Tallaght Retreat Centre

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DOMINICAN RETREAT CENTRE
TALLAGHT VILLAGE, DUBLIN 24

Telephone: (01) 404 8123 / 404 8189
Email: retreathouse(at)eircom.net
Website: www.goodnews.ie

Dear friends...

Thank you for taking a moment to look over our retreat list for 2013.  We invite you to visit us and make a retreat here in the heart of Tallaght.  The name ‘Tallaght’ does not immediately suggest rest and tranquillity.  After Dublin and Cork it is the third largest centre of population in the Republic of Ireland; what was once a small village at the foot of the Dublin hills has now the dimensions of a bustling city.  But at the very heart of it you find this still centre – so quiet that it surprises even people who live in Tallaght.  This Retreat Centre has been in existence since 1936, and during those 77 years countless people have found it a place of peace and prayer.  
            The bustling city with the still centre: this is symbolic of every person’s life.  There is a vast amount of turbulence in our Church and in our country at present.  We will not survive the storms by running away from them, but rather by going into the still centre.  
It surprises many to hear that Tallaght itself was a place of pilgrimage for a thousand years. People came to honour the memory of St Maelruan, who founded a famous monastery here in the 8th century.  The ground is hallowed by the feet of so many who lived a deep life of prayer here.  We like to think that something of the spirit of that monastery still imbues the atmosphere and even the grounds of this Centre.  
We offer a variety of approaches and methods, some of which may appear strange at first sight: tai-chi, pottery, Zen…. These have been wisely called “ways to the Way.”  In today’s complex world many people have some knowledge and experience of different spiritual paths, and it is true that some begin to lose sight of the Christian path.  Some Catholics react to this by condemning everything that is not already familiar to them.  But it was the genius of St Dominic to make connections rather than disconnections.  St Thomas Aquinas continued this way by studying ancient pagan philosophies and integrating what was true in them with Catholic faith.  In this Retreat Centre, in our own modest way, we try to gather many streams into the one great stream of Catholic spirituality.  
Retreats are normally conducted in gentle quiet, enabling each person to make the most of the opportunity for reflection and prayer.  Retreatants have access to the very large Priory garden.  Other parks are nearby.  Meals are traditional; retreatants are served at table.  Please tell us in advance if you have special dietary requirements.  We will do our best to care for you.  But please remember that we are not qualified to care for the sick.  
Whether you are returning for another retreat or coming to us for the first time, we all look forward to welcoming you.  
Donagh O’Shea OP  Director

The Staff of the Retreat Centre 
The full-time staff are: Donagh O’Shea OP (director), Anita Kenny (assistant director), Monica O’Donnell (house-keeper), and the household staff.  A large community of Dominicans on campus are available part-time.

Ongoing groups: 
                  
                  Mondays, 7pm - 9pm: 
                                    Grow Mental Health Organisation
                                    Contact: Grow infoline: 1890474474
                  Tuesdays, 8pm - 9.30pm:  
                                    Zen meditation
                  Tuesdays, 7.30pm - 9pm:
                                    Charismatic Prayer Group  (venue: Priory)  
                  Wednesdays,  8pm-9pm: 
                                    John Main meditation  
                  Wednesdays, 8pm - 9.30pm: 
                                    Youth 2000
                  Thursdays, 8pm - 9.30pm: Meditation with the Mystics.
                                    Leader: Donagh O’Shea OP 
                  Fridays, 8pm - 9pm:
                                    Taizé prayer (last Fri. each month)

Once-off events:
Saturday 23 February (10 am - 2.30 pm) 
Lenten morning 
Taking up the burden of our lives; preparing for Easter.  A morning to reflect and pray.  With Donagh O’Shea OP
(Bring packed lunch.  Tea/coffee/biscuits supplied.  Cost: €15)

Saturday, 2 March (10.30 - 4.30 pm)
“Go down to the potter’s house” 
A day in which we use clay in our approach to meditation. No previous experience necessary.  (Cost: €30 incl. lunch)
                                                                                                                                                                    Donagh O’Shea OP

