LONDON - 10 January 2007 - 370 words
Prayer,
art and beauty in Cézanne country
Art, beauty, light and silence will be just four of the ingredients
in a retreat in France this summer. 'Touching God with my Fingertips'
will be led by Fr Michael Barrow SJ and Sister Annie Bromham IBVM
at La Baume Jesuit retreat house and conference centre in Aix-en-Provence.
They will be using art to help retreatants deepen their lives
of prayer from July 20 to 29.
"This area is famous for the work of Paul Cézanne
who lived and painted in and around Aix," says Michael Barrow
who, until recently, was rector at Campion House, Osterley. "But
what convinced me to put on this retreat were more the beauty
of the countryside and the extraordinary effect of the light and
the sun. I spent a year there and my experience made me appreciate
how the beauty of the place is conducive to prayer. I had a profound
experience of prayer here. "
'Touching God with my Fingertips' will be conducted for the most
part in silence, and should not be considered as a workshop to
learn about art. But art materials will be supplied with some
direction on how to use them to grow in prayer. Retreatants will
also be given time to go for walks, share their experiences and
pray together, as well as listening to input from Michael or engaging
in a practical art exercise with Sister Annie Bromham.
Annie is a Loreto sister and an artist, both a sculptor (mainly
in wood) and a painter. For some years she has directed both
group and individual retreats, and was Director of Retreats at
Osterley.
"In the past, many people without
any specific artistic experience or skills have used paint or
clay or even dance to pray more deeply," she says. "Walking
in the woods or looking at art or nature become in themselves
deep prayer. To what extent a person uses art materials is up
to each individual."
The cost of the retreat from 20 to 29 July 2007 will be £350-£400
depending on accommodation. Marseilles is the nearest airport;
it is served by Easyjet. For further details, contact Michael
Barrow michaelajbarrow@yahoo.co.uk or call 07767 428429.
Source: Jesuit Communications Office
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