Huge demand for retreats at Benildus

The Benildus team of Yvonne, Conor and Eugene with Br Kevin on retreat at Glendalough

At Benildus Pastoral Centre we have had a very busy return to work since September dawned. We are struggling to find a “staff day” to do our back-office operations, such is the demand for retreats and wellbeing programmes in this post-pandemic time (can we say “post-pandemic” yet?).

It is wonderful to see Hazelwood House full of children and young people again. There is a great enthusiasm among the students and teachers to secure days out from their rapid return to schedules and timetables.

The dialogues have changed with the introduction of words like “Lockdown” experiences, Part 1, 2 and 3, social isolation and anxiety. However, there appears to be an improved acceptance of each other and a willingness to share where perhaps previously, they might have been reticent. There is also a realisation among the students that they have lived through history and that goes towards the awe and wonder of some of the conversations.

There has also been an increased demand for our Glendalough retreats for which we have to ensure our fitness level! The 7k walk over the mountain, in this most beautiful corner of Ireland, is not for the faint-hearted but the climb invites reflection and the view from the top never fails to impress everyone.

We are doing our final Glendalough day in October before winter sets in but already we have a number of Glendalough days booked for April and May. Lockdown seems to have made nature nerds of us all but it brought us renewal in times that were repetitive with our Glendalough days encapsulating that renewal and embrace of nature.