Ignatian Retreat

A TIME OF SILENCE AND REFLECTION,
AWAY FROM USUAL EXTERNAL DEMANDS,
RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

"No retreat has made a greater impact on me than an Ignatian retreat with personal guidance in which I participated seven years ago, in Wales. During the retreat God opened some doors both inwards in my own life and into the word of God. Some of these experiences are still alive in my life and my relationship with God. As Lutheran Christians we often claim to base our faith on the Word alone. Still, I had to participate in a Catholic retreat before someone dared to let me be alone with it... The Ignatian retreats at Lia Gård follows the same program as the retreat I participated in. I will give my highest recommendations."

Knut Grønvik, vicar in the Korsvei movement

"I have come that they might have life, and have it in abundance."
John 10:10

"Ignatian"

Ignatius of Loyola (1491 - 1556) was a Basque nobleman who found himself called to the service of Christ and his Kingdom. He was led by God's way with him by being given the grace to observe the different moods and thoughts which came to him and to explore their effect upon him. What he learnt has come down to us in his writings and we may discover the helpfulness of this approach.

Daily Meeting with a Retreat "Companion"

Each day a meeting of up to about half-an-hour is offered with one of the team of retreat companions. The companion is there as neither a therapist, counselor, judge or guru. So also, the retreatant need not bring the whole of their life's story and there is no requirement to "bare one's soul".
Rather, the meeting is an opportunity for the retreatant to speak of how the day has been, with its various thoughts and feelings. The companion seeks to help the retreatant observe what seems helpful and what seems less helpful in their journey with God, so as to continue to explore in the day ahead. Many people find Scripture an obvious help for this; others use other means, according to what seems helpful at the time.

Silence

The one agreed convention is that the eight days are spent in silence from the first evening until the final morning. An optional orientation meeting, on the first morning, and an optional closing meeting, on the final evening, are offered for those who wish.
During the eight days, all meals are taken in silence, with music being played at dinner and supper.

Program

Daily meeting with a retreat "companion"

"Freedom!"

The most obvious feature of this retreat is the sense of freedom. The formal program, as you see above, consists almost entirely of meals. And this is a good image, for people are invited here to be fed by God. Even the eucharist is offered daily.

Different people are nourished by God in different ways, and so they pray in different ways. What matters is the unique relationship that each has with God. The retreat seeks to allow each person to grow in awareness of this unique relationship, and in appreciation of its opportunities and invitations. The program of the retreat is merely a framework within which to explore this freedom. Therefore, everything on the program is optional, at the service of this exploration, so that each may discover and make use of what helps.

Retreat Companions

The team of retreat companions will include some of:

Lister Tonge, an Anglican priest
Yvonne Walker, a Methodist lay woman
Patrick Purnell, a Jesuit priest
and other experienced people both from Norway and from England

Practical Information

There will be plenty of time to take walks in the beautiful area surrounding Lia Gård, so bring suitable clothing and good walking shoes. If you do art or craft work of any kind and can bring it with you that is often very helpful. Also remember to bring a Bible and something to write on.

The retreat begins the first day at 19:00 with supper and later information, and ends the last day after breakfast, at about 11:30

Ignatian Retreats 2010

• 16 - 25 April 2010
• 8 - 17 October 2010

Prices 2010

Course fee: NOK 1800,-

Full pension Nylia (en suite): NOK 4800,-
Full pension other houses: NOK 4400,-

Ignatian Retreats 2011

• 11 - 20 March 2011
• 16 - 25 September 2011

Contact

If you are interested in one of our retreats, please do contact us and we will try and help you.

Click here for contact information
 

Updated 04.09.10