We have so far run one Landings course (with another planned for shortly). It was a great success for all concerned. The welcomers found it a very joyful and spiritual experience and the three returners too, all of whom are now regular attenders at Mass. One has become a Reader and is taking a particularly lively part in parish events.

The course ended with a day retreat at a local convent where we were able to arrange for a vigil Mass in the afternoon. Throughout the course we kept closely to the specified structure for each session but in the retreat we decided not to have another Landings session but to use a rather different approach.

The theme of the retreat was announced beforehand as "Forgiveness" and all participants were asked to bring a short text which is especially dear to them and which, however loosely, is related to forgiveness. After short prayer and a tea, coffee and biscuits welcome, the first hour of the morning was devoted to each participant reading that text and saying why it was special to them, with us all then responding in affirmation and enjoyment. The texts chosen were very varied - an extract from The Hound of Heaven, one from Julian of Norwich, a couple from Scripture, others from more secular sources. (On Sunday after the retreat there was a flurry of photocopying to meet the requests for copies of some of the texts !)

The second half of the morning - after a coffee break - was devoted to a prayer workshop. After a short introduction, we each voiced the problems we have with prayer (all had been asked to think about these in the week prior to the retreat) and we found so much common ground !! We discussed some general questions about prayer e.g. do we need a special time and place to pray; do we need to learn to pray; should we try to measure progress in prayer etc. etc..

Then, after the Angelus and briefly talking about methods of prayer, we each spent a half hour on one of three alternative ways of using writing as prayer - write a letter to Jesus expressing what is in your heart; write a dialogue between yourself and Jesus trying to listen for His voice as you write; discover a letter from God and set down what He would say if He wrote you a letter of comfort. The end result for each was kept private but we finished by sharing how the experience had been for us. Everyone was enthusiastic and several said it had opened up a new and exciting way of praying.

Lunch was a pot luck arrangement - and as usual with such things there was an excess of nice things to eat. By now our priest had joined us and after lunch we devoted an hour to a question and answer session with our priest in the chair. Participants had been asked to supply questions about anything to do with the Faith/Church in advance or to raise them on the day. We did not have many and none that were very significant; this was probably the least valuable part of the retreat and we will probably not include it next time.

Mass was scheduled for 4pm and before that there was the opportunity for Confession for those who wished. All our returners took advantage of the opportunity. There was time too for a quiet saunter in the fresh air or simply to chat.

At the Mass the returners had been invited to read the lessons and two accepted. All of us composed an individual prayer which we voiced at the Bidding Prayers. At the conclusion of Mass, Celtic crucifixes were blessed and then presented to each of the returners, hopefully to be with them as a reminder for the rest of their lives.

After Mass we gathered again in our retreat room and had a small wine and cheese party to celebrate our returners and our little "family". We very much felt that we wanted to make the end of the retreat and of Landings a joyful celebration. Each returner got a little book of short daily readings to take home with them.

The retreat began at 10 and ended just before 6pm. Everyone seemed to find that timing just about right. Holding it away from the parish at the convent was an important factor in its success as there were few distractions and time was available to simply reflect. (A spin off has been a request that we organise a similar retreat day for the wider parish - something we hope to do for Lent next year).