Ampleforth Abbey Retreats 2023

Welcome from Fr Abbot

My first word is welcome. This sounds so simple to say and perhaps so obvious, but you are welcome to Ampleforth Abbey for a very special reason. The reason is this, in welcoming you we welcome Christ. Our visitors and guests are so important to us because each encounter is an opportunity to meet Jesus in person. The monastic community has one simple desire, to point others to God’s presence in our world. We do this through our prayer and in our hospitality. We invite you, therefore, to come and join us in this faith-filled adventure.

We are a community of faith and we recognise that many are searching for meaning and purpose in life. We can all become overwhelmed by the difficulties and questions that life throws up. Hence, we invite you to come and take time to stop, look and listen. To find, in the silence, the beautiful environment, the liturgy with the monks and the friendship made with other guests, the medicine you need for your soul. We have tried to provide you with food for the journey and we would like you to come and taste the goodness of God.

We are very fortunate to have a beautiful, newly refurbished guest house, The Grange, and a caring and sensitive group of people who work in hospitality.  Soon we will have a new venture in Alban Roe House which at present is being renovated with the help of generous donors. Here there will be a Visitor Centre, Tea Room, Gift Shop and space for school groups. We have been blessed and we want to share this blessing with others. It is therefore my privilege, as Abbot, to invite you to consider coming and finding time to explore your journey in faith. Come and experience the hospitality and welcome that is at the heart of the Gospel and the Rule of St Benedict. I look forward to seeing you when you come.

Fr Robert Igo OSB Abbot of Ampleforth

Ampleforth Abbey

What is a Retreat?

The word ‘retreat’ suggests taking a step back, and it is this process of taking a look at life from a new perspective which is what makes coming away on a retreat so powerful.

A retreat at Ampleforth Abbey offers the chance to reflect on and progress your spiritual journey whilst resting in our comfortable retreat centre. You don’t have to be Catholic or even a Christian to join us here, to benefit from the chance to discover who you really are and what you’d like your life to mean. We welcome anyone seeking a meaningful encounter in the peaceful setting of our working monastery.

If you’re looking for the chance to connect with a community of like-minded others as you explore your faith and gain a deeper understanding of yourself in turn, you might choose to join one of our guided retreats. These are each centred on a different topic and led by either an Ampleforth monk or one of our knowledgeable retreat leaders.

Topics range from those which offer tools towards living a calmer or more Christian life; perhaps through the lens of a piece of scripture, or methods such as Christian meditation or Lectio Divina.

In the pages following, you can also read about coming to Ampleforth Abbey as an individual, for space and respite, or as part of a pre-formed group, looking to develop your bond of faith.

Whatever you choose, a retreat here offers the chance to learn more about yourself and return to your day-to-day life refreshed and renewed.

Ampleforth Abbey

The Retreat Centre

The Ampleforth Retreat Centre is made up of four retreat houses. These are The Grange, Archway, Guest House and Alban Roe House – which is currently closed for refurbishment – all located in the picturesque surroundings of the Abbey Church.

The Grange is our largest building, offering 16 twin, double and single en-suite bedrooms including one accessible bedroom for those with mobility requirements. Extensively renovated just last year, The Grange’s modern rooms have a warm and homely feel. The Grange is also home to two bright meeting rooms, where the majority of our group and guided retreats are hosted, has its own chapel and top-floor library which offer space for reflection and prayer. There’s also space to socialise and enjoy drinks and snacks in the kitchen. All guests are welcome to use these areas.

monastic community’s worship in the Abbey Church. You’re also welcome to explore our extensive grounds, taking walks on one of many public footpaths in the foothills of the North York Moors. Each day meals are prepared by our chefs and served in the Guest Refectory (the Newman Room), near the Abbey Church.

Archway and Guest House together offer 13 twin and single bedrooms, with a choice of either traditional en-suite or shared bathrooms. Rooms are simple and comfortable presenting a quiet and peaceful place to rest. A further meeting room, kitchenette and sitting room are available in the Guest House.

