RETREATS & COURSES 2018 The Benedictine monks of DOUAI ABBEY invite you to enter into quiet and reflection in their monastery.
DOUAI ABBEY RETREATS & COURSES PROGRAMME 2018 INTRODUCTION We are delighted to introduce some new developments in the 2018 Retreat & Courses programme, while continuing to offer some retreats that have been popular in the past. Events will be led either by a member of the monastic community or an outside speaker with expertise in their field and previous experience of leading retreats. In order to create the right dynamic for discussion and comfortable use of conference facilities, the numbers will be limited, in most cases to 15, with 11 being the usual limit for Lectio Divina retreats. The retreat offer is a weekend, residential package. We regret that we can not as a rule accept day participants (unless advertised as such), as, from experience, this has been found to affect the dynamic of the retreat experience for the residential group. Bookings should be made by completing the booking form enclosed with the programme, or available through the Guestmaster, Fr Finbar. The Guest House asks that retreats are booked no later than 3 weeks before each event, so that we can maintain availability of rooms for other guests. From January 2018 our retreat prices will increase moderately, in line with the price increases in the guest house, as it has been several years since we have reviewed our prices. ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE TIMES Guests for retreats should arrive at Reception between 16.00 17.30 hrs on the first day, departing after lunch on the last day, except for Lectio Divina retreats which finish after breakfast. Rooms should be vacated by 09.30 am on the last day. The first session is usually after Compline (Night Prayer) on the first evening (at about 8.20pm). If you are likely to be late arriving, or are unexpectedly delayed beyond 17.30, please inform us as soon as possible. 0118 971 5310 (Fr Gabriel) pastoral@douaiabbey.org.uk 0118 971 5300 (Fr Finbar) guestmaster@douaiabbey.org.uk TRAVEL Douai Abbey is one mile north of the A4 at Woolhampton, Berkshire, about halfway between Reading and Newbury. By train stop at Midgham, served from London, Paddington, Reading & Newbury. The local bus is No 1 Reading Newbury, alighting at Woolhampton (The Angel Pub). National Express buses used to stop at Calcot which was convenient, but now stop off Junction 11 of the M4, which is not so near. There is an affordable and regular taxi service to bring guests up the hill from Midgham Station: Jennie's Taxis 0796 77 66 970 or Kennet & Avon taxis 01635 847853
INDIVIDUALLY GUIDED RETREATS These are available under the guidance of a monk, by appointment, and normally run from Tuesday (after lunch) to Friday morning, ending after breakfast (Cost 300). We will try to accommodate suitable times for guests, subject to the availability of a monk and the demand for IGRs. Individuals are also welcome to spend time in the Guest House, making their own silent retreat, or we have one group silent retreat in the programme for those who might benefit from the silent support of others making such a retreat. To make an individual silent retreat at a time of your own choice, please contact Fr Gabriel (pastoral@douaiabbey.org.uk) who will advise about the best time to make such a retreat so as to avoid resident groups that may be a little noisier. SILENCE Our guests have different expectations when they come on retreat. During retreats offered in this brochure silence is normally kept at meal times, but occasionally other groups will be present who have not opted for silence. The Rule of St Benedict treats silence as a charity to others' inner silence so that we might be always attentive to God. The real enclosure in which silence is preserved is the enclosure of the heart. The monastery enclosure and periods of observed silence in the monastic day are ordered towards the preservation of this inner enclosure of the heart, and charity towards others. Silence, however, is not an absolute value, and we have to be careful not to become fundamentalist about it. While absolute silence around us is difficult to achieve all the time, due to natural noises, and environmental noises beyond our control, this does not mean that inner silence can not be achieved, at least for some of the time, even if we do encounter uncongenial noise. Conversely, we might find ourselves in total blissful silence, only to become aware that our inner silence is disturbed by anger or distractions, or some other response to something in our lives. A balanced and sensible approach to silence is needed by monks and those who come to stay at a monastery. The backdrop of the world is noise, while the backdrop of a monastery is silence, which means we all have to take seriously the prophetic role of silence in our lives and in a place like Douai Abbey. Silence is prophetic because it is a witness to our attentiveness to God in a world that can not or will not listen to God. On the other hand, we also have to live in the real world where communication with others is necessary, where owls hoot at night, cockerels crow during the day and lawnmowers have to cut the grass in our grounds.. During your time at Douai Abbey we invite you to help us foster a spirit of peace and recollection by observing silence as far as you are able and by speaking quietly if the need arises. In particular, we ask guests to observe silence in the Abbey Church and the Great Silence after Compline until breakfast the following morning.
