Emmaus Retreat

Emmaus Retreat

When?

5th - 8th April 2024 | Closing date for registrations: 28th March
9th - 12th May 2024 | Closing date for registrations: 25th April
17th -20th October 2024 | Closing date for registrations: 3rd October
14th - 17th November 2024 | Closing date for registrations: 31st October

Why choose the Emmaus Retreat?

“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road…”
(Luke 24:32)

The spiritual life is very often a journey where we need to pay attention to the promptings of the Spirit and those ‘burning heart’ moments. Spiritual direction will hopefully provide a context where you can reflect on your story and discover how you can respond to God’s invitation through prayer and action.

Who is the retreat for?

The Emmaus Retreat is an individually guided retreat for Christians looking to get away for a few days to seek God. 

What is the programme?

Spiritual direction/spiritual accompaniment is a ministry that focuses primarily on your relationship with God and helps you discern God’s presence and action in your faith journey. Distinct from counselling, coaching or mentoring, spiritual direction offers a welcoming and confidential space for participants to speak with someone who is trained to listen and offer encouragement to those wishing to deepen their faith and to integrate their spirituality with everyday life.

A spiritual director will arrange to meet with you for two sessions – one near the beginning of your retreat and the other towards the end of your retreat. According to your individual needs, your spiritual director may suggest certain spiritual practices that may help guide your personal retreat time. Aside from these two individual sessions, there is no set programme, so you can take your own time with the Lord.  There will be some prayer resources available. You can use the prayer room and take walks in the beautiful woodland.

Please plan to arrive around 2pm on Day 1 and leave around 2pm on Day 4 after lunch.

Accommodation

We have an accommodation wing set aside of 5 single rooms and 1 twin-bed room for participants on the Emmaus Retreat. Although our rooms are not en-suite, all rooms have wash basins. Baths and showers are located near each room. Towels and bed linen are provided. All meals are served in the college's cafeteria. Special diets can be catered for but please give notice when booking.

Costs Involved

£135 covers your food and lodging for 3 full days, starting with dinner on Day 1 and ending with lunch on Day 4. This is to be paid upfront following the submission of your registration form. Your place on the retreat is secured upon payment, and this payment is non-refundable. Should you be unable to attend the retreat you sign up for, we can offer you a deferment to a later date.

There is a separate cost involved for spiritual direction, and this is to be made as a donation to your assigned spiritual director directly. We do not want costs to hinder anyone from signing up, so our spiritual directors are offering their time and ministry on a voluntary basis. Some participants would welcome a suggestion as to what might be an appropriate donation, so we suggest around £70 for the spiritual director. This can be given in cash or through bank transfer, and more details will be given closer to your retreat date, so do not make this payment to the college. We encourage you to pray and be led by the Lord about how much you can give, and to give generously without risking hardship.

Please note that spiritual direction is not optional for this retreat; it is the “course content” provided in the Emmaus Retreat programme. Your assigned spiritual director will be your retreat guide for this individually-guided retreat.

How to Apply

Please use our online registration form to apply.  After submitting your form, please use the link in the "Thank You" email or click here to pay the relevant amount of £135 (full board).

Please note that this payment is non-refundable, except in exceptional circumstances and according to the College’s discretion. Your booking is not confirmed until payment has been made.

Coming from Overseas?

If you are coming for the retreat from outside the UK, please ensure that you meet the necessary immigration requirements to be in the country.  The College cannot support any visa applications for anyone to enter the UK to attend this 4-day retreat.

For further enquiries, please email  prayer4thenations@allnations.ac.uk