As Lent begins, Jesuit communities across Britain are offering a range of retreats, reflections, and community activities to help people deepen their faith and prepare for Easter. From immersive Ignatian retreats to parish-based Lenten devotions, the Jesuits in Britain are providing meaningful opportunities for spiritual growth. Here’s a look at what’s available in the coming weeks.
London Jesuit Centre and Jesuit Young Adult Ministries
Lent Retreat in Daily Life: This collaborative online retreat invites you to take extra time for prayer and reflection during the course of your everyday life. The opening and closing group sessions enable you to meet others who will be your spiritual travelling companions as we form a praying community for 5 weeks. More info.
St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre, Wales
Spiritual Conversation Course: A residential course during the Lenten period which focuses on developing listening skills, understanding the discernment of spirits, and practicing Ignatian spiritual conversation. Ideal for those involved in pastoral ministry. More info.
Readers can access and download reflections on the Sunday readings for Lent from St Beuno's Outreach here, or receive them via the weekly email here.
Ignatian Spirituality Centre, Glasgow
Fruits of the Spirit Lenten Retreat: This online retreat begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and concludes on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. It focuses on the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as outlined in Galatians 5:22. More info.
Jesuit Institute
Online Individually Guided Retreat: This is a week-long virtual retreat scheduled from March 16 to March 24, 2025. Participants will engage in daily online meetings with experienced retreat guides, dedicating 4-5 hours each day to prayer and reflection. More here.
Jesuit parishes across the British Province are engaging their communities with a variety of Lenten services and activities:
Farm Street Church (London): Weekly Stations of the Cross on Fridays and Lenten talks exploring themes of repentance, renewal, and social justice.
St Anselm’s (Southall): Communal penitential services and Lenten Bible study groups for deeper scriptural engagement.
St Ignatius Church (Stamford Hill): Spiritual talks and charitable initiatives, encouraging parishioners to embrace the Lenten call to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
St Wilfrid’s (Preston): Taizé prayer services and dedicated days of recollection for personal reflection.
Holy Name Church (Manchester): Ecumenical prayer services and Lenten soup lunches, fostering fellowship while supporting charitable causes.
Stonyhurst’s Parish: Lenten reflection groups and musical meditations to enrich the prayer life of its congregation.
Our Lady of Mercy Chapel (Willesden Green): Bilingual Lenten services, ensuring all parishioners can engage fully in the season.
Pray As You Go: Daily audio reflections throughout Lent, combining music, scripture, and guided prayer for personal contemplation. More info.
Thinking Faith: The online journal publishes a series of articles during Lent, offering theological insights and reflections to deepen understanding of the season’s significance. More info.
Jesuit Missions: A series of reflections offering prayers and reflections from Jesuit collaborators in the UK and beyond to support spiritual journeys during this Lenten season. More info.
Through these diverse activities, we are continuing our mission of providing accessible, engaging, and transformative spiritual experiences. Whether through structured retreats, prayerful liturgies, or community initiatives, we invite people from all backgrounds to journey more deeply into the heart of Lent, preparing spiritually for the joy of Easter.
Banner photo by Thays Orrico on Unsplash