All our guests are welcome to get a greater sense of what life is like in our living, working Abbey, through sharing in the

Ampleforth Abbey

Individual Retreats A chance to reflect and relax

Jesus said: “Let us go

Would you value some time out, some space for yourself, a chance to rediscover a sense of peace and calm? Perhaps you would value an opportunity to reflect on the direction of your life, and to reconnect with yourself and with God.

An individual retreat at Ampleforth Abbey offers the chance to be present and rest, no matter where you currently find yourself in life. Situated in a peaceful rural setting, you will be provided with a private room, food, grounds to explore, and an invitation to join the monastic community in prayer at the Abbey Church. This is an opportunity to renew your relationship with God whilst relaxing in a comforting environment.

Please note, individual guest charges are per person per day.

ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31) En-suite Standard

Cost alone should not prevent anyone from making a retreat to Ampleforth. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please get in touch so that we can discuss your options. Alternatively, if you would like to provide the gift of a retreat stay, please get in contact.

Ampleforth Abbey

off by

Group Retreats An opportunity to come together in faith

Our friendly team are on hand to tailor a package to meet your group’s needs at a time that suits you. If you have a particular date in mind, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Weekends especially are in high demand, giving those groups who can visit mid-week an opportunity to enjoy reduced prices.

We can accommodate residential groups of up to 40 people and day groups of up to 50. Get in touch today to check availability and book your group’s stay.

Are you considering booking a retreat for your parish, educational institution, or organisation? Groups are welcome to book our retreat facilities and operate a self-led retreat. We can also arrange for a member of our monastic community to lead the group for you.

Not only do we have a chapel, a large library, and a peaceful garden available for your use, we also offer three different meeting rooms across our retreat buildings, where you can gather as a group to bond, converse and reflect. You will also enjoy meals together served in our Guest Refectory (the Newman Room).

An Invitation to University Students

As a young person, navigating your way through life and the complexities of reaching adulthood can be difficult. Here at Ampleforth Abbey, you are welcome to pause, give yourself space, and find spiritual nourishment away from the everyday.

Enjoy living at a peaceful monastery in the idyllic countryside and reflect on who you are and your future ahead. You are invited to take part in the Divine Office, our daily round of prayer, or focus on your university studies in our library. Feel free to explore our grounds at your leisure and unwind amidst nature across our land and lakesides.

and Young People

If you’re a young person looking to stay with us as an individual, contact us to find out how we can support your stay, allowing you to pay what you can, rather than a fixed charge.

We welcome students, individuals and university Catholic Societies and their chaplains, who are looking to enjoy this peaceful time away together in fellowship.

Ampleforth Abbey

Programme of Guided Retreats 2023

Year-round

Share the Journey Day Retreats

9 January, 13 February, 20 March, 17 April, 15 May, 12 June, 17 July, 11 September, 9 October, 13 November, 4 December

Join a growing community of people from diverse backgrounds who have enjoyed time together on retreat at Ampleforth and discovered friends along the way. These day retreats are an ideal opportunity to get together, meet new people (who might soon become familiar faces) and to strengthen that sense of a journey shared.

Whether you’re someone who has never been on a retreat before and would like to try it for the day before coming away overnight, or someone who’s already part of the community, we invite you to join us. We’ll enjoy coffee – a talk – some space for reflection, conversation or relaxation – a meal together – and some time for sharing and prayer together at the end.

OUTLINE OF THE DAY: 9.00am Mass in the Abbey Church 10.00am Arrive at The Grange for coffee 10.30am Session 1.00pm Sext 1.15pm Lunch in the Newman Room 1.50pm None 4:00pm Session 4.45pm Tea in The Grange

Cost: A suggested contribution based on £33 per person will fully defray costs, but this is a suggestion only and is left entirely at the donor’s discretion.

Do you know the way?

Abbot Robert Igo OSB

Friday 13 - Sunday 15 January

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

In this retreat, Abbot Robert asks: ‘How do we find our way through life especially when faced with difficult questions?’

