Ards Friary
Retreat and Conference Centre
Fáilte, Welcome, Benvenuti, Willkommen, Bienvenue
Retreats At Ards Friary
Ards Friary is open throughout the year for individuals and groups, whether lay, religious, clerical, ecumenical or anyone who wishes to have some quiet time, rest and prayer in beautiful relaxed surroundings. We offer directed or lightly structured retreats or simply some well deserved relaxed holiday time, in peaceful surroundings.
The following Retreats are available for 2012
January
February
Fri 3rd - Sun 5th February
Stepping into the promise of a new Spring (open to everyone)
Directed by Margaret Gallagher
This weekend would give participants the opportunity for peace, reflection and appreciation of the gifts of life through music, readings, medative movement and spiritual awareness.
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: After Lunch
Cost: €125
Contact: Margaret Gallagher 074 938 4015 or email margaretdancing@yahoo.ie
Sat 25th - Sun 26th February
Lenten Retreat
Directed by Fr.Silvester O'Flynn & Fr Kieran Shorten OFM Capuchin.
Theme: Journey with the lord through Lent.
Commences:9.30am
Concludes:After Lunch
Cost:€85 Residential/ €60 Non Residential
Contact:Ards Friary 074 9138909 info@ardsfriary
March
Sat 31st March
Catholic Nurses Guild
Directed by Fr.Silvester O'Flynn & Fr Kieran Shorten OFM Cap.
This one day retreat dedicated to caring professions, is open for everyone to attend. It will help you prepare for Easter in an atmosphere of peace, tranquillity and prayer.
Commences: 10 am
Concludes: 7pm
Cost: €45
Contact: Kathleen Mc Keague 074 9121551
April
Sun 1st April
Knights of St Columbanus
Directed by Fr.Silvester O'Flynn & Fr Kieran Shorten OFM Capuchin.
This annual day of reflection, encourages all knights to come together in a spirit of harmony and companionship.
Commences: 10am
Concludes: 7pm
Cost: €45
Contact: Ards Friary 074 9138909 info@ardsfriary.ie
Thurs 5th- Sun 8th April
Easter Triduum
Join the Capuchin Friars in the celebration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Liturgy will centre upon the love Christ has for each of us, as we move from "night to day"
Commences:Supper 6pm
Concludes: After Lunch
Cost: €165
Contact: Ards Friary 074 9138909 info@ardsfriary.ie
Fri 27th- Sun 29th April
Legion of Mary, Strabane Curia
Directed by Fr.Silvester O’Flynn and Fr.Kieran Shorten OFM Cap
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: After Lunch
Cost: €120/£95
Contact: Kathleen McSwiggen- 0044 28 81648436
May
Fri 4th - Thur 10th May
Open Retreat (Open to Everyone)
Directed by: Fr.Silvester O’Flynn OFM Capuchin
Theme: A Journey with Jesus
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: After Breakfast
Cost: €390
Contact: Ards Friary 074 9138909 info@ardsfriary.ie
Sat 12th - Sun 13th May
Cursillo Renewal Weekend (All Cursillo Members)
Directed by Fr.Silvester O’Flynn OFM Capuchin
Theme: “Christ is counting on you”
Commences: 9.30am
Concludes: After Lunch
Cost: €70
Contact: Mary & Tony Murray - 074 912 4111 / 087 957 5463
Joe Dalton has had to change his date to Aug 24-26.
June
Sun 3rd - Thur 7th June
Interdiocesan Priests Retreat
Directed by Fr. Silvester O'Flynn OFM Capuchin
Theme: Communion with Christ and Communion with one another
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: After Breakfast
Cost: €270
Contact: Ards Friary 074 9138909 info@ardsfriary.ie
Fri 15th- Thurs 21th June
Open Retreat (Open to Everyone)
Directed by Fr.Flann Lynch OFM Capuchin
Theme: Christian vision, hope and possibility
This retreat will identify the thinking and attitude that undermines the vision and will discover the attitudes and tools that make the vision a reality in everyday living.
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: After Breakfast
Cost: €390
Contact: Ards Friary 074 9138909 info@ardsfriary.ie
July
Fri 13th - Sat 14th July
One Day Silent and Guided Retreat for Women
Guided by Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of St Joseph, Flavigny, France.
