the workshops
In addition to the lecture programme, the following workshops are offered each week throughout the course. Attendance is voluntary.
Introduction to Pastoral Counselling
This workshop offers a basic introduction to counselling skills as well as an opportunity to update those already familiar with them. The workshop offers skills for spiritual direction, psychological, and pastoral counselling. These skills play an essential part in helping people to experience a greater freedom and to make changes in their lives.
The Enneagram
Many of us want to learn more about the various ways people view life. Appreciating the different ways we look at others and ourselves helps our self-knowledge. In this workshop we will move beyond the basic descriptions of personality type to discover what shapes a person's life. We will understand how we grow in wisdom as we grow in self-awareness, and how we can find patience and humour as we admit our limitations. Even if you have 'done' the Enneagram and know your 'number', this is only the beginning.
Personal Growth through the Creative Arts
The aim of this Workshop is to enable us to discover, understand and accept ourselves and others at a deeper level. There will be the opportunity to reflect on some of the life issues that we all face such as relationships, family, conflict, sexuality, spirituality, and loss. Participants will be encouraged to share in small groups and to take part in creative ways to explore these issues.
Transition
Transition begins with an ending. It begins with letting go of something in order to learn to embrace something new. Accepting and looking for meaning in the events from your past is an important way of preparing for the future. This workshop aims at helping you to reflect on your own life experiences, and to discern movements and new patterns God is forming in your life.
Painting for Pleasure
Explore the possibility of seeing things in a new way through painting and drawing. This workshop is both for those who have never painted since they left school and for those who have an interest or talent, which they would like to develop. Starting with the basics, a new skill or technique will be explored each week, building up confidence of participants.
Growth through Process, and Leadership
The process of consultation and decision-making often takes place in groups. From our experience, we know that this may be a difficult task. The workshop is an opportunity to learn experientially the reason why effective group life requires a greater awareness of the conscious and unconscious influences operative in the life of every group. The Growth through Process workshop will also focus on the roles that group members take up; looking at our behaviour pattern, and the possibility of experimenting with other roles. Later in the course some sessions will be dedicated to the theme of leadership.
Christian Meditation
We look again at the ancient art of contemplative prayer with the assistance of a contemporary voice in John Main OSB. These sessions will give you an opportunity to experience how to pray contemplatively.
Other Activities
Spiritual Direction
Members of staff qualified in spiritual direction are available throughout the course to accompany participants if they wish.
Mission and Ministry
During each course we invite twelve participants to share their own experience of ministry in the church. This is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of ministry within the larger group.
Liturgy Group
Anyone who is able to sing, play, to share their gifts in some way, is invited to form a Liturgy Group. Participants who wish to take responsibility for planning, preparing and presenting the Eucharist and other services. In this way, we hope to honour the special talents of the course. There is also a weekly choir practice to prepare for the celebration of the Eucharist.
Monday Night Prayer
A choice of different types of prayer is offered, such as Centering Prayer; Sunday Gospel Sharing; Guided Meditation. You do not have to join the same group each week. During the course, there are usually two healing services.
Yoga
An opportunity to do light stretching exercises and co-ordinate breath and movement.
Gym and fitness
Hawkstone has a small fitness room with exercise machines available for all participants. Apart from the wonderful walks and climbs that surround Hawkstone, there is also an Olympic-size swimming pool in the nearby town of Market Drayton (7 miles).
The Computer Suite
Part of our Seminar Room is dedicated to computers with access to the Internet. There is a charge of £1.00p for up to 30 minutes of use for this facility. There is also Internet access in each room for those with laptop computers. The cost of connection for the duration of the Course is £75 Sterling.
“I came to Hawkstone at a crucial time in my life, after 18 years of missionary work. Hawkstone invites you to look at what you rarely have time to notice in a hectic life - yourself, your relationships, your world, your God. The course gave me a whole new attitude towards myself and the future; it also provided me with the tools and the agenda for the second half of my life. I feel at least 20 years younger!”
Fr Ivan Rohloff, an American Capuchin working in Russia
