By Marie

It’s hard to say exactly what attracted me to this Retreat, except, It had been a couple of years since I had done one and I felt the need to step back, and step into something different for a couple of days. The first thing I noticed and valued when I arrived at the retreat centre, was the warm buzz of activity and laughter as people gathered in the reception area and tea room, direct from work or college or some other place. Already there was a sense of togetherness in that fun if slightly anxious energy. I was really looking forward to getting into it,  taking stock of things as they are for me, a bit of reflection and meditation, making new friends and having a bit of fun.

Friday evening is not normally one I’d associate with sitting quietly and considering how you are physically, emotionally and spiritually in your life. That however was our first exercise, and I really valued it, it revealed something new to me.

We followed this by a kind of ‘heartstorming’ exercise of what Advent means to us, each of us in small groups throwing out words that helped describe the essence of it. We then threading those words together into a creative piece – song, jingle or poem. In a fun way, that deepened our understanding and appreciation of this time of waiting, preparation, quiet hope and anticipation. 

This series of fun and challenging exercises mingled with quiet reflection and meditation time defined the weekend. It helped me look more closely at what areas of my life might need a bit of ‘reinvention’.
One that really stood out for me was on relationships, and specifically, the relationships in our lives that need healing. I gained a lot from this exercise, and I think others did as well. There was a real sense of us all ‘being in this together’, ‘we’ve all been hurt and we’ve all hurt’. The exercise helped us to see how the faith can teach us, and guide us in moving forward, letting go, doing better.  We let the three coloured candles associated with Advent represent ‘healing’, ‘letting go’ and ‘starting anew’ respectively. Each was placed in a different quiet room, and we spent quiet time in prayer with each, progressing from room to room as we felt ready.

Confessions were heard on Saturday afternoon. I was scared to go. It had been so long. Yet, I felt drawn to it, and was so glad I did. I really felt much better afterwards. There’s something in hearing yourself admit the things that have lead to hurt and pain for others, that unburdens. It also helps you to forgive yourself.

Later on, a few people talked really honestly about how they experienced God’s presence in their lives. The stunning openness of that sharing prompted the rest of us into deeper thought of how God may be present in the day to day realities of our lives – through other people, through simple things we do and experience.

Mass in the small chapel was nice. It was so intimate, and I experienced something new in it. We had a bit of a party on Saturday night, and another mixture of the quiet and active on Sunday morning. By the time Sunday afternoon came, and we all went our separate ways, I had begun to experience a real sense of loss, and wished the retreat could continue.

Overall this was a really good time out for me, where I met new people and felt really supported in this journey of faith.  We are all on a path to be the best we can be. To travel a bit of that path together and be inspired and affirmed by others experiences and struggles was brilliant. I came away feeling good and positive, with a clear sense of a couple of things I want to change in my life, and with a sense in faith that I can succeed.