Listening to the Heartbeat of Northern Monastic

Adventurers

Fr Bede Leach OSB

Monday

16 - Thursday 19 January

En-suite £270.00 Standard £240.00

In this retreat, Fr Bede will give you a New Year opportunity to “visit” monks and nuns of Roman and Celtic monasticism as they “met” in transitional space on border areas in a struggle for dominance.

All within the safe warm, secure walls of this living, praying, and adventuring community.

February January

The Historical Jesus

Fr Henry Wansbrough OSB

Friday 27 - Sunday 29 January

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

Can we come anywhere near a historical portrait of Jesus, or do the Gospels merely provide us with an inspiring myth?

Can we recover any of the sayings of Jesus with certainty?

Can we learn any more about Jesus from the Dead Sea Scrolls or from the non-canonical gospels?

Patient, Persistent Practice: Three Prayerful Disciplines for the Whole Person

Fr Christopher Gorst OSB

Monday

6 - Wednesday 8 February

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

These are some of the questions which Fr Henry will tackle.

The practices of the Church, of celebrating the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours, are available to us all and invite us into a relationship with God and with our Church. This retreat is an introduction to three other more personal practices for worship, which can also be done with others. These focus on the body, heart and spirit, which together, engage the whole person, in the glory and praise of God.

Fr Wulstan Peterburs OSB

Wednesday 15 - Friday 17 February

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

If your answer is ‘I do’, then St Benedict directs you towards the Gospel as your guide to true and eternal life.  For more than 1,500 years, the Rule of St Benedict has guided both monastic and lay people in their search for God, opening to them a Gospel way of life that will lead them to true life

Season of Hope - Lent retreat

Fr Kieran Monahan OSB

Monday 20 - Wednesday 22 February

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

Over the past few years people have experienced much darkness, sadness, and loneliness. Now is a time of recovery and the season of Lent is a time of hope and renewal, an opportunity for each of us to begin again, longing, hoping and trusting. It is a time of healing, and this retreat offers you space and time to pray, reflect and share as we prepare to begin our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday.

This retreat will involve some time for listening and then some shared reflection from the group. On the final day of the retreat, Ash Wednesday, you’ll be invited to receive the ashes with the community in the Abbey Church.

Season of Hope – Lent retreat

Monday 20 – Wednesday 22 February

Fr Kieran Monahan OSB

En-suite: £XX Standard: £XX

Over the past few years people have experienced much darkness, sadness, and loneliness. Now is a

Is there anyone here who yearns for life and desires to see good days?

February/March

Are you ready to live?

Abbot Robert Igo OSB

Monday 27 February - Friday 3 March

En-suite £360.00 Standard £320.00

The Gospel tells us that Jesus came to give us life. Lent gives us the tools to embrace life.

Lectio Divina Retreat

Fr Bede Leach OSB

Monday 20 - Thursday 23 March

En-suite £270.00 Standard £240.00

This retreat will allow you to become immersed personally in Scripture through Lectio Divina, or “holy reading,” which is a medieval practice that the monks of Rievaulx, Fountains, Byland and Jervaulx engaged in as they prayerfully wrote down gospel manuscripts. Notes made in the margins during a day of calligraphy in the cloister served as the seeds for the monks’ nightly meditations.

You will work in interactive seminar groups to learn from each other’s contributions and become part of a community as you grow with each other over the retreat.

A great balance of group time and independent time. Powerful facilitation; deeply moving and challenging experience which will stay with me”

Previous retreatant

April

Easter Triduum (FULL PAGE)

A celebraNon of Easter at Ampleforth

Thursday 6 April – Sunday 9 April

Come together as a community with hundreds of fellow Catholics in this four-day event celebra2ng the Triduum liturgies. We welcome families, individuals, groups and couples for our Easter Retreat conference.

