All Retreat articles

  • Philippa Strachan
    Opinion

    Taking a 6-month sabbatical completely changed my life

    2025-11-04T04:34:00Z

    Philippa Strachan reflects on how stepping away from a high-pressure career led her to rediscover rest, faith, and purpose. Her six-month sabbatical in 2024 became a turning point that transformed not only her work life but her understanding of what it means to live from peace rather than pressure.

  • pexels-andrea-piacquadio-755026
    Opinion

    Retreats are ideal for connecting to nature, God and yourself - here's why

    2023-05-30T08:30:00Z

    Karen Simmonds, who has run a travel business for 25 years, explains the value of rest.

  • tungsten-rising-1Njpkv5k0_I-unsplash
    Opinion

    ‘God has a special way of knowing what we really need’

    2023-04-05T08:30:00Z

    Stephanie Pena has been on several pilgrimages in her life but after some recent family difficulties, she felt led to travel to Knock, in Ireland. Here’s why she thinks Easter is the perfect time to re-connect with God.

  • Retreat
    Opinion

    Finding peace in everyday life

    2021-07-08T10:25:00Z

    Have you ever returned from a Christian conference, camp or retreat and wished you could hold on to the sense of joy or peace you experienced at it? Dr Gemma Simmonds is a sister with the Congregation of Jesus and she has written a book to help us bring retreat practices into daily life. She shared some of her own story with Premier’s Maria Rodrigues.