Silence and Awareness Retreat September 2012

Date: Friday 7^th September – Sunday 16^th September 2012

Venue: Letton Hall, Christian Conference centre, Shipdham, Norfolk

Retreat Leaders: Mary Jo Meadow: A retired Professor of Psychology and Religious Studies from Minnesota, USA. She is a secular Carmelite. She has studied with meditation teachers Joseph Goldstein and Burmese Master Sayadaw U Pandita and has been teaching Insight Meditation (vipassana) since 1987. Mary Jo is an international speaker and retreat leader travelling to Canada, Australia, Scotland, England and throughout the USA.

Fr Daniel Chowning OCD: A Carmelite friar and priest from the Washington Province in the USA. He entered the Carmelite order in 1978. A graduate in Theology from the University of America in Washington DC and an ST.L degree from the University of Salamanca in Spain. He studied at the International Centre for Teresian/Sanjuanist studies in Avila, Spain and at the International College, the Teresianum in Italy. He has been engaged in retreat ministry, spiritual direction and writing for many years. He is an authority on Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross. Fr Daniel has co-led Silence and Awareness Retreats since 1989.

Christian Insight Meditation:

Since 1989 Mary Jo Meadow and Fr Daniel Chowning together with Fr Kevin Culligan have developed through writings and intensive retreats the practice of Christian Insight Mediation incorporating the wisdom of Buddhist insight practice into Christian Spirituality as taught by St John of the Cross. They have written a book together: ‘Christian Insight Meditation: Following in the Footsteps of John of the Cross’.

The Retreat based on the teachings of St John of the Cross and Insight (vipassana) Meditation, comes from the Christian Carmelite and Theravadan Buddhist traditions. Each day offers an integrative conference on the Christian Mystics and Meditation practice, time for questions, meditation instructions for beginners and old hands, group meditation sittings and walking practice.

Eucharist is regularly celebrated throughout the retreat, and communal reconciliation once. Interviews available daily for consultation, instruction and guidance. Group meditation instructions given twice daily. There is no interaction among the retreatants to foster deepening stillness and awareness; meals are in silence.

Bookings and Costs:

1. Accommodation and Food for 9 nights Single room: £360; twin room: £275 each; dormitory sharing with up to three others: £215

2. Retreat Fee: £110.00 This covers the fee and accommodation and travel costs for Mary Jo Meadow and Fr Daniel Chowning plus administrative expenses.

To secure a place send a non-returnable deposit (the retreat fee) of £110 made payable to ‘Deanna Skittrall’ at Sage House, 47A Hargham Road, Old Buckenham, Norfolk NR17 1SN