After work was completed a year ago at our FCJ Spirituality House – Teach Spioradálta in the beautiful Spanish Point, County Clare in Ireland, participants have been welcomed for residential retreats again. The full list of retreats and workshops is on their website. Here is the latest newsletter.
Across the Waves
A chara,
Welcome to the February newsletter where we share how things are going here in Spanish Point and inform you about all the opportunities available in the months ahead!
We had a busy January here, with three groups staying here. A lovely group led by Irene and Michele gathered early in the month. This was quickly followed by our first Ignatian directed retreat of the year, which had the distinction of surviving not one but two storms and a power cut!! Participants were wonderful, with one commenting that the loss of electricity for one night offered another level of ‘letting go and letting God’! Finally this January we had a wonderful long weekend retreat with Jane and the Ashram Experience.
Many of the photos below are of our times of prayer across the month, often in darkness and candlelight. These were treasured experiences at the heart of our retreats, for which we are grateful.
We move into February and welcome the light back. Slowly but surely we notice the flowers budding, the heat returning to the land and we gather to celebrate or be inspired together. You’d be very welcome this weekend to celebrate Brigid in story and song, or for our wonderful Centering Prayer weekend with Fionnuala Quinn at the end of the month. This will be a great chance to deepen the practise of Christian meditation during Lent.
We are delighted that Martina Lehane Sheehan will join us this Lent for an 8 week course online, and for an in-person retreat for a Palm Sunday weekend. From the comfort of your home, you can reflect on how you can create or deepen your own spiritual practises for a happier and healthier life (more details HERE), and in person you can join us for this very special small group weekend retreat HERE
Please do let us know if you are interested in an event, by booking online or emailing/texting us on 087 447 9115.
God bless
Nóirin Lynch
Director
Featured Upcoming Retreats in Spanish Point
At the end of this month Fionnuala Quinn will return to deepen her reflections on Centering Prayer. This weekend is for those already practising this prayer form (no expertise expected, just a desire to go deeper!) In the Autumn Fionnuala will offer a weekend for beginners. More details here.
Our Ignatian retreats are proving very popular and booking out fast. In March we have a special five day guided retreat which is ideal for those who have never been to an Ignatian retreat before, or those who would like some input. Fr Joe Hayes SJ will offer a short morning reflection each day and then will be available in the afternoon for those who would like spiritual direction. This is a great way to experience this form of spiritual reflection as we move through Lent 2024. More details HERE.
The FCJ Spirituality House, Teach Spiorodálta, is a home and spiritual haven of the FCJ Sisters, who have come to Spanish Point for generations for spiritual nourishment and refreshment. Now we would like to share our home with the wider community through spiritual moments, enjoyment of the natural beauty of creation, and the lifting of spirits with music, art and poetry.
Please see the events page for current listings. You can contact the House at info @ fcjspiritualityhouse.ie or by phone at +353 87 447 9115 with any questions.