Easter Triduum

A celebration of Easter at Ampleforth

Thursday 6 April - Sunday 9 April

Come together as a community with hundreds of fellow retreatants in this four-day event celebrating the Triduum liturgies. We welcome families, individuals, groups and couples for our Easter Retreat conference.

We come together to listen to talks led by members of the Ampleforth monastic community and others, to worship together in the Abbey Church and to rejoice in song, in what makes up the largest event of the Abbey calendar.

Guests are accommodated across the boarding houses usually used by neighbouring Ampleforth College, taking meals together in the Refectory. There is a dedicated programme of activities for children and teenagers.

Due to high demand for places, we run a special booking process for Easter Triduum. To be among the first to know when booking has been launched, sign up for our newsletter on our website.

Easter Triduum is made possible through the help of volunteers. Do you think you could help? Express your interest at booking to join our valued team of volunteers.

Order, Disorder, Reorder: A Closed Circle or an Open Spiral?

Fr Christopher Gorst OSB

Friday 14 - Sunday 16 April

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

Are you looking to develop an interest in Christian philosophy?

A Life Worth Living

Abbot Robert Igo OSB

Tuesday 25 April - Friday 28 April

En-suite £270.00 Standard £240.00

A Life Worth Living

Tuesday 25 April – Friday 28 April

Abbot Robert Igo OSB

En-suite: £XX Standard: £XX

This is what discipleship reveals. As we learn how to follow Jesus, we come to life in Him.

This is what discipleship reveals. As we learn how to follow Jesus, we come to life in Him.

Following his well-known book ‘Falling Upward’ in 2013, American Franciscan author Richard Rohr now reflects on the universal pattern he sees in all religions, of order, disorder and reorder, which he calls the

A Life Worth Living

Tuesday 25 April – Friday 28 April

Abbot Robert Igo OSB

En-suite: £XX Standard: £XX

May

Mindfulness from the Christian Perspective

Terry Doyle

Tuesday 2 May

Cost: £55.00

Mindfulness has become very popular in the secular world over the past few years and has been proven to construe many therapeutic benefits to our mental health. This day will explore Mindfulness from a Christian perspective, bridging the gap between such recent interest in Mindfulness and Christian contemplative practise.

Mindfulness from the ChrisNan PerspecNve Tuesday 2 May

Terry Doyle Cost: £XX

BLURB TO FOLLOW

The day will be facilitated by Terry Doyle, a Benedictine Oblate with the World Community for Christian Meditation, who will aim to help us

Man Born to be King

Fr Richard ffield OSB

Friday 5 - Sunday 7 May

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

This retreat carries the title of a series of twelve radio plays by Dorothy Sayers (who wrote the Lord Peter Wimsey detective stories as well as a highly acclaimed translation of Dante’s Divine Comedy) about the life of Jesus Christ.

Over the course of this weekend, each retreatant will be invited to take one or more of the parts in a series of readings of the plays, which depict the characters as real people, with human emotions and speaking in colloquial English.  This presents an interactive opportunity to take a fresh look at the Gospel story.

The Hidden Life – a Retreat focusing on the Life and Spirituality of St

Charles de Foucauld

Fr Kieran Monahan OSB

Friday 12 - Sunday 14 May

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

On 15th May 2022 Pope Francis canonised Charles de Foucauld, perhaps a rather obscure man who had tried to live his Christian vocation in a hidden way.

Lights will Guide you Home

Fr Kevin Hayden OSB

Friday 19 - Sunday 21 May

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

The title of this retreat is taken from the words of a song by the band Coldplay called Fix You. They echo a hunger deep within all of us – to come home in the fullest sense possible. They also echo Christ’s promise to us: “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

Living from 1856 to 1916, he was at various points an aristocrat, a soldier and an explorer before he found his faith and decided to live a life of poverty in the desert.

He has been called a saint for sinners and continues to inspire men and women today on their spiritual journey.

In this retreat we will explore aspects of his spirituality which can be lived out by anyone seeking to deepen their discipleship of Jesus of Nazareth, the friend of sinners.

