THE
P RTAL
July 2018
Page 23
Adventures in Prayer
Dr Heather Ward OCDS tells us about the Discalced Carmelites’
launch of new courses on prayer and prayer guidance
R
esponding to today’s hunger for authentic prayer and the need for wise guides, the Discalced
Carmelites are developing their retreat centre at Boars Hill, Oxford, as a Centre for Applied Carmelite
Spirituality. From September it will be offering two one-year courses, both rooted in the Carmelite Tradition
– a School of Prayer and a Prayer Guides Course.
The School of Prayer is for anyone who is seeking
a deeper relationship with God. It will offer the
opportunity to grow in the life of prayer and to learn
alongside Christians of any denomination, who share
the same commitment and desire to draw from the
riches of Carmel.
Both courses begin on 1st September this year.
The School of Prayer is usually held on the first and
third Saturdays of each month. Exceptions come in
December (first and fourth Saturdays, 1st & 22nd)
and, in 2019, in April (the first & second Saturdays,
6th & 13th) while in June there’s an extra day of
graduation on 29th June. The day runs from 10am –
The School offers input on prayer from experienced 1pm & includes lunch.
speakers; time to share experience and insights from
some essential reading; time for personal reflection
The Prayer Guides Course is also held on these same
including journaling. Another essential aspect will first and third Saturdays of the month and runs from
be individual prayer guidance and a weekend of 10am to 4pm with the important addition of three
Individually Guided Prayer, at a time arranged with Friday 6pm to Saturday 4pm sessions: 21st-22nd
each student.
December; 12th-13th April; 28th-29th June.
The Prayer Guides Course is for those who wish to
deepen their life of prayer but who also feel called to
accompany others in prayer, perhaps by leading prayer
groups or retreats. Like the School of Prayer, it is open
to all Christians and is deeply rooted in the Carmelite
tradition of prayer and spirituality. Costs are kept as low as possible; they cover meals,
all residential charges for the guided prayer weekends
and for the overnight sessions of the Prayer Guides
Course. Payment can be made in instalments and
bursaries are available. The School of Prayer fees are
£690; the Prayer Guides course fees £800.
Developing from the foundations shared with
members of the School of Prayer, participants will
go on to explore the dynamics of prayer in one-
to-one settings and in prayer group meetings and
workshops. They will be invited to take part in spiritual
conversation. Small groups will explore listening skills;
basic skills for leading retreats and prayer sessions;
difficulties in, and aids to, prayer. Individual prayer
guidance and a weekend of Individually Guided
Prayer, at a time arranged with each student, will be an
integral part of the course. If this interests you take a look at the website www.
cacarmelitesp.co.uk. Feel free to contact the friars at
Boars Hill. You can download an application form
from the website or request one from the Centre
for Applied Carmelite Spirituality, Carmelite Priory,
Boars Hill, Oxford, OX1 5HB Tel: 01865 322300,
mobile (voicemail) 07387 327054 Email: courses@
cacarmelitesp.co.uk. And to know more about
bursaries contact Fr Thaddeus Ekuma bursary@
cacarmelitesp.co.uk.
If that plea of the apostles to Jesus, “Lord, teach us
If you have read so far you may well be thinking, “So to pray” resounds in your heart, perhaps one of these
when is this happening?”; “How much will it cost?”; “If courses is for you.
I’m interested, what do I do?”
Forms of words for Making a Bequest in favour of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in your Will
I GIVE to the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, 24 Golden Square, London W1F 9JR,
the sum of ______ pounds (£
) and I DIRECT that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper officer of the
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham shall be good and sufficient discharge to my Executor.
or I GIVE the residue of my estate to the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, 24 Golden
Square, London W1F 9JR, and I DIRECT that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper officer of the
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham shall be good and sufficient discharge to my Executor.