CEL Retreat, Noddfa, N Wales 7-9 Nov 2014 : ‘Joy in Enough’
CEL Weekend Retreat, Noddfa, Penmaenmawr, North Wales LL34 6YF, 7-9 Nov, 2014.
Over thirty of us journeyed to the Noddfa Retreat House, North Wales, for the Joy in Enough Retreat led by Mary Grey. Our aim:
Exploring the spirituality which can help us conceive the destination and sustain the journey to a just and sustainable economy
In the splendid setting of beautiful countryside along with the hospitality of the sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary, we did indeed journey to the Holy mountain.
We began on Friday evening after supper considering what it is to be a journeying community and a community of resistance. Mary, our leader, used Francis of Assisi as a helpful starting point in his life of both simplicity and joy. She looked at how Jesus was a counter cultural resistor at the time of the Roman occupation, his ministry always itinerant, existing on the edge of society, proclaiming the good news, sharing in community.
On Saturday morning we continued our journey with Mary who introduced us to Prophetic Communities and Communities of Passion and Compassion.
The early afternoon provided time for individual action: reflection through silence, meditation, strolling the labyrinth in the garden, or simply walking in the beautiful mountains that hug the coastline of north Wales.
Mary then led a session where we moved from the practical towards the spiritual through Community as Mystic. Here is Mary’sslide show to scroll though.
In usual CEL tradition we entertained ourselves after supper with dance, music, singing and readings.
The climax of the retreat was the journey to the Holy mountain on Sunday morning.
Preparation began after breakfast when we met in the chapel to begin our journey with an act of penitence using the symbolic action of making a pile of divested symbols of consumerism.
Our worship continued in the beautiful November sun on a nearby mountain where we built a cairn of hope, to which we all added, whilst proclaiming our hopes for the future. Then finally we concluded with a movement of celebration back in the chapel where we shared a simple communion.
More images.
Next: CEL 2014 Annual Members’ Meeting and Changing Lives Workshop
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