The End of the Year
posted on December 18th, 2009
2009 has been an interesting and sometimes surprising year in Loyola Hall. The retreats were well attended, with the summer guided retreats filling to capacity. As in previous years, many of our themed retreats attracted people who have not visited before and offered them the chance to stop, ponder and pray — some about healing or loss, some with St Paul and Henri Nouwen, others on 12 step weekends or watching with Margaret Silf. But, as always, it was the many individually-guided retreats that drew most people: whether for 2 days or 30, each one took time to allow themselves to encounter the living God, always present, always beckoning.
Our training courses also went well, and encouraged us to add 3 new courses next year — for both beginners and for more experienced spiritual directors. As we look forward to the training programme in 2010 we continue to look for ways to help people engage with the privileged ministry of spiritual accompaniment.