This retreat reflects Ignatian spirituality by centering on Jesus with conferences, spiritual guidance and confessions.
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: 6pm (with Supper)
Cost: €60
Contact: Monks of St Joseph Abbey - Fax 00 333 80 96 25 29 or email
Sun 15th - Fri 20th July
Five Day Silent and Guided Retreat for Men
Guided by the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Saint Joseph.
These five-day retreats are a shortened form of the full Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. The Exercises are a synthetic and practical presentation of the central truths of the Catholic faith—God, the meaning of life, the eternal destiny of mankind, the life of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race—in the form of meditations, examination of conscience and prayers, to find peace of heart, rid oneself of worldly attachments and discover the will of God for the salvation of the soul. On the purely practical level, the day consists of 4 or 5 talks given by one or other of the two priests who are guiding the retreat. After each talk there is time for private prayer, and then free time to converse with the priests. There is of course daily Mass and Rosary, as well as opportunity for Confession.
Daily Mass is generally offered according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Priest, retreatants, celebrate Mass privately according to the form of their choice.
Commences: 5:30pm
Concludes: 5:30pm
Cost: €285
Contact: Monks of St Joseph Abbey - Fax 00 333 80 96 25 29 or email
Fri 20th - Sun 22th July
John Pridmore - Criminal to Christ
Theme: Healing and Renewal
John is the leader of St Patrick’s Community and is an international speaker and best selling author of “From Gangland to Promised Land.” His dramatic conversion included leaving a life of organised crime to working with Mother Teresa and speaking to more than 1.5 million people around the world. With his community he now leads Parish missions around Ireland and the UK and various conferences worldwide. This retreat is about growing in the freedom and joy of being ourselves in God. It is an opportunity to experience healing from the wounds of our past. You can read more about John and his community on www.johnpridmore.com and www.stpatrickscommunity.org
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: After Lunch
Cost: €160
Contact: Ards Friary 074 9138909 info@ardsfriary.ie
Catherine Leigh - 071 962 0175 or John Pridmore - 087 362 3996
Email: stpatrickscommunity@yahoo.ie
Tue 24th - Sat 28th July
Transformation Retreat (Open to Everyone)
Directed by Fr.Donal Dorr and Dr.Noel Bradley (doctor of theology).
Fr Dorr is well known as a writer (Spirituality and Justice, Integral Spirituality, The Social Justice Agenda, Divine Energy, Mission in Today’s World, Time for a Change, Spirituality of Leadership), lecturer, counsellor and facilitator.
This retreat offers participants a unique opportunity to share in a personal and group experience, which leads to a deeper understanding of spiritual growth and may bring about a transformation of their lives. Mirroring the inner journey of life, the process invites people to explore aspects of their own spirituality in a group and in a small team, guided by two facilitators. In this way they experience gifts of grace and find themselves empowered by spiritual energy.
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: 4:30pm
Cost: €390
Contact: Noel Bradley - 074 9362390 / 087 6965554 or email mandybradley@eircom.net
August
Sun 29th July - Sat 4th August
Scripture Retreat & Seminar
Song of Songs part 3 (Open to Everyone)
Directed by Frances Hogan
Frances is a Catholic educator and lay missionary, who committed her life to proclaiming the Word of God. This retreat will reveal the imagery and beauty in the Song of Songs and is a continuation of a previous retreat. Frances will try to apply its lessons to our everyday experiences and open up to us the majesty and fullness of the scriptures. Please bring a bible, notebook and pen. Early booking is essential.
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: After Breakfast
Cost: €380 plus individual contribution to the director
Contact: Ards Friary 074 9138909 info@ardsfriary.ie
Sun 5th - Sun 12th August
Association of Iconographers Learning to Write an Icon
Skilled tutors will be on hand to demonstrate and teach the skills necessary for this sacred work. Those participating in the course will begin the process of writing an icon. The course is open to members of the Association of Iconographers. To become a member please forward a membership fee of €25 to Mary Connaughton (details below). Early booking essential as numbers are limited.
Commences: 4pm
Concludes: After Lunch
Cost: Residential €575 (This includes full board, meals, studio facilities and tuition fees).
Non Residential €440 (This includes meals,studio facilities and tuition fee).
