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Dates: 9th - 14th March 2025

Hybrid and in person

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What it is

The University Weeks of Guided Prayer, also known as Retreats in Daily Life, help communities and individuals grow closer to the God who loves them. Subsidised by the Jesuits, and with a team of volunteer trained guides led by Stephen Hoyland, they make a retreat affordable and possible in the midst of busy life. Staff, students and friends of chaplaincy are welcome. They work very well ecumenically.

How it works:

An opening meeting on the Sunday and a close on the Friday afternoon or evening top and tail the week, with workshops for the whole group and daily individual accompaniment of each retreatant, arranged at a time which is convenient for them. They will need to find half an hour to pray each day.

Feedback

‘How extraordinary it was to have a whole new world of prayer opened up to me, and to find that my imagination was a spiritual tool rather than a hazard. As a result of these new ways to pray… my view of, and relationship with, God has become so much more rich and real and complex. I think learning to practice Ignatian/contemplative prayer has been the most vitalising part of my spiritual journey in these last ten years.’

- A University Week of guided Prayer Participant

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‘These weeks made a profound impression on those involved and on the whole chaplaincy community. For some, it was the first time they had begun the journey of prayer in a personal way. For others, it was a time of conversion or renewal – deepening their faith or discovering their vocation. For all of them, it was a significant time of growing closer to the Lord and listening to his Word. There were so many blessings, and we were so grateful to the prayer guides and organisers for their dedication.

- Stephen Wang, former Chaplain to the University of London (Newman House)

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Watch a video about University Weeks of Guided Prayer:

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