Monday 3^rd November – Saturday 8^th November

Celtic Deserts

A unique opportunity to join David Keller and Emily Wilmer for a week of pilgrimage, silent contemplative prayer, lectures, discussion and study. The course will encourage personal reflection on the shared wisdom and experiences of the desert mothers and fathers and the Celtic saints and implications for personal living, society and life in the church today.

David G. R. Keller is the former Steward of the Episcopal House of Prayer at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota. He is the author of Oasis of Wisdom, an Introduction to the Worlds of the Desert Fathers and Mothers  published by Liturgical Press and is completing Great Is The Tale, a life of St Nonn, mother of St David of Wales. Along with Fr. Thomas Keating, he has formed and facilitates The Contemplative Ministry Project.

Emily Wilmer is the director of The Julian Group, a resource for soulful living. She is an experienced retreat minister and spiritual director, having received her training at The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington, DC. She is completing a Masters in Celtic Spirituality at the University of Wales, Lampeter.

Course Programme

Monday 3rd November
4 pm Overview of the Desert Fathers and Mothers
(lecture, video, and discussion)

Tuesday 4th November
All day (times to be determined)
Overview of Celtic Monastic Life (lecture, video, discussion)

Wednesday 5th November
Pilgrimage of the Clas Church of St. Beuno at Clynog Fawr and
Pystyll on Llyn Peninsula
(lecture and morning office at church and Eucharist at Pystyll.
Lunch at Aberdaron and visit to Church)

Thursday 6th November
All day (times to be determined)
Influences of the eastern desert elders on the Celtic saints

Friday 7th November
Pilgrimage to St Seriol’s Holy Well and Monastic site at Penmon, Anglesey (lecture at well or in church) Box lunches.
Summary of week’s learning. Eucharist at well.
Visit to St. Dyfnog’s well at Llanrhaeadr and Anvil Pottery (Denbigh)

Saturday 8th November
Participants leave after breakfast.

The course fee of £300 includes dinner, bed and breakfast, accommodation and all outings. Non residential rates are available on request.

To book please contact St Deiniol’s Library, Hawarden, Nr Chester, CH5 3DF.

Tel: 01244 532350 E-mail: courses@st-deiniols.org