What Is A Retreat?
A retreat is a response to God’s invitation to come aside and rest with him. God is the host, the one who plans what will happen. There will always be an element of the unexpected on retreat - but it will be in the context of an encounter with a loving and gracious God.
It Is Not:
- A time of in-depth Bible study.
- A time of extended intercessory prayer.
- An endurance test - you can opt out at any time (but talk it over first).
- A time of over-zealous introspection.
A retreat may well have some element of all these, but it is your retreat, with your concerns, and is best helped by coming with a willingness to be totally open and honest before God.
Don’t Expect Too Much Of Yourself:
- Give yourself an easy timetable initially.
- Include, possibly, a couple of (shortish) prayer periods.
- Build in times of rest - early nights, siestas. Feeling sleepy is normal!
- Get plenty of gentle exercise – iDwala has wonderful walks to suit all levels of fitness.
- Deliberately slow down, spend more time on everything you do. Consciously relax, breathe more deeply, walk more slowly.
- Take time to observe the birds; the insects and other forms of wildlife. Take time to listen to the sounds of everything – from the melodious birdsongs to the sound of water running over the rocks to the wind rustling through the trees and grass. Take time to smell the flowers and the fresh mountain air. Feel the textures of rocks and plants. In this all, experience the presence of God.
It takes time to enter into a retreat whether it is for one day, a weekend or longer. Life is often busy and stressful leaving you feeling God is distant and your prayer life routine or hard work. It takes time to begin to allow yourself to feel at home in new surroundings. Time to adjust to the change of pace. Time to let your deeper hopes and desires come to the surface. Time to meet God in this place.
The good news is that there is all the time in the world available. Even on the shortest of retreats, there is time enough to relax and let God do everything that God wants to do.
It Is Highly Recommended That When Making A Retreat, You Rest From:
- all electronic media - mobile phones, computers and other electronic equipment – iDwala has patchy phone reception and internet access.
- catching up with your reading material - work-related or otherwise.
Types Of Retreat
A Guided Retreat
Includes optional presentations on a given topic, prayer time, possibly with rituals, and Eucharistic liturgy. Each participant will have the option of sessions of individual spiritual direction. The environment is one of solitude and reflection.
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46: 10)
Preached Retreats
Usually have a theme. Each day there will be a talk in the morning with suggestions for prayer during the day and, in the afternoon, another presentation of some sort, either another talk or some alternative form of meditative material. The retreat will be held in an atmosphere of silence. The time will also include opportunities for Eucharist, quiet reflection, there will be an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as well as a chance to meet with the retreat giver for individual conversation.
A Directed Retreat
A Directed Retreat is a time specifically designed to help an individual experience the presence of God in their life and to listen to the call of God to them at this time. A retreatant is assigned a director who is trained in the art of spiritual direction. The retreatant has the opportunity to meet with his or her director each day. The director listens and helps discern the presence of God in all that is happening in the individual’s prayer and reflections.
The days provide an environment of solitude. A relaxed silence is kept at iDwala and those on retreat have the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist, spend time in meditation and journaling or a form of artistic expression. The goal is to set aside the busyness and normal activities in order to deepen your awareness of God and your relationship with God.
God is really the director of the retreat. The experience is unique for each person. God desires to draw closer to us in a relationship of love.