We hope that all our guests find the community friendly and welcoming, but we ask that you communicate as far as possible during your stay with the Guest Master (Fr Finbar) or the Pastoral Programme Director (Fr Gabriel) or a monk assigned to look after you or to lead your retreat while you are here. FEBRUARY 2018 PROGRAMME OF EVENTS - FULL YEAR 16-18 Retreat for the Beginning of Lent 'Return, Relent and Repent' MARCH 9-11 Group Silent Retreat 29 1 April Easter Triduum Retreat (Waiting and Welcome) APRIL Alban Hood OSB Euan Tait 24-27 Apocalypse Study Course Peter Bowe OSB 27-29 Mindfulness II Retreat Martin Zetter & Christopher Green OSB MAY 4 6 Trust in God's Promises retreat Inner Healing as part of the Christian Journey 25-27 Ecological Retreat Living in the Earth as our Common Home JUNE Gabriel Wilson OSB & Paul Marsden Paul Maiteney 8-10 First Steps in Contemplation Retreat David Cole 14-17 Lectio Divina Retreat Gervase Holdaway OSB 15 17 Monastic Experience Weekend Come and See 22 24 Church History Course Part II (Reformation to Present Day) JULY Gabriel Wilson OSB Abbot Geoffrey Scott OSB 20-22 You Are Beloved Retreat Anthea Bailey 27-29 Psalms Retreat Oliver Holt OSB SEPTEMBER
14-16 Incarnation Retreat Meditations on the Incarnation 21 23 The Secret Life of The Bee-keeper A year in Douai Abbey's Apiary OCTOBER 5 7 Christian Poetry Retreat Sounding the Deep Christopher Greener OSB & John Newland Gabriel Wilson OSB Oliver Holt OSB 26-28 Writing to God Retreat Euan Tait NOVEMBER 2 4 Mindfulness Retreat A Christian Approach Martin Zetter & Christopher Greener OSB 30 2 December Advent Retreat By His Gift We Already Rejoice! DECEMBER 7 9 Pre Christmas Retreat A Time of Transition Alban Hood OSB Christopher Greener OSB & John Newland 18-21 Lectio Divina Retreat Gervase Holdaway OSB
RETREAT FOR THE BEGINNING OF LENT 'Return, Relent and Repent' Led by Alban Hood OSB Fri 16 Sun 18 February A retreat offering a gentle introduction to the Season of Lent by reflecting upon some of its major themes. There will be a particular focus upon the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation), with some helpful guidance on prayerful preparation for receiving the sacrament. Cost: 145 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 116 per person for those who are willing to share.
GROUP SILENT WEEKEND RETREAT Fri 9 - Sun 11 March This weekend is an invitation to enjoy a time of silence and recollection, with the support of others who desire silence and prayer. If the back drop of the world is noise, the backdrop of a monastery is silence, and it is an important ingredient of the prophetic role of monasticism in the modern world. It is also an essential part of the Christian life of prayer. Learning to embrace silence is especially important if we are to understand and become comfortable with the solitude in which God seeks to find us. Cost: 145 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 116 per person for those who are willing to share
EASTER TRIDUUM RETREAT Waiting & Welcome Led by Euan Tait Thurs 29 March Sun 1 April To walk with Jesus through love, sharing his way to the cross; to wait for Jesus on the Easter Saturday, listening to the Holy Spirit stir our hearts; to welcome the resurrected Christ on Easter Sunday with a 'living, rushing water' of joy. The new gift of each year's Triduum is the freshness of its grace, and in how we open our being anew to the life of Christ. This year Douai Abbey offers a new way to experience this holy time: a pilgrimage through great music (Handel's Messiah), prefaced by reflective talks to help us live this pilgrimage more fully. The time will, as ever, be infused by the liturgies of the monastic community in the great Abbey Church. Euan Tait is an experienced retreat leader and has led some of our retreats in the past couple of years. We are delighted to welcome him back to lead the Easter Triduum retreat. Euan runs music retreats, quiet days and training events across the country, is an experienced college lecturer and a professional librettist with a growing international reputation. He has recently had major premieres in the United States and Europe, and has further projects in development. More information about Euan may be found on his website http://euantait.com Cost: 250 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 200 per person for those who are willing to share.
