Ampleforth College

House Retreats

Each student has at least two opportunities throughout each year to spend a day on retreat, away from the usual rhythm of the school day in order to better foster this prayerful listening.  The October retreat is organised on a house basis, with plenty of scope for variety and innovation.

Typically several of the houses might choose to focus on the life and example of local or house saints. St.Cuthbert’s have made a pilgrimage to Lastingham, to the shrine of saints Cedd and Chad and St. Edward’s-Wilfrid’s have visited the birthplace of Blessed Nicholas Postgate, whilst St.Hugh’s and St.Thomas’ have focused on the life of their house saint, using drama and music.

Community is another theme explored recently by both St. Dunstan’s and St. Aidan’s, where the students looked at their house community in the light of the Rule and the Gospel. Students in St. John’s and St.Bede’s have focused on vocation and the universal call to holiness with St.Bede’s particularly considering role models for women in the church as well as visiting Rievaulx Abbey. St Oswald’s have devised, scripted and filmed presentations on the life of Jesus, and St. Margaret’s have organsied a day of service with groups of students working on a number of projects from conservation work to baking cakes for the monks in the infirmary.