Retreats with Religious Congregations
Franciscan Come and See Afternoons
Do you think God is calling you to live the Gospel in a Franciscan Lifestyle? If you would like to discern your Call, come along to a Come and See event on the first Saturday of every month from 2 – 4pm. Open to both male and female discerners.
Location: San Damiano Convent, 1 Hall Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 7BT
Contact: Sr. Dorothy Paul at 1clarefrancesco2017@gmail.com or on 01773 833168
Thinking Faith
This retreat is open to Catholic men and women in their 20s to 40s. The week will take the theme of pilgrimage, with planned walks around various local shrines and churches, with talks on related aspects of the faith. During the week you will be able to make like-minded friends and explore your faith, whilst also having the opportunity to join in Mass and the daily prayer of the community of Augustinian Sisters. For more information please click here.
Saturday 20th – Saturday 27th July 2019
Location: Boarbank Hall, Allithwaite, Grange over Sands, Cumbria LA11 7NH
Contact: Sr Margaret at margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk
Vocations Weekend at Dowry House
England needs holy priests and religious to help re-evangelise our country. We invite all young adults to ask the question whether God is calling them to consider a vocation to the priesthood and consecrated life. The weekend will be led by Fr John Armitage, rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and Sr Camilla from the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham. You will have plenty of time to ask questions about the different ways you can offer your whole life to God and to the service of his people. For more information please click here.
Friday 26th – Sunday 28th July 2019
Location: Dowry House Retreat, 47-49 High Street, Walsingham, Norfolk NR22 6BZ
Contact: dowryhouse@walsingham.org.uk or 01328 801018
Discernment Weekend with the Franciscan Sisters
Women aged between 18 and 40 years that consider God may be calling them, are warmly invited to spend time with the Franciscan Sisters to learn about living a Gospel Life in community and service.
Saturday 17th – Sunday 18th August 2019
Location: Franciscan Convent, 1 Hall Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 7BT
Contact: Sr Dorothy Paul on 01773 833168 or at 1clarefrancesco2017@gmail.com
You can download the advertisement for the weekend here.
Discernment Weekend at Downside Abbey
A three day vocation retreat for Catholic men and women aged 18-35, discussing matters of consecrated life, priesthood and lay life. For more information please click here.
Friday 18th – Sunday 20th October 2019
Location: Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Bath BA3 4RH
Contact: rinabird@outlook.com
Young Catholic Adults Douai Weekend
YCA are running this weekend for young Catholic adults with the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge, who will be holding Gregorian Chant workshops. There will also be a Marian Procession, Rosaries, Sung Masses, Confession and socials. All Masses will be celebrated in the Extraordinary form. Please note to guarantee your place this year Douai Abbey have requested that everyone books in 3 weeks before the start of the weekend.
Friday 25th – Sunday 27th October 2019
Location: Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berkshire RG7 5TQ
Please click here to book your place.
Residential Opportunities
Vocations Discernment Community (Hammersmith, London)
This one-year of personal and spiritual development and of discerning one’s own calling begins at the end of September each year (September – July). It is for men who will be working or studying in London but who would also like to look at the possibility of priesthood or religious life. The community is sponsored and run by the Augustinians but it is not geared to moving the members in any particular direction. It gives a flavour of the different options within the Church, with a variety of experiences and inputs.
It is quite a challenging year as the members continue their work or studies during the day, whilst in the evenings and weekends take part in the community activities. The aim is that by the end of the year the members will have a clearer idea of what their specific calling is (either priesthood, religious, lay consecrated or married life) and what it entails, and be enabled to make a more formal start in the direction they feel God is calling them.
Contact: Bro. Gladson Francesco Dabre OSA on 07865 664333 or at vocations@theaugustinians.org
Internships at Quarr Abbey (Isle of Wight)
Quarr Abbey is inviting applications from men between the age of 18 and 25 for a limited number of monastic internships. These will offer the successful candidates the possibility of living in the monastery for two months, following a way of life similar to that of the monks. During this time they will learn about the Benedictine tradition and have the opportunity to deepen their prayer and reflection on the Bible.
They will be expected to contribute by their work to the welfare of the monastery and in return will receive board, lodging, teaching and guidance. The hope is that, with God’s help, they will establish a lasting spiritual foundation for their lives.
Those interested in applying are asked to write to Fr Luke Bell at interns@quarr.org.
Website: www.quarrabbey.org