Opportunity to make a pilgrimage and retreat to Iona
Some parishioners from St. Mark's Dundela are making a pilgrimage and retreat to Iona 8-11 March 2008. Currently there are a number of spaces available. The retreat venue is the Bishop's House of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Iona and the speaker/retreat leader will be the Bishop of Connor, the Rt. Revd. Alan Abernethy. His theme will be " Pilgrimage". The House has a capacity of twenty three which we would have to fill to make the trip economically viable.
The accommodation available is double room sharing and the cost of the trip will be approx. £270 per person, which includes all transport from Belfast to Iona and back and all meals in Iona. It does not include meals during travelling. There may be a small extra charge for the short journey as foot passengers on the little ferry from Mull to Iona as coaches and cars are not permitted on Iona.
Transport will be by private coach leaving St. Mark's in time for the 0730hrs. crossing on 8 March and returning late on the evening of the 11 March. In the interests of comfort (although only 23 people will be travelling) the coach will be a modern 53-seater.
Although the primary purpose of the trip is to make a retreat (Bishop Abernethy is a very experienced retreat leader) there will be plenty of spare time to explore this most beautiful island which has so many associations with Ireland. There will be opportunities to visit the Abbey for worship and there is a very regular cheap ferry service to Mull.
Because the Bishop's House is a not-for-profit organisation they will require a substantial deposit to be paid in January so individual deposits will need to be paid fairly soon.
If you are interested in joining the group from St Mark's please contact the Revd. John McDowell on 02890 659047, or e-mail rectorstmarks@btinternet.com
The Bishop's House on the island of Iona, which looks out over the Sound of Iona, and nestles in the shadow of Iona Abbey, was built by Bishop Chinnery Haldane in 1894 as a house of 'prayer, study, contemplation and Eucharist'