Are you

• Seeking ways to deepen your relationship with God?
• Excited by the idea of a whole week focused on the love of God?
• Making sense of your faith journey?
• Interested in different ways of praying?
• Rarely able to share your prayer experience with another person?
• Tied by family and work commitments from going away on retreat?

              About the week

2012 Week of Accompanied Prayer

Dear Colleagues

I write to commend the Week of Accompanied Prayer for clergy next May 21 - 26th, 2012 and encourage you to share in the experience.

Prayer Guides from various parts of the country have committed themselves to the Week. They will be travelling to us from Manchester, Bristol, London, Essex and St Albans. Some local religious who are Roman Catholics will also be part of the team. All are specifically trained in retreat work and are very experienced. It is not anticipated that the Prayer Guide will have any prior knowledge of you or your ministry but will simply be there for you, where you are, at that time.

The pattern of the week is that those involved will meet their Prayer Guides for a one-to-one in the Cathedral for 30 minutes each day at same time (Mon-Fri), either mornings or afternoons. Parking is being arranged for this appointment time only. Retreatants will only be invited to talk about what they are comfortable with and everything will be in absolute confidence. Your Prayer Guide will simply meet you where you are.

If you have been involved in a week before you are welcome to apply again. Every week is different and this accompanying experience can be repeated many times. To get the most out of this week it will be helpful to keep parish commitments to the minimum. It is a week to bask in the love of God - a week of renewal - a retreat in everyday life.

A leaflet that gives more details of the week and a booking form is attached or can be viewed here. Please note that those who qualify for CMD can ask that the cost of this week is met directly.

I understand that the maximum number of clergy who can be involved in this programme is 50. It makes sense to get an early application in and to put some lines in your diary now.

With prayers and good wishes,

Bishop Trevor