Retreat-Holidays
Antigua: Programme
The Lord of sea and sky
Retreat leader:
Fr Paul O'Driscoll
a Dublin diocesan priest, ordained 21 years ago and currently working in a parish in Arklow, Co. Wicklow
The Retreat-Holidays group who went to Antigua in 2008 didn't want to come home at the end of their ten days, so in 2009 we are offering a
14-night stay, with a 15th night spent on the plane home.
The fortnight will include eight days of retreat-holiday with excursions and six days of free time. Accommodation will be provided on a half-board basis throughout the stay.
For the retreat part of
"The Lord of sea & sky", we shall be taking the sea as an image of God: vast, ever-moving and immensely powerful, but gentle in its embrace as it bears us up.
Staying at Mount Tabor naturally brings us to think about the Transfiguration: what it tells us about Jesus and what transformation it suggests for our own lives. During the eight days of the retreat, there will be 20-30 minutes of input from the leader each morning and half an hour in the evening for prayer and a chance to reflect on the day. The other six days will be free time.
Provisional Programme
Friday 23 January: Arrival mid-afternoon by scheduled flight from Gatwick or Manchester.
Minibus transfer to Mount Tabor Retreat Centre (about an hour), stopping on the way at a supermarket (a chance to stock up on food and drink as lunches are not included in the package).
Welcome and introductions.
Saturday 24 January:
Free day
Choice of possibilities for local walks, with one suggestion for fairly strong walkers and another for those preferring a gentle stroll.
Sunday 25 January - Day 1 of the retreat:
"Lord, it is good to be here."
Opportunity to attend Sunday morning worship in a local church; otherwise restful day in and around Mount Tabor.
Monday 26th - Day 2:
"The Lord of the sea"
Devil's Bridge (not the most appropriate name for a retreat excursion!) where the sea is wild, to reflect on the power of God, and Long Bay beach, where it is good for swimming.
Tuesday 27th - Day 3:
"Wash me, Lord!"
Half-Moon Bay to swim. The rocks there crumble into a fine sand which local people rub onto their skin as an exfolient and emollient. If you wish, you can use it as a symbolic sort of cleansing.
Visit to Harmony Hall for the view and the small art gallery.
Wednesday 28th - Day 4: “Hidden with Christ in God”
Quiet day
Thursday 29th - Day 5:
The Transfiguration -
the Lord of the Sky
Nelson's Dockyard National Park and Shirley Heights,
which include high places with wonderful views as well as the Dockyard itself.
Opportunity for shopping.
Friday 30th - Day 6:
"Here I am, Lord!"
Quiet day
Saturday 31st - Day 7:
"Put out into the deep!"
A four-hour excursion by boat (yes, there is a loo on board!) to uninhabited Green Island - opportunity to swim and snorkel.
Sunday 1 February - Day 8:
Letting the retreat come together
Opportunity to attend Sunday morning worship in a local church.
Lunch will be provided at Mount Tabor today instead of dinner. In the evening, there will be the opportunity to go to OJ's rather famous beach restaurant to watch the sunset and have dinner (meal not included).
Monday 2 February - Thursday 5 February:
Free time.
No excursions are included, but the retreat leader or the director of the house will help you to arrange whichever of the many possibilities appeal to you:
- taking a bus to the capital, St John's, to buy presents
- sharing a taxi to one of the many beaches
- going snorkelling or scuba diving
- going for a massage or other pampering at Coco Bay or elsewhere
- going on an eco-tour through the rainforest (if you're fit and adventurous, you could even do it harnessed to a zip-line through the canopy of trees!)
- taking a helicopter ride over Montserrat (expensive but exciting)
Friday 6 February:
Departure on evening flight
Saturday 7 February:
Arrival in UK.
The programme is subject to change.
Antigua dates prices and flights
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Antigua individually guided retreats (IGRs)
Antigua IGR dates, prices and flights