APOCALYPSE COURSE Uncovering the Mystery of the Apocalypse Led by Peter Bowe OSB Tues 24 - Fri 27 April The Book of Revelation is one of the least read books of the New Testament in all Christian Churches, and is much misunderstood and shunned. Yet it holds an unexpected treasure which can enrich our faith and inspire us deeply. In this study course we shall read and explore the Apocalypse in 9 sessions. We shall discover how its author invites us to use our imagination to view the world and ourselves from an eternal perspective, and to accept Christ as the key to history and Lord. Participants are asked to bring with them a copy of the Bible (any version). If required, prior advice may be given on versions to purchase (contact: peter@douaiabbey.org.uk) Fr Peter is Parish Priest of our Woolhampton Parish of St Mary's. Cost: 200 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 160 per person for those who are willing to share
MINDFULNESS II Deeper into Mindful Christianity Led by Christopher Greener OSB & Martin Zetter Fri 27 Sun 29 April Following on from the success and popularity of this over-subscribed retreat in 2017, we are delighted to run this second event that builds upon the foundations of the previous Mindfulness retreat in 2017. This retreat will be for those with experience either of Mindfulness or Christian meditation. Meditation programmes will include: insight, centring prayer, the John Main mantra, together with formal and informal mindfulness practices. There will be opportunities for some group focuses; one group concentrating on different aspects of mindfulness teaching and the other on practice. Martin Zetter learnt mindfulness practice under Dr Michael Sinclair. He is a long-time meditator and curates the meditation site www.meditation.com which presents routes into a variety of meditation traditions. He worked as an economist in the City of London for 35 years, more latterly assisting young people in starting their own small businesses. Cost: 160 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 128 per person for those who are willing to shar
TRUST IN GOD'S PROMISES RETREAT Inner Healing as Part of the Christian Journey Led by Gabriel Wilson OSB & Paul Marsden Fri 4 Sun 6 May To be a human being in a fallen world is to be wounded. The scriptures, and especially the Gospels, tell time and again how God moves to heal his people and give them new life. Through prayer and the sacraments, the Church has always had the resources to apply God's healing power to those in need, but this power has to be rediscovered in the life of the Church and applied to the specific circumstances of the individual. This weekend will provide times of teaching, prayer and sacraments (confession and anointing of the sick, in appropriate cases), to help us understand our deepest wounds and to seek God's healing. This will take place in the context of participation in the monastic office. Limited to 12 participants. Residential only. Cost: 160 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 128 per person for those who are willing to share
ECO- SPIRITUAL RETREAT Learning to live in Earth, Our Common Home Led by Paul Maiteney Fri 25 Sun 27 May An exploration of our everyday living as an expression of our spiritual lives. The retreat will focus on: What we need, to live truly, materially and spiritually What keeps us in our current ways of living, and how this affect us What helps and hinders us from living as members of our planet Using a framework based on the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises and selected parts of the poetic and mystical writings of Teilhard de Chardin, these are some of the areas of exploration in this retreat. Drawing also on Pope Francis' ecological encyclical Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home, we will explore how we might put his guidance into practice; how attention to living everyday life in an ecologically aware way can help us participate in a deeper spiritual life. Despite past censorship of some of his ideas, there has been a reassessment of de Chardin's Cosmic Theology by the Church, with Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI writing approvingly of his theology. Paul Maiteney is a spiritual director, psychotherapist and anthropologist. Cost: 160 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 128 per person for those willing to share
CONTEMPLATION RETREAT First steps on the Contemplative Path Led by David Cole Fri 8 Sun 10 June An invitation to come and learn about the Christian heritage of the contemplative tradition, with techniques and practices that will help deepen an awareness of our relationship with God. David Cole is an award-winning author of books on Christian meditation. He regularly leads retreats teaching on Contemplative Christian Spirituality. Cost: 160 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 128 per person for those willing to share
LECTIO DIVINA RETREAT Take and Read Led by Gervase Holdaway OSB Thurs 14 Sun 17 June Experience a way of praying with Scripture, an ancient art, at one time practised by all Christians. It is a slow, contemplative prayer which enables one to listen to God's word and to make a prayerful response. There will be time in the retreat for sharing, solitude and reflection. Limited to 11 participants. Cost: 200 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 160 per person for those willing to share
