Events and Retreats at Ampleforth Abbey
We are delighted to be able to welcome you back to retreats at Ampleforth Abbey. Whether it's your first time visiting or you've been coming for many years, we are looking forward to seeing you and hope you feel at home among our community.
To book or to find out more please email pastoral@ampleforth.org.uk or call 01439 766486.
Residential and Day Retreats
An Introduction to Benedictine Spirituality
Friday 8th - Sunday 10th October
Fr Wulstan Peterburs OSB
En-suite: £145.00 / Standard: £135.00
Join Fr Wulstan and explore St Benedict’s way of being a Christian, considering the major elements of his spiritual teaching and how these can help all Christians, whether lay or monastic, on their way to God.
Inner Freedom
Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th October
Fr Kevin Hayden OSB
En-suite: £145.00 / Standard: £135.00
Saint Paul warns us that we hold ourselves back from the freedom and openness that is truly ours. “It is,” he says, “in your own hearts that you are restricted.” (2 Cor 6:12). The New Testament speaks constantly of freedom: “The truth will make you free.” (John 8:32); “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Cor 3:17); “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Gal 5:1); “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” (John 8:36).
This retreat will explore this freedom and how we discover it, how we nurture it, and how we allow it to grow within us.
Seasons of the Spirit
Friday 29th - Sunday 31th October
Fr Chad Boulton OSB
En-suite: £145.00 / Standard: £135.00
October is a dramatic reminder of the changing seasons. The year's cycle of summer, autumn, winter, spring offer a model for understanding the different seasons in our spiritual life, the times of flourishing and of disappointment, of death and of re-birth, understanding the imagery of nature through the lens of scripture.
Becoming Older Gracefully
Friday 5th - Sunday 7th November
Fr Christopher Gorst OSB
En-suite: £145.00 / Standard: £135.00
Eric Erikson’s psychosocial theory proposed eight stages of human development, the final stage being between the mid-sixties and death. It is a stage which our own Society does not necessarily respect, and we have seen the rise of Ageism. How do we avoid succumbing to Ageism ourselves? And how do we provide a model of grace-filled maturity and even of wisdom, in this last stage before we die.
Advent Retreat: “The season of glad songs has come” (Song of Songs 2:12)
Friday 3th - Sunday 5th December
Fr Kevin Hayden OSB
En-suite: £145.00 / Standard: £135.00
During this retreat we will explore what riches the Word opens for us in the beautiful readings we encounter throughout this Advent season. We will allow that Word to reveal to us what God wants to bring about in our lives. We will invite that Word to touch and enrich our lives, our prayer, and, of course, our celebration of this special season.
Advent Quiet Day: Reflections on the Immaculate Conception and other Marian devotions
Wednesday 8th December
Fr Henry Wansbrough OSB
Cost: A suggested donation based on £31.00 per person will fully defray costs, but this is a suggestion only and is left entirely at the donor’s discretion.
Join us for our Advent Quiet Day, which will include spiritual input from Fr Henry, as well as time for reflection and sharing. The day will begin at 10am, and you’re welcome to extend your retreat by joining the community for Mass at 9am, or by booking to stay with us the night before or after the day.
Day Retreats for Friends of Ampleforth Hospitality
An opportunity to share the journey...
A number of different people have shared time together on retreat at Ampleforth and discovered friends along the way. There is the beginning of a sort of community of retreat goers. Many people would like to be able to return more regularly and spend time with familiar faces – to strengthen that sense of community, of a journey shared.
To that end we are beginning this year a series of monthly “days” with a very simple structure: coffee – a talk – some space for reflection, conversation or relaxation – a meal together – and some time for sharing and prayer together at the end.
Whether you are a “seasoned” retreat goer, or someone who simply finds the possibility attractive, do please get in touch with us to find out more or to book!
Dates for the diary:
Tuesday 12th October
Tuesday 9th November
Tuesday 14th December
Outline of the day:
10.00am: Arrivals
10.30am: Session
1.00pm: Little Hour
1.15pm: Lunch
4:00pm: Feedback Session
4.45pm: Tea & cake
Cost: A suggested donation based on £31.00 per person will fully defray costs, but this is a suggestion only and is left entirely at the donor’s discretion.
For any questions you may have or to make a booking, please contact our Pastoral team by emailing pastoral@ampleforth.org.uk or calling 01439 766486.
We are looking forward to welcoming you.