St. Cassian’s hosts Past Teams Retreat

This year’s past teams retreat at St Cassian’s was the biggest ever, with over 130 people arriving at the centre to celebrate 50 years of the centre’s existence, and 46 years since the first lay team members.

The programme was put together by past team members and co-ordinated by current Director, Emma Biggins.

The group gathered at 6pm on Friday 30th May, ready for a weekend of Faith, Fun & Friendship.

The usual icebreakers took place prior to being split into small groups for some time in discussion and getting to know each other. Groups had members ranging from the first lay team (1979/80) until current team still in the house!

Small Group time that evening was concluded with night prayer, led by Olivya and Marti (current team), followed by some social time, including a fully stocked bar and all the usual Kintbury tuckshop treats.

Saturday was a long and busy day, with MPOTC well attended and breakfast led into the start of the day with prayer at 10 led by Nicky (2011/12). Small group time was dedicated to reflecting on the prayer, discussing how team life was and how that fed our faith during and after our time at Kintbury.

Small groups then were tasked with preparing the mass, with each group dedicated to preparing a part of the mass. This meant that mass was filled with dedicated times of fun forms of reflection, participation in many parts of the mass by everyone and did take up most of the afternoon between preparation and mass itself.

Of course, retreatants took a break to go on an Emmaus Walk or try out the (relatively new) archery equipment the centre now has. Some retreatants even took time to use the sports courts and adventure up to the well-curated lakes.

Supper that evening included a hog roast, a spread of Kintbury’s greatest hits and the tuckshop reopened.

Sunday ended with a presentation from Nick Smith (04/05) on the current situation about the centre, and the prospective plans for the next few years.

The retreat ended with final prayers, recap of the history of the centre, and brunch before our goodbyes.

St. Cassian’s is very much looking forward to keeping the love, fun and atmosphere brought by the numbers of people for the next Past Team’s retreat!