This retreat focuses on opening ourselves to that light, letting it guide us home and bring us a peace the world cannot give.

Where the Saints have Trod

Fr Chad Boulton OSB

Friday 2 - Sunday 4 June

En-suite £220.00 Standard £200.00

A walking retreat, with two pilgrimages to the holy sites of North Yorkshire, sauntering with the saints.

Over the course of this weekend, we will visit Whitby Abbey (St Hilda) and Mt Grace Priory (Carthusians). Each day, we will begin the morning with prayer, fill the day with walking and finish the evening with reflection. We’ll depart on our trips after Mass and a scene-setting introduction, enjoy a picnic lunch and return to the Abbey for Vespers. Each walk will last approximately three hours, covering between six and seven miles.

Later in the year, a second pilgrimage takes place on Friday 20 –Sunday 22 October and we will follow a similar format but visit the sites of St Mary’s, Lastingham (Ss Chad & Cedd), Rievaulx (St Aelred).

The Climate of Cultural Change: What is Laudato Si’ asking of us?

Fr Christopher Gorst OSB

Monday 5 - Thursday 8 June

En-suite £270.00 Standard £240.00

In 2015, Pope Francis wrote his ground-breaking encyclical letter ‘Laudato Si’. It becomes more and more relevant as the effects of climate change become painfully obvious.

Through this intriguing retreat Fr Christopher asks, does Laudato Si’ ask for cultural change? If so, how do we respond to a changing cultural climate?

Food for the Journey

Abbot Robert Igo OSB

Friday 9 - Sunday 11 June

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

This is an opportunity to grow into eucharistic faith.

In the SNllness Dancing

Friday 16 – Sunday 18 June

Fr Kevin Hayden OSB

In the Stillness Dancing

Fr Kevin Hayden OSB

Friday 16 - Sunday 18 June

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

A time to come away, to have space to rest, relax, come home. To find peace and to come into the presence of the One who waits for us.

From the Holy Mountains: The Icons of Sinai

Anji Dowson

Monday 26 - Thursday 29 June

En-suite £270.00 Standard £240.00

Mount Sinai is the mountain of Moses and Elijah, holy ground for the people of Israel. At its base is the Monastery of St Catherine, where over 2000 treasured icons are preserved.

The retreat will explore the significance of this holy mountain and how some of these beautiful works of art, with their important biblical narrative, help bring the Word of God to life.

Anji Dowson is a published spirituality author, poet and musician.

Mount Sinai - the mountain of Moses the Monastery of St Catherine, where explore the significance of this holy

FROM THE HOLY

June/July

Finding God in the Ordinary

Fr Kieran Monahan OSB

Friday 30 June - Sunday 2 July

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

Finding God in the everyday is a good way of summing up the theme of this retreat.

Society encourages us to keep looking for the exciting things in life, inviting us to escape the mundane, dreariness of life. But what if we could find God in the ordinary things of life?

The wisdom of St Benedict and many others teaches us that our eyes need to be open to God’s presence in all things, even the least exciting aspects of life. It is no accident that the longest period of the Church’s liturgical year is called Ordinary Time!

Come along and find the richness of God in those everyday moments of life.

July

A Journey into Freedom

Friday 7 – Sunday 9 July

Abbot Robert Igo OSB

En-suite: £XX Standard: £XX

A Journey into Freedom

Abbot Robert Igo OSB

Friday 7 - Sunday 9 July

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

We are prisoners of fear, anger, shame and doubt. The promise and invitation of Jesus is to learn the truth and be set free.

MonasNc Experience Retreat (Young People) (FULL PAGE)

Sunday 9 – Saturday 15 July

En-suite: £XX Standard: £XX

We are prisoners of fear, anger, shame and doubt. The promise and invita2on of Jesus is to learn the

Monastic Experience Retreat (Young People)

Sunday 9 - Saturday 15 July

DONATION ONLY

(Suggested amount £350, but pay as you can)

An opportunity for young people to experience together a different rhythm of life.