Zen meditation 
There will be three meditation sessions during the day, each consisting of two 30-minute periods of sitting, with 10-minute kinhin (walking-meditation) between.  Bring a light lunch; tea and coffee supplied.  Cost: €15.
l Sunday 10 February
l    Sunday 14  April  
l    Sunday 26 May

March 23 - 30/31  
Holy Week Retreat 
A six-day retreat, the last three being the Holy Week Triduum. Holy Week ceremonies will be celebrated with the Dominican Community. 
Variety of options: 1. Entire week fully residential, Sat. evening till Sat. after lunch. 2. Entire week incl. Easter Vigil ceremonies; o/n at no extra cost.  3. Triduum: Wed. to Fri. incl.  4. Any one day or number of days, non-residential.     Led by Donagh O’Shea OP

Saturday, April 13 (10.30 - 4.30 pm)
Oasis 
A day in which you can relax and try your hand in several restful, healing and nurturing activities: Christian meditation, guided meditation with photography, awareness exercises, etc.  
Led by Donagh O’Shea OP (Cost: €30, incl. light lunch)

Saturday, 20 April
A day of Tai Chi and Meditation (10am – 4pm)
The practice of Tai Chi and Meditation are the foundation stones where the dimension of inner stillness can take root and integrate into all aspects of our everyday life.  The sessions of Tai Chi will be linked together with periods of guided sitting and walking meditation throughout the day.
Led by Anne Courtney.  Anne has been studying Zen meditation practice for the past 15 years.  With a background as a professional dancer she lived for many years in South East Asia, where she studied Tai Chi with Chinese masters for ten years.

Sunday 12 May 
Divine Mercy

June 1 - 7
Centering Prayer - Welcoming Prayer
This will be a Silent Centering Prayer Retreat, in which the Welcoming Prayer will be presented. Participants should be familiar with Centering Prayer as the Retreat is intended to deepen one's practice. Each day will include Eucharistic Liturgy.
                                                                                                           Fionnuala Quinn OP & Rose Murphy RSM

Fionnuala Quinn, a Dominican Sister, has been a practitioner of Centering Prayer as taught by Cistercians Basil Pennington and Thomas Keating for twenty-five years. Presently Fionnuala is Regional Co-ordinator for Contemplative Outreach in Ireland. Her ministry includes training new presenters of Centering Prayer and leading Centering Prayer retreats. 
Rose Murphy is a Sister of Mercy Southern Province.  She was first introduced to Centering Prayer in South Africa in 1999. Rose is Co-ordinator of Contemplative Outreach Cork. Her ministry includes Introductions to Centering Prayer, training new presenters of Centering Prayer and leading Centering Prayer retreats.

June 8 - 14
Meeting Christ in the Gospel of John 
The central drama of John’s gospel revolves around the events and meetings in which the identity of Jesus comes into view—and with that also emerge who the Father is, and who we are. This retreat will reflect on these events and meetings, culminating in a meditation on the Passion, death and resurrection of Christ and his breathing forth of the spirit, in which these identities are sealed.
Philip McShane OP

June 15 - 21
Entering through the doorway of faith 
“We do not believe in formulas, but in those realities they express, which faith allows us to touch”.  During this year of faith we are asked to enter through the door of faith and to meet the One who welcomes us. 
 John Harris OP

June 22 - 28
“I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness” (Phil 4:4)
On this retreat we look at how we are.  Are we experiencing the happiness the Gospel calls us to?  What might be blocking us from being happy?   During this week we look inside ourselves and explore our faith and see how we can move closer to finding “happiness in the Lord.”
                                                                                            Adrian Farrelly OP

June 29 - July 5
“Lord, teach us to pray.” (Lk 11:1)
Praying today makes a difference tomorrow.
                                                                                                 John Littleton

John Littleton, a priest of the Diocese of Cashel and Emly,  Director of The Priory Institute, Tallaght. He is a weekly columnist with The Catholic Times. Among his recent books are The Fulfilment of God’s Saving Promise (2012), and Catholicism and Me (2012) - one of a series of books he has co-edited about contemporary Irish Catholicism.