MONASTIC EXPERIENCE WEEKEND Come and See Led by Gabriel Wilson OSB & Alban Hood OSB Fri 15 Sun 17 June An opportunity for men (18-40) to meet the monks and to explore our Monastic Experience Programme. Candidates from this weekend may apply to live and work alongside the community for up to 3 months, to deepen their faith and draw from the rich Benedictine tradition before returning to the world, or with a view to discerning their vocation. No charge
CHURCH HISTORY STUDY COURSE Part II Reformation to Present Day Led by Abbot Geoffrey Scott OSB Fri 22 Sun 24 June This is the second part of a study course. Part I covered 312 1065. Part II will deal with the effects of the Norman Conquest, the new religious orders (reformed Benedictines, Cistercians, and the Friars), scholarship and the rise of the universities, the Becket controversy, the church in the 14 th & 15 th Centuries, the effects of the discovery of printing and early humanism. This should bring us to King Henry VIII, ready for the Reformation and beyond. The course is designed for non-specialists who wish to have an overview of the Church History of England, and who wish to trace the development of key ideas and to have a working knowledge of important events and individuals. Abbot Geoffrey is a renowned Church historian and lecturer. He has published books and articles on various aspects of English Church History, and is the President of the Catholic Records Society. Cost: 145 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 116 per person for those who are willing to share
YOU ARE BELOVED RETREAT Led by Anthea Bailey Fri 20 Sun 22 July Brennan Manning says: 'Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.' Imagine God thinking about you. What do you assume God thinks when you come to mind? This retreat aims to encourage each person's understanding and experience of how beloved they are by God. The weekend will also examine what may prevent us from living as loved by God. Through scriptural reflection, creativity and meditation, the retreat sets out to immerse us more profoundly in the truth of God's unconditional love. Anthea Bailey (MSc) is a Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, currently working for the Fire and Rescue Service as a mental Health well-being advisor. She is the founder of Immerse in Christ Ministries. Her retreats encourage individuals through Christian meditation and reflection, centred on the compassionate love of God. Cost: 160 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 128 per person for those who are willing to share.
PSALMS RETREAT Led by Oliver Holt OSB Fri 27 Sun 29 July How can this Jewish hymn book, compiled before the birth of Christ, possibly be absolutely central to Christian spirituality and worship? Four interactive talks and discussions on the value and place of the Psalms in Christian prayer and spirituality comprise this weekend retreat. Each participant, should they wish, is invited to prepare a short presentation on a psalm that has proved meaningful to them, to share with the group. Fr Oliver is a member of the Douai community. After some years of teaching English in our former school, he is now the bursar of the monastery Cost: 145 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 116 per person for those who are willing to share
INCARNATION RETREAT Meditations upon the Incarnation Led by Christopher Greener OSB & John Newland Fri 14 Sun 16 September The Incarnation is the manifestation of Christ living in the World and in each person who accepts Him. This retreat will look at how this manifestation of Jesus, as an actuality, is experienced, both in life and in ourselves. The weekend will use a template given us by St Thomas Aquinas, the Medieval Theologian and Doctor of the Church, who argued that Christ is given to us through the Incarnation in 'Nine Ways'. These ways he defined as various means by which Jesus pours out His love to each of us individually. In some circumstances He acts as brother, in others as shepherd, and always as food in the Eucharist. Through this prism of Aquinas' Nine Ways, the weekend will include readings, film clips and discussion to focus on the different aspects of the Incarnation. By the end of the retreat participants will have gained a deeper sense of what the Incarnation means. John Newland is an Historian with a Master's Degree in History and in Film. Cost: 160 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 128 per person for those willing to
THE SECRET LIFE OF A BEEKEEPER A Year In Douai Abbey's Apiary Led by Gabriel Wilson OSB Fr 21 Sun 23 September This weekend offers an entertaining insight into the bee-keeper's year, with Fr Gabriel, who has looked after the monastery's apiary since 2015. Through photographs, Fr Gabriel will explain the craft of the bee-keeper from March (when hive inspections begin) to the honey harvest in late summer and preparations to close down the apiary for the winter. Participants will learn the basic anatomy of the beehive, some methods of swarm-prevention, how a colony makes a new queen, and the process of harvesting and extracting honey. The weekend will appeal to anyone who has an interest in bees, those who are thinking of starting bee-keeping, and for all who have a capacity for wonder at the natural world. Fr Gabriel is the Director of the Pastoral Programme at Douai Abbey, the Vocations Promoter, the poulterer and the apiarist. He has a keen interest in Natural History and ecology and is passionate about sharing his enthusiasm for the honey bee. Cost: 145 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 116 per person for those who are willing to share.