Through this retreat we offer you an opportunity to experience the monastic life, awaken more deeply to the beauty of the world around you and to the voice of the Lord within. Have fun, discover new friendships, and experience a monastic community at close quarters.

What does it involve?

l Spend time with other young people as you participate in a range of activities

l Share in the life and prayer of the monastic community

l Take part in a session each day given by different members of the community who will offer their wisdom which might help to enrich your life

l Walks and trips to places of interest in the local area.

July/August/September

Here will I Pitch my Tent

Fr Kevin Hayden OSB

Friday 28 - Sunday 30 July

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

The poet RS Thomas once wrote: “Life is not hurrying on to a receding future, nor hankering after an imagined past.” And yet we spend much of our lives rejecting our present lives and our present selves.

Tai Chi and Christian Meditation

Fr Christopher Gorst OSB and Terry Doyle

Monday 31 July - Thursday 3 August

En-suite £330.00 Standard £300.00

Tai Chi has been described as ‘meditation in movement’. Christian Meditation involves stillness. During this retreat we balance these paradoxical practices to help focus our body and mind on being open to God.

Under Terry Doyle, a practitioner of Tai Chi and an Oblate of the World Community of Christian Meditation (WCCM) we will be guided in our learning and develop these means, by which we relax and become aware of God’s presence.

This retreat is suitable for beginners, as no previous experience is required, but those who have been before are most welcome to renew their practice and re-connect. Tai Chi and ChrisNan MeditaNon

The Poetry of Life

Fr Kevin Hayden OSB

Friday 18 - Sunday 20 August

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

In this retreat guided by Fr Kevin, we look at some poems that open up new ways of looking at life, that open windows onto a different way of living, and have a real wisdom to share.

There will also be an opportunity for all to share the poems that have shaped their lives.

Monastic Experience Retreat

Fr Kevin Hayden OSB

Tuesday 29 August - Sunday 3 September

En-suite £450.00 Standard £400.00

Many believe that St Benedict wrote his Rule for monks in the later part of his life as the distillation of a lifetime of experience. It proposes a wise and carefully balanced set of elements which go together to create a life that nourishes and feeds our truest selves.

This retreat hopes to offer you a taste of that life, to live for a short while according to a different rhythm. There is space to live alongside the monastic community and other fellow pilgrims, to walk, to read, to be in silence, to pray alone and with the monastic community, to discuss and share, to allow yourself to be fed by the beauty of the world around you.

Each day a different member of the community will offer food for reflection - aspects of St Benedict’s wisdom that might help to enrich your life. This retreat offers the opportunity to step back for a short while and leave renewed, able to re-engage with your life with fresh energy and wisdom.

A Papal Perspective: the teaching of Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis

Liam Kelly

Friday 1 - Sunday 3 September

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

“John Paul II introduced me to the Church, Benedict XVI taught me about it, Francis invited me in”. These are the words of an American author convert to Catholicism.

This retreat will provide an opportunity to reflect on some of the key teachings of the three Popes who have occupied the See of Peter since 1978:

Pope John Paul II, in October 1978 chosen as Bishop of Rome “from a country far…far away, but always so close for communion in faith and the Christian tradition” Pope Benedict XVI, who succeeded him in April 2005, “a simple and humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord”; and Pope Francis, when in March 2013 the Cardinals “[went] to the ends of the earth to get Rome a Bishop”.

Liam Kelly is an acclaimed author whose works include ‘Sacraments Revisited’, ‘The Glorious Journey’ (a book of reflections based on the film The Two Popes) and most recently, ‘Lent in 50 Moments’. He was also editor of ‘Seven Last Words’ by the late Cardinal Basil Hume.

What can these great figures teach us today?

Christian Meditation: Silent Weekend

Fr Christopher Gorst OSB and Terry Doyle

Friday 8 - Sunday 10 September

En-suite £220.00 Standard £200.00

This weekend welcomes new people to the practice of Meditation, and people who have been before, but who want a meditative weekend of Silent learning.

