Quest

From David Birchall SJ (St Beuno’s, St Asaph, Wales):

Since 1998 I have organised retreats for clergy every other year. After the first retreat I decided that somewhere pleasantly warm like Spain in May or June would help the spiritual atmosphere. After a dalliance with a retreat house in Mallorca run by nuns we have now taken residence in a sea-front house which the group has to itself.

The main object of these retreats is to provide a place where men can be themselves, as priests or religious and as normal human beings, whatever their sexual orientation. With a combination of prayer, serious sharing and light-hearted conversation a worthwhile and enjoyable space has been created.

These retreat have been led by theologians like James Alison and James Hanvey, psychologist Brendan Callaghan, and general retreat givers like myself.
This year we have an Irish Jesuit, Donal Godfrey who works as chaplain in the University of San Francisco and has recently published a book, “Gays and Grays” about the parish of Most Holy Redeemer, Castro, San Francisco where he has done much work. (And was heard once from there on Radio 4′s, Sunday Worship, last year).
The retreat is titled: “Mentoring: self and others” and is being held 13-20 June 2012.

Full details are on www.spanishretreats.org.uk. Read more…