Private Retreats
The Hermitage offers a variety of retreat experiences, including those tailored to individual circumstances. Spiritual direction is available during these retreats for those wishing to consider this.
Prices may vary according to retreat requirements. Individual Hermitage Cottages are available for retreatants and a variety of catering packages are available for these retreats.
Spiritual Accompaniment
"Life is a long journey, but a journey that cannot be travelled alone. Rather, it must be travelled with our brothers and sisters in the presence of God. We are sisters and brothers. We journey as sisters and brothers." (Pope Francis, Korea, August 2014)
The Hermitage offers retreats for those seeking some time in prayer and Spiritual Accompaniment is available for retreatants who would like it. The sharing of our journey with others enhances the faith life of any believer. One way of doing this is through spiritual accompaniment. Spiritual accompaniment is provided at The Hermitage by qualified spiritual companions. This was traditionally described as spiritual direction.
What is Spiritual Accompaniment?
Spiritual accompaniment is when a person walks the faith journey with another person in a safe and confidential setting. The spiritual companion respectfully holds a space for the other to explore their relationship with God.
God tries to reach us in the everyday events of our lives. We often miss the cue and we fail to locate God in the ordinary raw experiences of our lives. Sharing these experiences with a spiritual companion can enable a person to uncover God in their everyday experience. The person can talk honestly and openly about their experience, sharing their hopes, fears, joys, disappointments, and other human realities.
It is Jesus who helps us see the presence of God in the experiences of our lives and it his Spirit that leads and animates any spiritual accompaniment conversation. The companion listens with an open heart, in a non-judgemental manner to help the person to stay present to the movements of the Spirit. Furthermore, spiritual accompaniment supports the person to live out the consequences of this relationship with God.
Spiritual accompaniment is not….
While all aspects of life can be brought to the conversation, it differs from counselling in that the focus is on the presence of God and the person’s relationship with God. It is not about therapeutic practices or problem solving.
It is not a friendship in the ordinary sense of that word even though intimate sharing may take place in this context.
Note: All Spiritual Direction at the Hermitage is undertaken by appropriately qualified Spiritual Directors who are members of a recognised professionally credited Spiritual Direction Association (such as; ANSD, AECSD, CSD or SDI), participate in their own Spiritual Direction and receive regular professional supervision.