Terry Doyle, an Oblate of the World Community of Christian Meditation, will conduct the silent weekend, through the teachings of John Main and Laurence Freeman, and periods of Meditation practice. Fr Christopher will accompany the sessions and contribute some input from the Rule of Benedict.

Monastic Experience Retreat

Fr Kevin Hayden OSB

Monday 18 - Sunday 24 September

DONATION ONLY

(Young People)

(Suggested amount £350, but pay as you can)

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to live the life of a monk?

This retreat gives you the chance to experience for yourself the ancient rhythms of monastic life, to take time to reconnect with the world around you and listen to the voice of the Lord within.

You’ll create lasting bonds of faith with other young people as you take part in a range of activities, including walks and trips in the local area.

This retreat allows time to join the community for prayer in the Abbey Church as you wish, as well as time for quiet walks or time on your own.

Each day, members of the monastic community will lead you in reflecting on St Benedict’s wisdom and how it might enrich your life as you live it today.

“

It was definitely a life changing experience.”

Previous retreatant

Unwrapping some Religious Clichés

Fr Richard ffield OSB

Friday 6 – Sunday 8 October

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

A cliché is a phrase that was once striking and thought-provoking but which, with overuse, has lost its power to inspire.  Winston Churchill is said to have criticized a memorandum for ‘using every cliché except God Is Love and Please Adjust Your Dress Before Leaving’.

Fr Richard will attempt to unwrap some religious clichés, starting with God is Love, and retreatants are invited to bring their own examples of religious phrases which have lost their power to inspire or whose meaning has become obscure.

Spiritual Leadership Retreat

Anchor your leadership to your core values to enable greater success and fulfilment

Fr Kevin Hayden OSB, Paul Devlin and Ian Helps

Monday 9 - Thursday 12 October

En-suite £270.00 Standard £240.00

Being true to self is ever more challenging in a world driven by constant change and focused on business success. We are often driven so much by targets, that we forget the importance of our own self and ultimately, the impact we can have on our own leadership.

This Retreat is designed to enable you to examine yourself as a leader, reflect on yourself and reconnect with spirituality and how these elements all enrich each other.

Ampleforth provides a breath-taking setting of great natural beauty, shaped over many years by the life and worship of a Benedictine Monastic community. These days, too, offer a blend of spiritual and practical wisdom.

The retreat is supported by two business leaders, Paul Devlin and Ian Helps, experts in their field, who have embraced this understanding and found success and self-fulfilment within senior industry roles.

The Wisdom of St Benedict

Fr Kieran Monahan OSB

Monday 16 - Wednesday 18 October

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

St Benedict writes: who is there here with a love of true life and a longing for days of real fulfilment? If you have found yourself answering ‘me’ to this question, then St Benedict may have something to offer you as he has done for men and women over the past 1500 years. This retreat will give us the opportunity to reflect together on some of the ways the Rule of St Benedict

Where the Saints have Trod

Fr Chad Boulton OSB

Friday 20 - Sunday 22 October

En-suite £220.00 Standard £200.00

The second of two walking retreats, with a pilgrimage to the holy sites of St Mary’s, Lastingham (Ss Chad & Cedd) and Rievaulx Abbey (St Aelred) in North Yorkshire, sauntering with the saints.

Where the Saints have Trod

Friday 20 –Sunday 22 October

Art and Spirituality

Monday 23 – Thursday 26 October

Fr Bede Leach OSB

Art and Spirituality

Fr Bede Leach OSB

Monday 23 - Thursday 26 October

En-suite £270.00 Standard £240.00

Through this weekend retreat, Fr Bede leads us through a process of discovering the essence of faith in religious art. You’ll be introduced to two paintings, with a session on each. Together, through discussion and interpretation, we hope to bring these pieces of art to life again, weaving the initial gospel story with the faith life and homily of the artist. Gradually we hope to see our own ongoing faith and life story emerging in our conclusions in a final summary session.

