St Peter's Church

 

"Remain with me"

As we mark the 50th anniversary of this cherished Stonyhurst tradition, we warmly invite you to step into a profound journey of reflection, renewal, and shared faith. Set amidst the historic beauty and spiritual calm of Stonyhurst College, this year’s Holy Week Retreat offers a unique opportunity to pause, reconnect with what matters most, and enter more deeply into the mystery of the Easter story.

Join us as we walk together through the sacred days of Holy Week — a pilgrimage of the soul enriched by prayer, thoughtful teaching, stillness, and community. Whether you’ve joined us many times before or are experiencing the retreat for the first time, this milestone year promises to be especially meaningful.

The Main Programme

This year marks the 50th year anniversary of the Holy Week retreat at Stonyhurst. 

Running from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, the Retreat brings together around 200 participants for a profound and prayerful journey through the heart of the Church’s year. Over the course of the long weekend, retreatants are invited into a rich rhythm of talks, guided reflection, shared prayer, and full participation in the Sacred Triduum.

Led by the College Chaplaincy Team, together with a team of Jesuits from around the world, the Retreat offers a deep engagement with the Passion Narrative, encouraging participants to reflect prayerfully on Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, and to consider how this encounter shapes the way they live their lives today.

The Holy Week Retreat offers something truly special for everyone:
  • A deepening of faith and spiritual focus.
  • Time for prayer with items from Stonyhurst’s Historic Collections, including the rare opportunity to pray before a True Thorn.
  • The chance to enjoy the beauty of the College’s architecture and grounds.
  • And, importantly, time to be in community, to reconnect, reflect, and share the journey with like-minded people.

The Young Adult Programme

The young adult programme has been designed to run alongside the main programme. Focusing on reflection, offering space to pause and reconnect with faith in the midst of the many pressures and possibilities of life after school and university. 

Whilst this is first and foremost a religious retreat, it is also a chance to share the experience with others who know and love Stonyhurst as OS or complete newcomers. Everyone is welcome at Stonyhurst Holy Week Retreat. 

The Holy Week Retreat offers something truly special:

  • Time and space to deepen faith and spiritual focus
  • Prayer with treasures from Stonyhurst’s Historic Collections, including the rare opportunity to pray before a True Thorn
  • The chance to enjoy once again the beauty, peace, and atmosphere of the College and its grounds
  • And the gift of community, walking alongside others through Holy Week in a spirit of reverence, reflection, and hope
For ages 19-30 years

 

The Children and Young People's Programme

Following on from an exceptional retreat in 2024 and 2025, we are delighted to announce details of our children’s programme running alongside the Adult Retreat.

Our programme for young people will be led by experienced Catholic Youth Ministry teams, who bring a wealth of expertise in engaging children and young people in faith-filled, age-appropriate ways. Through relational ministry, prayer, discussion and shared activities, these groups aim to support young Catholics as they grow in confidence, deepen their faith and experience a sense of belonging within the Church.

The programme is designed to help children and young people encounter the Gospel in a meaningful and accessible way, with opportunities for prayer, reflection and joyful participation throughout the retreat.

For ages 5–18 years

Holy Week Retreat 2026 Timetables

Contact Us

Email Us: experience@stonyhurst.ac.uk

Call Us: 01254 827014

 Safeguarding at Stonyhurst College

As a school we operate using strict safeguarding protocol, where the safety and well-being of our staff and students is our top priority. We are committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment for all members of our school community. To ensure that we uphold the highest standards of safeguarding, we have developed comprehensive policies and procedures that outline our commitment to protecting both adults and young people from harm.

Please click on the links below to access our safeguarding documents:

  1. **Safeguarding Policy**: Our Safeguarding policy outlines the principles, responsibilities, and procedures that guide our efforts to safeguard children and promote their welfare. Holy Week Retreat Safeguarding Statement

Report a safeguarding concern here

  1. **Child Protection Procedures**: This document provides detailed information on how we respond to concerns about the welfare of a child, including the steps we take to ensure their safety. Holy Week Retreat Safeguarding Parental Responsibilities
  2. **Code of Conduct**: Our code of conduct sets clear expectations for staff, volunteers, and visitors regarding their behaviour and interactions with children and young people in our school.  Stonyhurst Holy Week Retreat - Code of Conduct for all Retreatants
  3. **Accommodation**: As the Holy Week Retreat welcomes people from all ages as residential guests, we ask that you make yourself aware of our Accommodation Policy

We believe that safeguarding is a collective responsibility, and we encourage all members of our  community to familiarise themselves with our policies and procedures. By working together, we can create a safe and supportive environment. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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