WHY GO ON A RETREAT?
To rest and spend time alone with God
To recharge spiritually and recentre your life on God
To get to know God more and fall in love with Him
To get to know yourself better
To slow down and reflect on where you are in life
To sort out a crossroad or an apparent crisis in your life
To listen: God may have something to tell you!why GO on a retreat?
THINGS to know about a retreat
DAILY MASS Mass is central to the retreat and timetabled in every day. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you are not Catholic, or are unable to receive Communion, you can always receive a blessing from the priest.
MEDITATIONS
Each day there are periods of guided prayer - these are called meditations. They help us talk to and listen to God. They take place in the chapel and are led by the priest.
INTRODUCTORY TALK
The retreat starts with this. It covers basic housekeeping notices; provides tips on how to make the most of the retreat; gives an overview of the timetable and provides a chance to ask any questions you may have.
TIMETABLE
A timetable for the days of the retreat will be made available. All activities are optional - attend as much or as little as you wish. The timetable is to help you get the most out of your retreat.
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
At some point every day, an Examination of Conscience will be read out. These questions may help you see where you could improve in your relationship with God and others; at home; in your family or in your social or professional life. The questions are food for personal prayer and reflection.
PRAYER
There is plenty of time for personal prayer on a retreat. A few devotions such as the Rosary, the Way of the Cross and Visit to the Blessed Sacrament are done together.
TALKS
Each day there is a talk to give practical ideas of how to live your Christian life on a daily basis. Topics could include: living your Faith at work and in your family life, how to help your friends, and how to improve as a person and grow closer to God.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Confession is a beautiful Sacrament and gives you a wonderful opportunity to ask Jesus for forgiveness and to start again. There are plenty of opportunities to go to Confession on the retreat. The priest is also available if you just want to have a chat with him.
SILENCE
Why a silent retreat? - it helps everyone to pray. God often speaks in a whisper and so we need to quieten down our inner world to hear Him - external silence facilitates this. During meals an audiobook is often played to help maintain our focus and recollection! Of course if you need anything, just ask!
DATES of upcoming retreats
2025
For Women
27 Feb - 2 Mar
10 - 13 Apr
29 May - 1 Jun
25 - 28 Sept
16 - 19 Oct
For Men
Feb 20 - 23
Mar 20 - 23
Nov 20 - 23
Nov 28 - 29
For University students Young Professionals (female)
Feb 7 - 9
Oct 10 - 12
Oct 31 - Nov 2
For University students Young Professionals (male)
Oct 24 - 26
For Mums and Daughters
Feb 14 -1 6
Prices
3 Day retreat £240 (£120 student, etc.)
2 Day retreat £160 (£80 student, etc.)
The retreats begin at 7.30pm on the first day and end at 3.30pm on the final day.
BOOK YOUR PLACE OR FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT YOUR STAY
Hazelwood House has a chapel, a dining room, sitting rooms, a study and a library, a large garden and 18 individual en-suite rooms. Each attendee has a private room and bathroom. Three meals a day are provided in a family style environment and special medically prescribed dietary needs can be accommodated.
Please see the About Your Stay page for more details regarding the accommodation.
OPUS DEI
Our retreats follow the spirituality of Opus Dei, inspired by Saint Josemaría Escrivá’s vision of living a deep relationship with God in the midst of everyday life. They offer a peaceful and reflective environment where participants can step away from daily routines to focus on prayer, spiritual growth, and personal renewal. Rooted in the belief that everyone is called to holiness, these retreats provide practical guidance for integrating faith into ordinary activities, with times for personal prayer, spiritual direction, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Each retreat is designed to help individuals deepen their connection with God and discover His presence in their daily work and relationships.
For more information about the spirituality of Opus Dei, visit the website https://opusdei.org/en-uk/
PAYMENTS
When making a transfer, please indicate as reference your name and the date of the activity you are attending.
Bank details
Account name: Hazelwood House General
Account number: 15058964
Sort code: 80-22-60
For international payments:
IBAN: GB52BOFS80226015058964
BIC: BOFSGBS1SDP
If you would rather pay by cheque or cash, that is also accepted. Cheques should be made payable to "Hazelwood House General". Payments can be made by card on arrival.
Payments policy
Any payment balance due will be collected by the director of the activity during your stay.
We request that this amount be paid by each participant even if one does not attend the full length.
If you are unable to pay the full cost, it is sufficient to pay whatever you can, whenever you can. It is the policy of Hazelwood House that no one should be discouraged from attending an activity because of difficulty in making payment.
If you are able to pay an extra amount as a donation to assist others in attending workshops or retreats at Hazelwood House your generosity will be greatly appreciated.