St Benet’s has been fortunate to have secured the agreement of Canon William Scott to give us the benefit of his thoughts on the Advent season this year, in an afternoon of prayer and worship in the church on Saturday 2nd December 2017.
What is an Advent retreat?
Advent is traditionally a time when, in preparation for the coming of the Lord at the great feast of Christmas, the faithful consider the beginning of the liturgical year and their role as Christians in the world. You are strongly urged to join us for at least some of the time, to prepare yourselves for the celebration of Christmas, not just how we celebrate it, but to consider in a short hour or so away from the commercial bustle the greater significance of why we celebrate it, and its greater significance in our lives as Christians.
Fr Bill Scott
Fr Bill is the recently retired Chaplain of Her Majesty the Queen at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace, but he has had a wide ministry in parishes throughout the country, and experience which he has distilled into the giving of retreats
Outline of the Day
The afternoon begins with Mass and a Homily by Father Bill on Advent themes. Mass will be followed by a sandwich lunch in the church, and from 2pm until 2.30pm, Fr Bill will continue his thoughts on Advent, and prepare us for the “Holy Hour” which follows. A “Holy Hour” is a period of time spent in silent prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
That Holy Hour will be very much what each of us attending make of it – you will be free to come and go as you choose, and the Hour itself will be broken up by short meditations and extracts from literature and scripture on the great Advent themes of Heaven and Hell, Death and Judgement.
After wrapping up the Holy Hour, Fr Peter will celebrate Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament followed by tea and final refreshments in the church.
During the day both Fr Peter Anthony and Fr Bill Scott will be available to hear confessions for anyone who wishes to avail themselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.