What is a Retreat?
Why make a Retreat ?
Where are Watermead Retreats held?
"TWILIGHT" Retreats at St Joseph's
The seasonal themes for our “Twilight” retreats are chosen to complement the Church calendar, with its various feasts and saints, and are open to anyone seeking to explore faith, spirituality and Scripture.
The timing of these evenings offer opportunity to people whose work and family commitments do not always allow them the chance of a making a whole day or weekend retreat. They are usually held monthly here at St Joseph's, Leicester, in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, on a Wednesday evening, from 7.00 pm until 9.00 pm, and are open to all who would like to come. There is no charge for the evenings but a donation is asked towards the parish's expense as hosts.
We generally begin the evenings after Easter and continue through until November and dates can be found on our Events page.
The "HERMITAGE" Retreat
These were began in 1994 by Eric and Marion St John Foti from their home at Hermitage Hall, just outside Downham Market in Norfolk. In 2006 they had to retire and Hermitage Hall was sold, but "Hermitage" retreats continued to be held three or four times a year at various venues in that area. In recent years they have been hosted by The Rosmini Centre, attached to Our Lady & St Charles Church in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
The Institute of Charity (Rosminians) looked after the parishes of Wisbech and March for many years and "Our Lady and St Charles" at Wisbech is a parish that Fr John served as priest for several years. The parish hall was later refurbished as The Rosmini Centre at the inspiration of another Rosminian priest, Fr John Doman, and now serves the local community of Wisbech in many ways.
We can plan for you
Over the years we have travelled to a number of venues in England and Wales, arranging days of prayer and reflection for parishes, various ministry groups, schools and communities, as well as other Christian church groups.
However, since being based at St Joseph's we have found people are happy to come to us. The facilities here are excellent and we can arrange an evening, a half day or a full day, whatever is requested of us. St Joseph's large round church was completed in 1968 and is now a Grade II listed building with Historic England. The parish has much to offer - a Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the Lourdes Garden, a very well equipped Pastoral Centre with two kitchens and a 5-star food hygiene rating, and of course our own Watermead Centre and Gift Shop is on site.
We can easily accommodate large and small groups retreats and anyone interested is invited to contact us.