July 6 - 12
“Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are  life”
Hearing the word of God in our time, and keeping it.  
                                                                                                Tom Jordan OP

Tom Jordan edits Spirituality, a bi-monthly journal published by Dominican Publications, Dublin. 
See www.dominicanpublications.com

July 13-19
Introduction to Zen 
The author of Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit, and Zen Gifts to Christians will lead us to a practical understanding of Zen and its significance for today.  “Yamada Roshi [his teacher] told me several times he did not want to make me a Buddhist but rather he wanted to empty me in imitation of ‘Christ your Lord’ who emptied himself, poured himself out, and clung to nothing.” (from the Preface of Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit) 
                                                                                  Robert Kennedy SJ Roshi

Robert Kennedy is a Jesuit priest and Zen Master [roshi].  He has doctorates in Christian theology and in psychology.  He is professor of theology in St Peter’s College, New York.  In addition he is a practicing psychoanalyst in New York City, and a representative at the United Nations of the Institute for Spiritual Consciousness in Politics.

July 27 - August 2 
Catherine of Siena and Julian of Norwich: 
Two women mystics different in almost everything except their intense focus on the presence of Jesus.  In this retreat we will read and reflect on passages from St Catherine’s Dialogue and Letters, and from Julian’sShowings.  Each session will end with a period of meditation.  
                                                                                            Donagh O’Shea OP

August 3 - 9
The Art of Allowing – A Meditation Retreat 
This retreat will seek to promote integration of breath and spirit.  Participants will be helped to become more deeply aware of the ways in which the breath moves within each one and to recognise the particular difficulties she or he may encounter. The ultimate aim of the retreat is to learn to relax and to allow oneself to be breathed and prayed through by the Holy Spirit. Some individual guidance will be offered.  Comfortable clothing recommended.
Louis Hughes OP

Louis Hughes is an Irish Dominican priest. He lectured at St. Charles' Seminary, Nagpur in India from 1972-1978. At this time, he began the practice and study of yoga, integrating Indian techniques for body training, breathing, relaxation and centering with Christian meditation. Since returning to Ireland he has taught body-mind spirituality. His most recent book is 'The Art of Allowing - The Breath in Meditation and in Life' [Columba Press 2010] See his website: www.bodymindmeditation.ie

August 10 - 16 
Meditation: the silent revolution 
In our age there is a worldwide and grassroots return to meditation and contemplation; and there is an immense variety of methods and approaches.  In this retreat we will examine several of these and try to help one another find the one that best helps us to “grow in all ways into Christ” (Eph 4:15). 
                                                                                            Donagh O’Shea OP

August 17 – 23
“The multitudes had come to hear Jesus and to be healed of their diseases.”  (Luke 6:17)
A healing retreat.  We are called to heal and to be healed.  The scars we carry are openings through which the light and grace of Christ can shine into our lives, and through us into the lives of others. 
                                                                                              Simon Roche OP

August 24 – 30 
God’s first book 
The entire creation, St Bonaventure said, is God’s first book.  “Whoever is not enlightened by the splendour of created things is blind,” he wrote.  In this retreat we will explore this theme in a variety of ways.
 
                                                                                           Donagh O’Shea OP

SIX-DAY RETREATS:
Opening Saturday:      Registration from 5.00 pm 
                                   Supper 6.30 pm 
                                   Opening session 7.30 pm
Closing Friday:            Departure after 1.00 pm lunch
Offering:                     €425 (Residential)
                                   €285 (Non-Residential with meals)

WEEKEND RETREATS AND COURSES
Friday:                         Registration from 5.00 pm 
                                    Supper: 6.30 pm
                                    Opening session: 7.30 pm
Sunday:                       Departure after lunch
Offering:                     €170 (Residential)
                                   €100 (Non-Residential with meals)

DEPOSIT:
Bookings for weekend and longer retreats should include a (non-refundable) deposit of €50.  The balance may be paid on arrival.

