The Ignatian retreat is based on the Spiritual Exercises written by St Ignatius more than 450 years ago.

It is relevant then and today as a practical instrument that invites people to pray at depth using their imagination, intellect, will and the five senses, when contemplating and meditating on God's plan of salvation in the life of Jesus.

The Exercises provide a means to help people come to inner freedom in making choices and decisions that reflect the heart and mind of God.

The principle foundation of the Exercises is the greater praise and glory of God through mission and service for justice and peace.

Maranatha offers several kinds of retreat experiences.

Thematic weekend live-in retreats which include inputs by the retreat director and periods for personal prayer. The way of praying as taught by St Ignatius, "is to open the eye of the heart by which we see God" (Laurence Freeman The Tablet Sept 06). The silence and solitude are essential aspects of the weekend retreat and serve as introduction to a longer prayer and directed retreat experience.

Longer retreats from three to eight days have little or no inputs unless it includes a workshop. The one making the retreat has the time and space in the silence and solitude for deeper communion with God. These retreats offer the opportunity to be individually guided by the retreat director. Retreat directors are Jesuits, religious and lay persons experienced and trained in the giving of Ignatian retreats and the Spiritual Exercises. They accompany and guide the one making the retreat to a deeper experience of God active in their lives.

A Retreat in Daily Life (usually over a period of 5 or 6 days) is a way to give yourself some space in your busy life. It is an opportunity to experience deeper companionship with God, personal guidance in your spirituality and the transforming power of the Gospel. A prayer companion will be assigned to you and a daily meeting with your companion (at a mutually agreed venue) focuses on what is happening in your daily prayer. The role of the prayer companion is to listen to you and help you decide how you might spend your prayer time the next day. The Retreat offers opportunities for the ongoing integration of the Gospel with daily life. It provides a wonderful, effective way of discovering God in all things. The process is prayer - reflection - sharing.

For further details call Grace: 019-3120676 or Bernie: 012-2637912