Tuesday saw our annual retreat for Rudiments take place at Whalley Abbey. This was our first in-person retreat for Rudiments since the summer term, 2019. The Abbey ruins are the site of a former Cistercian monastery. After it was largely demolished following the dissolution of the monasteries, a country house was built.
Our retreat theme was taken from Ignatian spirituality: Contemplatives in Action, a phrase coined by one of St Ignatius’ friends, Jerome Nadal. He described Ignatius as a contemplative in action when he said, “in all things, actions and conversations, he felt and contemplated the presence of God and the attraction of spiritual themes.”
The children explored this theme through a series of prayers stations devised by Mary Farmer who has led many retreats for
SMH pupils. Our visiting guest speakers were Anna Horton from the charity Mary’s Meals, Sr. Faustina, Sr. John Paul and Sr.
Emmanuel, Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, based in Leeds and Fr Mark Paver, a Salford Diocese Youth Chaplain from Our Lady of Hope parish, who was available for the sacrament of reconciliation and celebrated Mass at the conclusion of our retreat.
