DOUAI ABBEY

Pastoral Programme


RESIDENTIAL RETREATS

group We welcome people to take part in the group retreats listed below, or to come for a few days private retreat. During a private retreat you will have opportunity for rest, reading, reflection and prayer. All are welcome to join the monks for prayer in the Abbey Church. Some may like to have an individually guided retreat, during which you can have one-to-one conversations with an individual director. Please enquire for available dates.


2008

<

TRANSITIONS

led by Bernard Kilroy & Pamela Lee

Friday October 31, 5.30pm - Sunday November 2, 2.30pm.

This retreat has helped others to work through a transition, even one that is past,but still feels present - whether the ending of a relationship, an illness, disability or death, a change of role, promotion, retirement or redundancy.
You work on your own or in pairs with music, meditation, or perhaps freestyle drawing - in a quiet and relaxed atmosphere, respecting everyone's privacy.
The weekend is open to both women and men, those of any faith or none, but numbers are limited. Participants may attend some monastic offices alongside the monks. The programme allows time to walk in the Berkshire contryside. Optional massage is available from an aromatherapist for a nominal charge.
Limited to 18 participants

Event X108. Course fee £60, cheque payable to Bernard Kilroy. Residential cost £90 reductions for those on low income. Non-returnable deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

THOMAS MERTON RETREAT

led by Michael Woodward

Friday Nov 21, 5.30pm - Sunday Nov 23, 2.30pm.

Near the 40th anniversary of Merton's death we will reflect on Merton's life, work and wonderful creativity in a prayerful monastic context and we will look at his continuing influence. Previous experience of Merton is welcome but not essential.

Michael Woodward has previously edited the Merton Journal. He is a widely published poet and writer, and an experienced retreat leader. In 2003 he was elected the first Leader of the Lay Community of Saint Benedict. He lives in South Wales with Nora and has four children.

Event 4808. Residential cost £110, £20 reduction for those willing to share a room, reductions for those on low income,; non-returnable deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

COME LORD JESUS! A RETREAT FOR ADVENT

led by John Bolton OSB

Friday Dec 5, 5.30pm - Sunday Dec 7, 2.30pm.

The Church invites us to reflect on the wonder of a people waiting for Messiah. The marvellous gift of Christmas, God-become-flesh, demands a prayerful heart awaiting the coming of the Lord. This retreat will help you prepare to receive God's gift of his own Son.

Event 4908. Residential cost £110, £20 reduction for those willing to share a room, reductions for those on low income,; non-returnable deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

PRE-CHRISTMAS RETREAT

led by Boniface Moran OSB

Friday Dec 19, 5.30pm - Sunday Dec 21, 2.30pm.

The Church invites us to reflect on the wonder of a people waiting for Messiah. The marvellous gift of Christmas, God-become-flesh, demands a prayerful heart awaiting the coming of the Lord. This retreat will help you prepare to receive God's gift of his own Son.

Event 41008. Residential cost £110, £20 reduction for those willing to share a room, reductions for those on low income,; non-returnable deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.


2009

LONELINESS: A HUMAN CONDITION

led by Fodhla McGrane PhD & Gervase Holdaway OSB

Friday January 9, 5.30pm — Sunday January 11, 2.30pm

Loneliness is one of our human conditions. It is natural, normal and inevitable for everyone to feel lonely whether they are single or married, with children or without, in or out of friendship, in or out of employment, with or without pets, in or out of faith.  Come and let's explore this phenomenon and learn how it fits in with God's plan for us. Let's examine the Bible and especially Jesus' experience of loneliness. Let's see if the Rule of St Benedict and other writers have anything to assist us. Finally let's learn from each other's experiences. A prayer room and creative space will be created for your weekend. (This weekend is the second in a series looking at our human condition.)

Fodhla works as a teacher and trainer in interpersonal communication skills, she is an oblate of St Benedict (a lay person who follows the Rule of St Benedict in daily life), she has a PhD in interpersonal dispute resolution in the workplace and her work is published in the Leadership and Organisational Development Journal.

Event 8109. Limited to 14 participants. Residential cost £150, £20 reduction for those willing to share a room, reductions for those on low income,; non-returnable deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

PRAYING THE PSALMS

led by Gervase Holdaway OSB

Friday February 13, 5.30pm - Sunday February 15 2.30pm.

An opportunity to discover the psalms, which have been the prayer of Jews and Christians alike and were prayed by Jesus. We will experience singing the psalms in the monastic offices, and will see how they can be our prayer too. We shall also see how they are musical expressions of faith.

Event 4109. Residential cost £110, reductions for those on low income, reduction of £20 for those willing to share a room; deposit of £30 please.
BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

PANCAKES & ASHES

A retreat for Carnival & Lent

led by Christopher Greener OSB & Gervase Holdaway OSB

Monday February 23, 5.30pm - Friday February 27, 9.30am.

A retreat including Carnival (Shrove Tuesday) and Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, during which we shall feast and fast, as we begin our preparation for the great celebration of the Paschal Mystery at Easter.