ONE-DAY RETREATS AND COURSES:
€30 (Incl. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea / coffee) 
Day retreats begin with coffee and registration at 10.30, and end at about 5.30. 

SCHOOL RETREATS:
The Retreat Centre is in contact with a very reliable and low cost bus service; if you need a quotation please contact us. 
Post-primary retreats / reflection days: 
These take place from September to May.  Early booking is advised.  The normal day begins at 9.30 and ends at 2.45.  We supply the retreat team.  Cost: €15 per student.  Tea, coffee, and biscuits are provided at morning break and at lunchtime.  Students bring a packed lunch or (with the school’s permission) may buy lunch in Tallaght village.  Other arrangements are possible; please enquire.
Confirmation retreats: 
€12.50 per student (incl. fruit juice and biscuits at 10am; bring packed lunch, fruit juice supplied).

THE RETREAT CENTRE has 30 single rooms, with a lift to all floors; newly refurbished bathrooms; one large and four smaller conference rooms; for very large groups we use a room (58 ft  x 31 ft  or  17.5 m x 9.25 m) in the Priory.  Retreats and Courses are open to people of all faiths and denominations.  The Centre is available for Conferences and Seminars.  Parish Retreats and Group Retreats available on request. You will find detailed directions to the Retreat Centre on this brochure. 

HOW TO GET HERE
By Car: Leave the M50 at junction 11.  Take the N81 westwards towards Tallaght and Blessington.  Go straight through the small roundabout, then through a set of traffic lights; at the second set of lights turn right.  Turn left at the next lights, and you are in Tallaght Village.  Continue about 50 yards and you will see the Dominican church on your right.  When you come through the entrance, turn right into a large car park.  The Retreat House is the free-standing building, with steps to a glass porch.  

By Luas: Tallaght is the terminus of the red line, from Heuston or Connolly Stations, and Busáras.  It is normally possible to catch a taxi to the Priory from the upper level of the Square near the cinema (ask directions), and the cost is about 6 Euro.  Ask for the Priory church in Tallaght Village, and then follow the directions through the car park in the previous paragraph. Walking from the Luas: About 12 – 15 minutes, and not recommended if you have heavy bags.  Begin walking in the same direction as the Luas was going when it stopped.  You will come to traffic-light controlled crossroads with a dual carriage way.  Continue straight across, and follow the line of the road.  The road bends to the right.  You should have the Institute of Technology on your left, and the old Protestant church on your right.  Then you will see a high stone wall on your left.  This is the Priory garden.  Continue around the outside, passing Murphy’s pub on the corner.  Turn left here.  The next entrance is the Priory church.  Continue as in the first paragraph.

By Bus: Many buses go to Tallaght, but the most convenient are the 65 from College Green, or the 27, or 77A (opposite Central Bank on Dame St.).  Other less direct buses come from College Green.  Ask the driver to let you know when you get to Tallaght Village.  Ask for directions to the Priory Church, and continue as above. 

ADULT EDUCATION SHORT COURSES
THE PRIORY INSTITUTE offers a variety of courses and seminars on a range of themes. In particular it hosts an annual public lecture in January / February in honour of St Thomas Aquinas. 
For details contact Fr John Littleton, Director of the Institute, Tallaght Village, Dublin 24. 
Tel. 01-404 8128
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.prioryinstitute.com

THEOLOGY BY DISTANCE EDUCATION 
THE PRIORY INSTITUTE offers Certificate, Diploma and Degree programmes in Theology by distance education.  For details and a copy of our prospectus contact: Head of Distance Education, The Priory Institute, Tallaght Village, Dublin 24
Tel. (01) 404 8128
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.prioryinstitute.com