WHAT IS A RETREAT?

“Balm for today’s world”, this is the description of Retreat in a recent article in the English Catholic Paper, the Tablet. The article focused on the how this ancient practice of retreat has become a fashionable part of people’s lifestyle. As life speeds up, the need for inner growth becomes more compelling. Retreat Centres around the world are becoming a flourishing enterprise.

For many church people the idea of a Retreat is not new. It is an opportunity to renew and refresh their relationship with God. It is a “ time apart” modelled on Jesus’ own experience of his journey into the desert and the times he spent alone in prayer on the mountain.

If you are thinking “Retreat” Galong Retreat Centre is an ideal place to begin. Situated in rural Australia and set among the rolling southern slopes of NSW, it provides an ideal setting for peace, tranquillity and quiet prayer.

What happens on a Retreat? “Whatever form they take, spiritual practices in retreats are essentially about letting go and letting happen. Many retreat houses offer traditional methods which can help this process. All offer well-trodden ladders of ascent, methods of discernment and aides to trusting God and others”. (The Tablet 12 June 2004)

St. Clement’s Retreat Centre offers structured Retreats for clergy, religious and lay people as well as the chance to simply “come aside to a quiet place and rest awhile”. A retreat can be as short as one day, a weekend or several weeks.

At St. Clement’s we have pioneered a retreat for retired people or for those in the second half of life. It begins on a Monday evening and ends on Friday morning. Called it an “Emmaus Journey”, it is modelled on the Resurrection experience of the two disciples who had left Jerusalem and met Jesus on the way. It combines times of quiet reflection, formal prayer and the chance to meet with others on the spiritual quest for meaning- what it means to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself.

As one participant wrote:
“I would like to thank you and the staff and volunteers for having my mother Mary and me at St. Clement’s for the Emmaus Journey. It is very difficult to express how rewarding and enriching we found the journey to be. Thank you, Father Pat, for sharing this gift with us and giving us a refreshing and deeper insight into the Scriptures.
Sister Frances, your hospitality, kindness and willingness to make our stay as enjoyable as possible is very much appreciated. Again thank you all for a wonderful and memorable experience”.

If you would like to know more feel free to contact us, our Retreat Program is in the left side of this page.