The Art of Listening

Fr Kevin Hayden OSB

Friday 27 - Sunday 29 October

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

God can do so much more when we learn to listen to Him, to discern his voice, to that “still small voice of calm” which is so powerful and can do so much more than we can begin to imagine.

In this retreat we explore the art of listening.

You’ll be encouraged to share your personal interpretation of the works alongside other fellow disciples from all walks of life, learning from each other’s contributions in a space where all opinions are valid and valued. You’ll leave the experience feeling lighter, more insightful and part of a new community.

Media and the Church: How to Read the News Without

Losing Your faith

Liam Kelly

Friday 3 - Sunday 5 November

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

Lord Northcliffe (1865-1922), pioneer of popular journalism, owner of the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror, once said: “News is what somebody somewhere doesn’t want you to know; the rest is all advertising”. “Go out to the whole world”, said Jesus, “and proclaim the Good News”.

Eleven national daily newspapers and over 450 TV channels available in the UK provide a vast choice for the reader and viewer, and that’s before you venture into social media.

Monastic Experience Retreat

Fr Kevin Hayden OSB

Wednesday 8 - Monday 13 November

En-suite £450.00 Standard £400.00

During this short stay, you’ll have the chance to live the life of monk yourself for a short while, according to an ancient rhythm designed to balance our needs and nourish our truest selves.

You’ll enjoy the opportunity to step back for a short time, to read, to pray or to be in silence as well as discuss and share with like-minded others. Whether you’re new to this experience or have joined us for it before, you’ll leave renewed and able to re-engage with your life with fresh energy, enthusiasm and wisdom.

So in the world of infotainment and shareable content, social trending and fake news, how can you sort out the good, the bad and the ugly? More importantly, how do keep your faith?

“ Wonderful to get to know the Community better and to experience for a few days a beautiful rhythm of life”

Liam Kelly is an acclaimed author and editor, has been involved in church communications for more than 40 years, including work at Vatican Radio and with the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

Previous retreatant Go with the flow

Fr Kevin will ask how we can allow God’s spirit to guide us, how we can learn to flow in the direc2on God wants us lead us so we can come alive.

Go with the Flow

Fr Kevin Hayden OSB

Friday 17 - Sunday 19 November

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

This retreat will explore how we can live in real openness to God, to the “sacrament of the present moment”?

Fr Kevin will ask: how can we allow God’s spirit to guide us, how can we learn to flow in the direction God wants to lead us so that we can come alive?

Jesus is Coming Soon

Abbot Robert Igo OSB

Friday 24 November - Friday 1 December

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

In the build up to Advent, Abbot Robert asks: what does Advent teach and how does it help us to live what is essential?

Advent Retreat: Shepherds and Innkeepers

Fr Bede Leach OSB

Friday 8 - Sunday 10 December

En-suite £180.00 Standard £160.00

Fr Bede will take you on an early Advent opportunity to get to know some of the smaller Nativity figures as they respond to the offer of a lifetime or

turn a deaf ear to it. Leave your card writing aside and get ready to meet someone you know very well.

“ Thank you for making Advent change for me. I now realise how little

I knew about it, and how much more I have yet to learn.”

Previous retreatant

“ I can take back the message to my family. The Retreat has made Christmas for me” Previous retreatant

Cost alone should not prevent anyone from making a retreat at Ampleforth Abbey. If you need financial support to stay with us, please get in touch so we can discuss your options. Alternatively, if you’re fortunate enough to be able to donate a retreat stay to someone it may benefit, our retreat team will be glad to hear from you.

Accessibility

As Ampleforth Abbey is set into the side of a hill, there are a number of slopes and steps on site. If you have accessibility needs or restricted mobility, please reach out to us so that we can find the best way to accommodate your needs.

Keeping in Touch

Would you like to receive communications relating to our latest news, information about forthcoming retreats, events and the works of Ampleforth Abbey Trust?

Sign up now on our website or send us a request via email to retreats@ampleforthabbey.org.uk