Bishop Lindsay reflects back on the 2007 retreat 'Continuing Wonder'

Bishop Lindsay Urwin OGS, Bishop of Horsham, reflects on ‘Continuing Wonder’, the theme of the Pakefield Retreat attended by 500 people in April 2007.

In the New Testament, the texts that describe the period between Maundy Thursday and the Lord’s  Ascension are full of wonder and action.  But in them we find Jesus gently unfolding to his disciples the reliable way in which they, and all those who believe in him, will continue to encounter him ‘until he comes again’.

These are the ‘fresh expression of Christ’ – the washing of one another’s feet; the experience of his wounds; the Holy Scriptures unfolded;  in the sacramental actions of baptism and the breaking of bread and in the love of brethren.

The Stardust Ballroom at Pakefield was transformed into a worthy place where in our Bible studies, keynote addresses, and in worship we not only learnt about these ‘fresh touches from Christ’, we experienced them.  During the Wednesday evening service of healing and reconciliation as people queued to make there confessions, some for the first time, or received the ministry of laying on of hands with prayer from fellow lay participants or were anointed with the holy oil of the sick, the presence of Jesus reaching out to them, ministering to them through his Body the Church was palpable.

St. Augustine says ‘He who sings prays twice’ and the imaginative balance of modern choruses alongside traditional anthems and hymns led by our excellent music group made a joyful noise unto the Lord, somewhat different from the usual musical tradition of the Ballroom and its regular holiday clientele!


Of course, the retreat was demanding even exhausting! But it was a Grace filled tiredness that overshadowed us rather than overwhelmed.    It was a tiredness that I pray will bring new energy and commitment to all those who shared in the retreat.

It is a tradition of these retreats to enjoy eating and drinking together.  If the fare on offer in the Stardust Ballroom nourished us spiritually then the ‘outer man’ was also well renewed and serviced by the excellent Pontin’s catering team.  The bar was also a popular venue, not least on the final evening when the resident ‘Blue Coats’ treated us with songs from the shows after which the evening kick off with entertainment of our own, not least from one of the Nuns!

Catholic life is profoundly serious but we do not take ourselves too seriously as ripples of laughter could be heard in every corner of Pontin’s as the week proceeded.  

+ Lindsay OGS