CHRISTIAN POETRY RETREAT Sounding the Deeps Fri 5 Sun 7 October Led by Oliver Holt OSB This retreat will explore poems from different centuries, all of which show the poet trying to grapple with eternal truths and seeking to find the right words to express his or her religious faith. Fr Oliver, who taught English in our former school, has given similar talks and retreats before, but the poems selected for this retreat will all be new. Participants will be invited to bring along their own favourite poems. Cost: 145 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 116 per person for those who are willing to share.
WRITING TO GOD RETREAT Creating our own prayers, psalms, journals and poems Led by Euan Tait Fri 26 Sun 28 October The beauty of relating to God is that we are called to speak freely and with utter honesty to Jesus, to open our hearts fully, without fear. Our creative written responses help open us up to this life-giving relationship. During this weekend we will be exploring how to write prayers,, our own versions of psalms, short poems and journal entries: an exciting creative journey that aims to greatly enrich our own work. It is recommended that participants bring an exercise book or laptop, as they prefer. Euan Tait is an experienced retreat leader and has led some of our retreats in the past couple of years. Euan runs music retreats, quiet days and training events across the country, is an experienced college lecturer and a professional librettist with a growing international reputation. He has recently had major premieres in the United States and Europe, and has further projects in development. More information about Euan may be found on his website http://euantait.com Cost: 160 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 128 per person for those who are willing to share.
MINDFULNESS I A Christian Approach to Mindfulness Led by Christopher Greener OSB & Martin Zetter Fri 2 Sun 4 November Following on from the success and popularity of this over-subscribed retreat in 2017, we are delighted to run this retreat again for those who were unable to secure a place last time. The retreat will draw upon both the lived experience of western monasticism and contemporary mindfulness. It will explore practical methods of using mindfulness, together with several approaches to meditation, to develop mindfulness and to deepen the daily practice of our faith. The course aims to help those with little or no knowledge of the practice of mindfulness and will suit the beginner and those with some experience of meditation. Martin Zetter learnt mindfulness practice under Dr Michael Sinclair. He is a long-time meditator and curates the meditation site www.meditation.com which presents routes into a variety of meditation traditions. He worked as an economist in the City of London for 35 years, more latterly assisting young people in starting their own small businesses. Cost: 160 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 128 per person for those who are willing to share
BEGINNING OF ADVENT RETREAT By His Gift We Already Rejoice! Led by Alban Hood OSB 30 November 2 December A prayerful exploration of the Advent season, with particular focus on the scriptural and liturgical texts for the four Sundays of the season. Cost: 145 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 116 per person for those who are willing to share.
PRE CHRISTMAS RETREAT A Time of Transition Led by Christopher Greener OSB & John Newland Fri 7 Sun 9 December The time before Christmas has always been special. It has always been about the ending of an old order and an engaging with the new. For Pagans this was the Winter Solstice. From this point onwards, after months of increasing darkness, once more daylight began to take back the world with the renewed promise of fresh life springing from the earth. For Christians this time was the start of the Church's year, with Advent and a looking forward to the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. The retreat will explore the fullness of this sense of transition of the season in both the wider culture and the Church. Using a mixture of sacred and cultural readings, film clips and discussion, the weekend aims to show how (and why) the wider culture and the spiritual dimension are connected and are fulfilled in the Nativity. By the end of the retreat participants will have a greater appreciation of how this period of time approaching Christmas might draw us more fruitfully into the coming of Christ. John Newland is an Historian with a Master's Degree in History and in Film. Cost: 160 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 128 per person for those who are willing to share
LECTIO DIVINA RETREAT Take and Read Led by Gervase Holdaway OSB Tues 18 Fri 21 December Experience a way of praying with Scripture, an ancient art, at one time practised by all Christians. It is a slow, contemplative prayer which enables one to listen to God's word and to make a prayerful response. There will be time in the retreat for sharing, solitude and reflection. NB This retreat finishes after breakfast on Friday. Limited to 11 participants Cost: 200 (All our rooms are now fully en suite) 160 per person for those willing to share