Archive Day Retreat at Nunraw

First Scottish Catholic Observer 
Pilgrimage Sept 2001

Warm Welcome from Monks of Nunraw

OUR first Scottish Catholic Observer pilgrimage to Nunraw Abbey was a great success and is likely to become an annual date in the calendar.Three coaches set off from Paisley, Glasgow, Bellshill and Motherwell carrying pilgrims from Strathaven, East Kilbride, Paisley, Linwood, Glasgow, Bellshill, Motherwell, Wishaw and Ardrossan.

Fr Raymond Jaconelli, the guestmaster, was there to greet us with refreshing cups of tea and a welcome smile. Fr Raymond who hails from Airdrie, will celebrate 50 years at Nunraw next month.

Among the pilgrims was a 20 strong group from the Sacred Heart Parish in Bellshill led by Cathy Eailie, President of the Motherwell Diocesan UCM.

After enjoying our packed lunch, and a browse in the gift shop we made our way up through the mature woods to the abbey where Abbot Donald McGlynn celebrated Mass in the chapel.Abbot McGlynn welcomed us to Nunraw, and said that it was the first time the community had welcomed such a large group.He added that it was especially pleasing as the abbey had to close for visitors during the foot and mouth crisis as it lies in the heart of farming countryside, and the monks have a herd of cattle.

After Mass, we made our way back to the guest house where Fr Jaconelli and his volunteers had brewed another cup of tea.We enjoyed a stroll round the grounds, and before boarding our coaches for a return home gathered for a group photograph. Then we bade farewell to the Cistercian community and promised to come back next year.

If you would like to find out more about Nunraw
you can visit their website http:/ /www.nunraw.org. 
And don't miss next week's Observer when there will be a special full page colour souvenir picture of all the Nunraw pilgrims.

WORDS: Harry Conroy . PHOTOS: Paul McSherry

SCO 7 Sept 2001

Retreats Feature

Scottish Catholic Observer  5 Oct 2001

Where you can catch the sound of God's voice,

By Harry Conroy   

The description, 'retreat', is perhaps self -explanatory.

It is an opportunity to withdraw from the daily hustle and bustle of everyday life to allow your body and mind recover from the stress of modern living. It is also a holiday in the true meaning of the word allowing time for spiritual thought and prayer. Sadly, too often, the oft repeated saying: 'I feel as if I need a holiday' when returning home after the annual 'break' can too often be true.  The modern holiday brings with it pressures - queuing at airports, too many late nights, over indulgence with food and drink, and sleep disturbed by noisy all-night parties in the surrounding streets.

A retreat on the other hand is a step back from the bustle, a slower pace to allow your mind and body to rest and refresh themselves.

They can range from evenings such as the Lenten Retreat in Daily Life organised by the Ignatian Spirituality Centre in Glasgow or the Lent Quiet Days at the Carberry Christian Conference and Retreat Centre in Musselburgh to week-long breaks.

The Ignatian Spirituality Centre offers weekend and week-Iong Celtic theme retreats on Islay off the coast of Kintyre.

While the Cistercian community at the Sancta Maria Abbey at Nunraw has a guest house which is guided by the words of St Benedict who said:

"Let all guests be received like Christ Himself, for He will say: 'I was a stranger and you took me in."

Guest Master, Fr Raymond Jaconelli, who this month celebrates his Golden Jubilee at Nunraw, has this to say:

"One of the most characteristic features of modern day living is its all pervading background of noise and bustle.However there is another side to our life which is also greatly affected by this unremitting noise and bustle, namely the spiritual aspect of our lives; the faith dimension our lives; the prayer and relationship with God aspect of our lives." Fr Jaconelli, who hails from Airdrie, summed up what many people would like to take from a retreat when he said: "We have all heard that voice of the Lord in the ear of our heart at one time or another, be it in the stillness of a church or on a starry night."

He added: "Places such as Nunraw provide the faith charged atmosphere in which we can all catch the sound of that voice as God speaks to us with his eternal word of Peace!"

Many retreat centres use their beautiful surroundings to help them create the peace within - as well as without - such as Craig Lodge in Dalmally, Argyllshire which is often described by visitors as an 'Oasis of Peace' , while Noddfa is situated between the mountains and the sea in North Wales where carers can enjoy short breaks or parish groups can also visit and enjoy quiet reflection in the morning before spending the afternoon in the hills or by the sea.