. sometimes, pray with a question mark. Traditionally retreats have been associated with monastic silence, regular times of prayer and some form of input to nourish an established prayer life, The demand for these continues unabated. Increasingly, however. people unfamiliar with a regular prayer practice are seeking time "away from it all" to draw breath and reflect. and are realising that a framework of stillness, beauty. simple food and people around who care without intruding, helps to put them in touch with a deeper part of themselves that needs exploration. They do not think of themselves as praying people — some apologise that they don't go to church — some have no opportunity for outward practice, but something within draws them to search. Many put a toe in for just 24 hours. go away refreshed and come back at the next opportunity for a longer spell. Often such an experience is the first of a lifetime and while some come making no claim to being people of prayer. they discover a community of people who seem to have something Jeep within themselves which they too, would like to discover.
Nor is a retreat always something undertaken alone. Many a person whose occupation demands pressurised solitude pins from the pursuit. with others, of a common interest alongside an opportunity for prayer and silence. as with tie popular "theme retreats" like Painting and Prayer. Embroidery and Prayer, Gardening and Prayer...
Then there are those retreats which focus on common coicems. like Working for Peace alai Justice. Sometimes a workshop-type retreat help! a person understand their life experiences more, as in be Emeagram or Myers-Briggs retreats. Those engaged in nterfaith dialogue are gaining more and more from praying alongside believers ofother traditions. gaining nev insights of the God they all worship.
God mows nysterioatair. ways... Try a holiday with a difference!