Contact: Mary Connaughton 1 Rossfied Grove,Brookfied, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Tel 01 451 0444 or email maireconn@yahoo.ie
Mon 13th - Sun 19th August
The Foyer of Charity
Five Day Silent Retreat (Open to Everyone)
Theme: “If you but knew the gift of God.”
Directed by Fr.Kilian Byrne
This retreat welcomes all who find a need for peace and truth and seek these in the living God and in His love. The focus is upon the early Christian experience of hearing the Gospel in Galilee and then to retreat away for a time, to focus on Jesus, His word and then to return to the concerns of life enlightened and enriched by Him. The aim of the retreat is to reply to the great questions of life; the meaning of human love, of work, suffering and death. These are reflected upon in light of Scripture and Vatican II. Silence is respected as it is important for increasing freedom of mind and joy in the Spirit of God.
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: After Breakfast
Cost: €380
Contact: Helen Williams - 051 383 383 or email hellywilliams@gmail.com
Fri 24th- Sun 26th Aug (NEW DATE)
Joe Dalton Healing and Renewal Weekend
Joe suffered depression for 31 years and tried everything medically to be cured. He was though miraculously healed by God. Joe will share his gift of healing, with others, on their journey to knowing God better.
Commences:6pm
Concludes: After Sunday Mass at 3pm
Cost: €110 Residential/ €60 Non Residential Registration fee: €20
Contact:Mary Leonard 087 7847304/or Nuala Porter 086 8383725
Mon 27 - Thurs 30 August
Course for Priests in the Traditional Latin Mass
Directed by Fr Simon Ledworthy (Fraternity of St Peter)
This Seminar is for priests who would like to celebrate the Extraordinary form of the Latin rite Mass or who would like to do a revision course in the basics of liturgical latin and formation in the rubrics.
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: After Lunch
Cost: €175
Contact: Proinsias Ó Muireagáin - 074 9737307 or email
September
Sat 1st - Sun 2nd September
Life in the Eucharist (LITE)
Directed by Fr Jim Campbell with the Blessed Congregation outreach team.
Life in the Eucharist (LITE) is a weekend retreat for adults to help them deepen their understanding of the Eucharist and recognise the implications of their relationship with Christ for their daily living. The programme helps to focus on God's love in the Eucharist as: Nourishment, Reconciliation, Transformation, Abiding Presence, Liberation. The interactive nature of the retreat is very powerful and enlightening and will help unravel the mystery of the Eucharist. It will also deepen your love and appreciation of the Holy Mass, Adoration of the Sacrament and help us to be in communion with Christ and each other.
Commences: Saturday 9.30am
Concludes: Sunday 4.30pm
Cost: There is no charge by the retreat team but voluntary donations are welcome. However in order to meet the costs incurred to host the event at the Friary the following charges will apply:
€85 Residential: €55 Non Residential: €40 Sat only
Contact: Ards Friary 074 9138909 info@ardsfriary.ie
October
Thur 4th - Sun 7th October (Men)
Thur 11th - Sun 14th October (Women)
Cursillo (Open to Everyone)
Cursillo is a short course to develop one’s relationship with Christ through an adult understanding of the Christian Faith. The spiritual programme of Cursillo is based on the grace of the Sacraments in preparing people to take their place in the Church’s apostolate.
Commences: 6pm
Concludes: After Lunch
Cost: €155
Contact: Mary & Tony Murray - 074 9124111 / 087 9575463
November
Sun 4th November
Legion of Mary, Raphoe Comitium
Commences: 9.30am
Concludes: After Supper
Cost: €45
Contact: Charlie Gallagher 074 9135355 cjgallagherins@eircom.net
December
Sat 1st - Sun 2nd December
Advent Retreat (Open to Everyone)
Theme: “O come, o come Emmanuel.”
Directed by Fr.Paul Chamberlain (Birmingham Diocese)
Commences: 9:30am
Concludes: After Lunch
Cost: €85 Residential / €60 Non Residential
Contact: Ards Friary 074 9138909 info@ardsfriary.ie
Sat 8th - Sun 9th December
Advent Retreat (Open to Everyone)
Theme: “Jesus our Saviour is born”
Directed by Fr.Flann Lynch OFM Capuchin
Commences: 9:30am
Concludes: After Lunch
Cost: €85 Residential / €60 Non Residential