Event 4209. Cost for the waged £185, £30 reduction for those willing to share a room, reductions for those on low income, deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

MANAGING CONFLICT IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS: The Benedictine Way

led by Fodhla McGrane PhD & Gervase Holdaway OSB

Friday March 6, 5.30pm — Sunday March 8, 2.30pm

Jesus says "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mark 6: 31).  Come to Douai Abbey and spend some quality time looking at the friction we often experience with others in our lives (at work, at home, in the community, and at church).  We'll discuss our typical reactions to conflict, and we'll equip ourselves with effective alternatives for preventing conflict, or for helping us and others to get through it.  Our sessions will be based on direction given to us in the Bible and the Rule of St Benedict about peacefully living together.

This weekend course will include a range of options for you to dip in and out of, as you need and want.  Our time together will include talks and discussions about the subjects already mentioned; we'll share our experiences of conflict, and we'll take a look at the conflict that occurred in 'The Monastery', the TV programme.   The weekend will also promise plenty of time and space for personal prayer and reflection.  Reap the benefits from a specially designed, 'Peace-Full' prayer room created for your peace and quiet; take a gentle walk around the grounds, make a card in our creative space and receive support from the retreat leaders through opportunities for one-to-one conversations and prayer.  Leave rested and equipped to bring peace back home with you and in you. 

Fodhla works as a teacher and trainer in interpersonal communication skills, she is an oblate of St Benedict (a lay person who follows the Rule of St Benedict in daily life), she has a PhD in interpersonal dispute resolution in the workplace and her work is published in the Leadership and Organisational Development Journal.

Event 8209. Limited to 14 participants. Residential cost £150, £20 reduction for those willing to share a room, reductions for those on low income,; non-returnable deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

EASTER TRIDUUM RETREAT

Thursday April 9, 5pm - Sunday April 12, 3pm

led by Simon Hill OSB

The Triduum is the climax of the church's liturgical cycle. Come and celebrate with the monastic community and have time for silent prayer and reflection. There will be talks on the spirituality and significance of the celebrations.

Event 4309. Residential cost £165, (Commuters £120) reductions for those on low income, deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

LECTIO DIVINA RETREAT

led by Gervase Holdaway OSB

Friday May 1, 5.30pm - Monday May 4, 2.30pm

Experience a way of praying with Scripture, an ancient art at one time practiced by all Christians. It is a slow contemplative prayer which enables one to listen to God's word and to make prayerful response. There will be time for sharing, silence, solitude and reflection. It does not involve discussion or study.

Limited to eleven participants.

Event 4409, includes the bank holiday. Residential cost £165, reductions for those on low income, deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

PENTECOST RETREAT

led byNicholas Broadbridge OSB

Friday May 29, 5.30pm - Sunday May 31, 2.30pm.

An opporatunity to celebrate the liturgy of Pentecost with the monastic community, and to consider in depth the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

COME TO THE QUIET

led by Elizabeth Rees OCV & Benedct Thompson OSB

Monday July 20, 12.30pm - Friday July 24, 9.30pm.

A silent individually guided retreat. Relax in God's presence surrounded by natural beauty and supported by the community prayer.

Event 2309. Residential cost £180, reductions for those on low income, deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

QUO VADIS? I.G.R.

led by Christopher Greener OSB & Gervase Holdaway OSB

Friday August 28, 2009, 12.30pm - Monday August 31, 2.30am.

A silent individually guided retreat. Relax in God's presence surrounded by natural beauty and supported by the community prayer.

Event 2409, includes the bank holiday.
Residential cost £160, reductions for those on low income, non-returnable deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

TO GOD THROUGH MUSIC

led by Gervase Holdaway OSB

Friday September 25, 2009, 5.30pm - Sunday September 27, 2009 2.30pm.

For many people music creates the atmosphere conducive to prayer. This retreat will give opportunity to grow closer to God through music. No expertise is needed, just an ability to listen.

Event 4x09. Residential cost £110, reductions for those on low income, reduction of £20 for those willing to share a room; deposit of £30 please.
BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

COME LORD JESUS! A RETREAT FOR ADVENT

led by Oliver Holt OSB

Friday November 27, 2009, 5.30pm - Sunday November 29, 2.30pm.

The Church invites us to reflect on the wonder of a people waiting for Messiah. The marvellous gift of Christmas, God-become-flesh, demands a prayerful heart awaiting the coming of the Lord. This retreat will help you prepare to receive God's gift of his own Son.

Event 4609. Residential cost £110, £20 reduction for those willing to share a room, reductions for those on low income,; non-returnable deposit of £30 please.

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM.

Accommodation is in the Guest House (en-suite or semi-en-suite).Since the Guest House is not only a service but also a source of our livlihood, we appreciate a donation that will cover our operational costs and contribute to our income. We are grateful to those who can give more and welcome those whose means allow for less. Please do not let the cost prevent you from coming. Included within the rate is accommodation, breakfast, lunch, and supper. As many of the rooms in the Guest House are twin or double, we are offering a reduction to those willing to share.

Day & Evening
Events
Ministry
of
Healing
Spirituality
of
in the Workplace
Courses in
conjunction
with the
University
of Reading
Calendar
Back to
WELCOME and INDEX

BOOKING/ENQUIRY FORM

e-mail: douaiabbey@aol.com


Registered Charity No. 236962

revised 01/10/08

Webmaster, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks. RG7 5TQ
e-mail: douaiweb@aol.com