Quest

Simply Divine - A retreat for gay & bisexual men with Urs Mattmann & Ray Andrews

14 – 17 June 2012

This special week of recreation and retreat in wonderful Dorset offers the opportunity to discover where we are as gay and bisexual men on our journey as spiritual beings in this world. We will connect with and re-discover our potential as people who are loved and capable of loving others with a special contribution to make to society. We will also focus on the integration of your sexual identity and your spiritual self. During the retreat we explore together this essential question: What does it mean for gay and bisexual men to live a sacred life?

Group discussions, lectures, guided visualisations, meditations, liturgies and worship services will help our understanding of ourselves, the others, the world and God. Ray and Urs will be working from a gay affirming and open Christian perspective that acknowledges the existence of the divine in each of us, no matter our spiritual beliefs

The retreat will be at the The Othona Community, Coast Road, Burton Bradstock, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4RN UK Tel. 01308 897130
Email: mail@othona-bb.org.uk
www.othona-bb-org.uk
Cost for retreat and full board: £ 260 (Conc. £ 215)

RETREAT LEADERS

Urs Mattmann, qualified Social worker and a Psychosynthesis therapist with further training in theology and a background in meditation. Living with his partner in London, both are members of a Christian community. Since 1997 leading retreats for gay men and lesbians. Wild Goose Publications has published his book Coming In – Gays and Lesbians reclaiming the spiritual journey. (www.ionaboks.com – www.urs.mattmann.com )

Rev. Ray Andrews, for years member of a monastic Benedictine community , now Anglican priest in a Central London Parish. He also is a qualified Social worker with much experience in Mental Health and Addiction. He has a ministry in Spiritual Direction and conducts retreats. Appeared in BBC documentary “Father Ray Comes Out”.

PDF flyer

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…