
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.