“The Call and Cost of Discipleship – Praying and Reflecting on the Life and Spirituality of some outstanding Christian Witnesses” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dorothy Day, Pedro Arrupe, Mother Teresa, Brother Roger of Taize. Fr. Brendan Comerford SJ joined the Jesuits in 1980 and was ordained in 1988. After completing his studies, Brendan taught for a number of years in Colaiste Iognáid in Galway. In 1999 he was appointed Director of Novices in the Joint British/Irish Novitiate in Birmingham, England, a post he held until the summer of 2006. Author of The Pilgrim’s Story, Brendan continues to write and lecture on spirituality. Read More >
Gospel Women, Gospel Men: Reflections in Painting and Song. Fr. Tom McGuinness has been a Jesuit since 1965 and has spent most of his ministry engaged with directing the Spiritual Exercises. From 2008-14 he was director of the Ignatian Spirituality Centre in Glasgow. He joined the Retreat Team in Manresa in 2015. He has written and recorded a number of reflection songs as one way of exploring the spirituality of St Ignatius. Sr. Magdalen Lawler is a Sister of Notre Dame, living in London, she is a theologian and art historian. Sr. Magdalen trained at St Beuno’s in 1980 and since then she … Read More >
The Journey of Healing and Wholeness. Fr Jim will facilitate this very special retreat that will gently and sensitively take participants on a journey to a deeper connection with themselves and God. Fr Jim Cogley is Parish Priest and Director of Pilgrimage at Our Lady’s Island. Fr. Jim uses his amazing wood carvings to explore core human issues. He is a psychotherapist whose special interest is exploring how the past that is unacknowledged can still influence the present both at personal and ancestral level. Read More >
Farewell and Welcome. How do we reach the point of responding to the repeated challenge of letting go in life and of embracing, with trust and hope, the unfamiliar? Using Scripture, this retreat will reflect on such an adventure. Rev. Dr. Ruth Patterson is a Presbyterian minister who for almost 30 years has been Director of Restoration Ministries, a non denominational, Christian organisation committed to peace and reconciliation. In 1976 she was the first woman to be ordained in Ireland and in 2003 was awarded an OBE for her efforts in reconciliation. She has written five books and numerous articles stemming from her … Read More >
“Put off your old self … to be made new in the attitude of your minds” (Ephesians. 4:22) The Lord is offering us the possibility of being transformed; but we have to be willing to put off our old self. On this Scripture-based retreat let’s hear the transforming Word of God as if for the first time. Fr. Gerard McCarthy is a member of the Divine Word Missionaries. Since his return from Africa he has been actively involved in the Biblical Apostolate, giving retreats and parish biblical courses. Read More >
He Said to the wind and the waves, “Quiet, Be Still”. (Mark 4;39) Quieten the mind, calm the fears, and create an inner sanctuary of stillness, through meditation, scriptural reflection, prayer, input etc. Martina Lehane Sheehan is an accredited Psychotherapist, Spiritual Director, and Author. She was until 2019 Director of Retreats and Programmes in Ennismore Retreat Centre, Cork, and is regularly invited to facilitate retreats and workshops both nationally and internationally. Martina is the author of four bestselling books. Together with her husband, Patrick, she has also created two CDs, ‘Soul Space; Meditations and Lyrics for stillness’ and ‘Beyond Mindfulness: Guided Meditations and … Read More >
Abiding in Hope. A contemplative journey towards Christmas. Br. Richard Hendrick is a priest-friar of the Irish branch of the Capuchin Franciscan Order. For over twenty years he has worked to bring the insights of the Christian contemplative tradition to greater public awareness, particularly with reference to modern mindfulness theory. Read More >
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3.16) Sometimes we forget that we are loved by God. During this retreat we will try to grasp the implications of God giving his one and only Son for the life of the world, our world. Fr. Gerard McCarthy is a member of the Divine Word Missionaries. Since his return from Africa he has been actively involved in the Biblical Apostolate, giving retreats and parish biblical courses. Read More >