London: Jesuits offer respite from urban stress

The Jesuits of East London are offering a day of spiritual relaxation and refreshment this month in the form of an Urban Retreat. Geared specifically for people with busy working lives, the day will be held at the Hurtado Jesuit Centre in Wapping on Saturday 27 July and will be rooted in Ignatian Spirituality.

"Our life and work in this part of London can be energising, vibrant and meaningful," says Brian Purfield, who will be one of those guiding the day. "But it can also be busy, tiring and stressful. This peaceful urban retreat day is an opportunity to pause before the summer, refresh our outlook and review our purpose."

"The Jesuit tradition of Ignatian spirituality encourages us to work with Christ for a better world. So the Urban Retreat Day will also offer prayerful activities to deepen self-awareness and attention to where God's spirit is at work. Our approach seeks to be person-based and community oriented, relevant to people of all denominations," explained Fr Damian Howard SJ, the other retreat leader for the day in Wapping. "So we will use exercises from St Ignatius of Loyola to help with stillness; and a guided, reflective walk. People who join us for the day will be offered spaces for quiet, time for personal prayer, opportunities for helpful conversations and the offer of spiritual accompaniment with a trained prayer guide."

The Urban Retreat Day event will use inspiration from Pope Francis who is a Jesuit himself and has undertaken the 30-day Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius twice in his life, and St Francis of Assisi, whose name Cardinal Bergoglio took when he was elected pope earlier this year. Both are considered to be champions for social justice.

The Urban Retreat Day will take place at the Hurtado Jesuit Centre, 2 Chandler Street, London E1W 2QT between 11am and 4.30pm. For more information, call 020 7488 7325 or email welcome@hurtadocentre.org.uk

For more information see: www.hurtadocentre.org.uk/