Parent Retreats:
A one-day retreat for Parents / Guardians will take place on Friday 8th or Friday 22nd April in Glendalough Co Wicklow. There will be a hike, prayer and some refreshments afterwards. There will be a planned theme for the day based on a scripture passage and we would hope that the experience would give you an opportunity to take time out for yourself, reconnect with God and meet other parents in a setting that is relaxed and enjoyable for you.
If you are interested in attending please send a cheque/transfer/cash for €50 to Liz Griffin at the Ethos Office, Clongowes Wood College SJ. Payments should be made to Clongowes Wood College no later than Monday 29th February. When doing so please state your preference for 8th or 22nd April. There is a limit of 25 places on each retreat and they will be allocated on receiving payment on a first come first served basis.
Footsteps of Ignatius Pilgrimage:
You are invited to “In the Footsteps of Ignatius Pilgrimage” which will take place in Spain in May 2016. Based on your feedback, we have changed the itinerary of this Pilgrimage so that now it will also include 2/3 days walking on the Camino. The trip will begin in Ignatius’ birthplace, Loyola and time will be spent in places significant to Ignatius.
You will visit the Franciscan Shrine at Arantzazu in the Basque Country before arriving to Manresa, where Ignatius wrote the Spiritual Exercises. You will also visit Montserrat, a place of ancient pilgrimage where Ignatius himself was also a pilgrim. You will see the key Ignatian sites first-hand, get to understand the person of Ignatius and especially how his personal experience became the foundation of Jesuit spirituality. For the Camino experience the section on which we will travel will be, from St Jean Pied de Port in France as far as Pamplona in Spain.
Of course this is also a very social experience and you would be part of a mix of parents from different years in the school. It is a fantastic opportunity to get to know others and share experiences. Many of you who have attended the recent Parent Days will have heard about this already and have given us an initial ‘Expression of Interest’. We are now seeking a definite commitment if you would like to go ahead.
The dates will be from 3rd May to May 7th/8th 2016 (dates may vary slightly due to flight schedules). The cost will be in the region of €950 (this is based on previous years costs and includes flights, accommodation, transport while there, most meals and entrance fees). The cost may be reduced depending on how many people travel.
If you would like to travel we are requesting a non-refundable deposit (cheque or bank transfer) of €300 per person, made payable to Clongowes Wood College SJ, no later than noon on Monday 8 February 2016. If we get the minimum requirement of numbers we will then start to make bookings. More here.
If you would like more information don’t hesitate to call or mail:
Anne Marie Dolan 045 838252 / amdolan@clongowes.net or
Liz Griffin: 045 838294 / lgriffin@clongowes.net