Two Week Winter Scripture School

Wk 1:
Major Theme: God’s Suffering Messiah: An Introduction to the Gospel of Mark
Minor Theme: Jesus’ Galilee

The Gospel of Mark is the second Gospel in the New Testament collection, it tells the story of Jesus from his baptism to the resurrection and concentrates on the last week of his life. It presents Jesus as a teacher, healer, miracle worker and uses titles such as Son of Man, Son of God and Christ. Mark so emphasizes the suffering of Jesus that the Gospel has been described as a passion narrative with a short introduction. This short course will examine Mark’s portrait and theology of Jesus, God’s Suffering Messiah.

Jesus’ Galilee This mini-course will offer a presentation of the natural and archaeological features of the Galilee, with a view to understanding its impact on the life and ministry of Jesus.

Wk 2:
Major Theme: Learning from Experience: An Introduction to Israel’s Later Writings
Minor Theme: Love, Passion (and God) in the Song of Songs

The first two sections of the Hebrew Bible Law and Prophets consist of God’s direct revelation to Israel. Its third section, the Writings, represent Israel’s efforts to understand God, based on human experience and the observation of everyday life. This short course will offer a brief survey of the Wisdom Literature of Ancient Israel, with some selected readings from the Books of Proverbs, Job and Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes).

Love, Passion (and God) in the Song of Songs

This mini-course will offer an introduction to the love poetry of the Song of Songs as love poetry and explore some of its key texts and theological insights.

16 January - 27 January 2012

Fr Ciaran O’Callaghan CSsR

Holy Week

The Paschal Mystery: the journey from death to resurrection

Daily, prayerful reflections on the final week of Jesus’ life, leading to a deeper understanding of the reality of our sharing in the Paschal Mystery.

2 - 8 April 2012

Fr Maurice O’Mahony CSsR

Preached Retreat

Through a Glass Darkly

The happiness that our hearts are searching for is all around us but we cannot see it. We have just celebrated Easter. This is a retreat to remove blockages that prevent us from experiencing each day the joy of the Risen Christ. Be prepared for good news.

14 - 20 April 2012

Fr Daniel O’Leary

Transition

Facing change later in life

Retiring? Divorced or Widowed? An empty nest? A new health challenge? Or just growing older, contemplating the uncertainties of later life. This week explores development in later life, reclaiming the positive that is so often overlooked in our youth-obsessed culture. The reality if we embrace it is that the opportunities for growth and fulfilment are greater in later life than in youth, & far more rewarding. Change is an invitation to a new life.

7 - 11 May 2012

Dr Stephanie Thornton

6-Day Directed Retreat

This is an individually guided, silent retreat with time for personal prayer. Meet with your director each day as you listen to the movement of the Spirit within.

21 - 28 July 2012

Sr Carol Mouat OP, Sr Jackie Smith SP & Fr Maurice O’Mahony CSsR

Preached Retreat

Learn of Me: Shaping our lives by taking Jesus seriously

We will explore the biblical foundations of Mission and Discipleship, and go into the New Testament in order to illustrate the pastoral strategy of Jesus and the many faces of discipleship. We will look at the call to on-going conversion, and develop a composite picture of discipleship that would challenge and support everyone: lay, clerical, religious, young and old.

30 July - 4 August 2012

Fr Anthony Gittins CSSp

Preached Retreat

Embracing the fullness of Life

Jesus declares ‘I have come so that you may have life, life in abundance’ (Jn 10:10) During this Retreat we will explore and celebrate this promise of Jesus.

4 - 10 August 2012

Fr Maurice O’Mahony CSsR

English Language Summer School

Elementary, Intermediate Advanced and Proficiency levels of tuition are provided in group work or on a 1-2-1 basis. Excursions to places of cultural/historic interest and modern daily life are included.

5- 25 August 2012

Sr Eucharia Coffey TEFL & Ms Kay Quigley TEFL

Advent Retreat

Is that all there is?

This Advent Retreat is to prepare us for a personal transformation as we explore the astonishing revelation of Christmas. The immediate quality of our lives will be deeply enriched by discovering what Incarnation really means. Come with an open mind and heart, and return with a new joy.

30 Nov—3 Dec 2012

Fr Daniel O’Leary