A retreat for young Catholics
Called to Love
9th - 11th May 2025
Masculinity and Femininity: nature, challenges and wisdom
“Man, whom God created ‘male and female,’ bears the divine image impressed in the body ‘from the beginning’; man and woman constitute, so to speak, two diverse ways of ‘being a body’ that are proper to human nature in the unity of this image.”
Pope Saint John Paul II, General audience, 2nd January 1980
About the ‘Called to Love’ retreats
Called to Love is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the Catholic vision for human love and sexuality, and the discernment around the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Who are the retreats for?
The retreats are aimed at young adults, whether single, dating or engaged.
What’s involved?
The retreats consist of some input, time for prayer and liturgy, discussion and an evening of dinner and dance!
The input will focus on the following themes:
- The Christian understanding of the human person as male and female
- Contemporary challenges to an authentic masculinity and femininity
- Spiritual wisdom for the moral life
- The virtue and role of chastity in human maturation
The retreat is structured around four sessions, with opportunities for discussion, for prayer and reflection, and for an evening social.
The retreat is framed by morning and evening prayer, with Mass, Adoration and the opportunity for confession.
Stefan and Ella Kaminski both have Licentiates from the John Paul II Institute for Studies in Marriage and Family Life, having dedicated their studies to the themes of human love and sexual complementarity. Stefan serves as Director of The Christian Heritage Centre, where he has been creating and delivering Catholic formation content for the last five years. Ella previously worked at the John Paul II Institute in Rome, before joining Stefan in Lancashire following their marriage. She is engaged in teaching dogmatic theology to seminarians on the one hand, and 5-year-olds on the other. Together, they offer marriage preparation courses and ongoing formation for catechetists.
Fr Peter Littleton is a priest of the Diocese of Southwark. He is engaged in a variety of ministries, including teaching, hospital chaplaincy and young adult ministry. He is an increasingly sought-after spiritual director and is engaged in vocations promotion and direction.
Theodore House offers a wonderful venue for any residential course. The tranquil and beautiful surroundings of the Stonyhurst estate offer a peaceful setting with endless opportunities for walks. Guests will enjoy the comfortable recreational spaces and a beautifully lanscaped garden.
For more information about Theodore House, please click here.
- Arrivals for a 10:30am start (Saturday)
- Departures from 3pm (Sunday)
- For Friday arrivals, check in is available from 4pm
Cost
Single room: £230 p.p.
Twin room (sharing): £175 p.p.
Costs include full board from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch inclusive.
If you require assistance with meeting costs, please contact us on [email protected]
“Beautiful in structure and gave strong foundations.”
“Wonderful combination of theology, discussion, lived experience.”
“Beautifully articulate talks.”
This retreat is intended for young adults. If you have any queries regarding eligibility, please do contact us.
Please register below (includes £50 p.p. deposit payment):
Venue & Getting to us:
If you are reliant on public transport, please consider traveling by train to Preston train station. From there, we aim to co-ordinate minicab shares or lifts amongst participants of any given event. If you require further advice or assistance, email us: [email protected]
Fr Roger Dawson SJ is a Jesuit priest, previously Director of St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre. He is trained as a clinical psychologist and has a long experience as retreat and spiritual director. He is currently the Superior of the Jesuits in Scotland.
Fr Emmanuel Mansford is originally from a small village in Bedfordshire. He joined the Franciscan of the Renewal in the Bronx, NY in 1998 and made his solemn vows in 2003. Ordained a priest in 2007, he lived for several years in the friary in the East End of London where he served as the local superior. In 2014 he became the vocation director for the friars and lived in New York City where he was involved in the friars apostolates of preaching the Gospel and serving the needy. He has a passion for preaching and people and loves to see God’s people encounter Him and come to life through the Gospel. He also enjoys playing and watching football and is a boyhood fan of Luton Town FC. He recently moved back to the UK to serve with the friars in their mission in Bradford.
Fr Matthew Jarvis is Prior of 
Born and brought up in Greater Manchester, Mgr John Allen trained for the priesthood at the Venerable English College, studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He served as archivist at the Venerabile and trained in the Scuola Vaticana di Paleografia e Diplomatica at the Vatican Archives. Present in St Peter’s at the opening of the Second Vatican Council on 11 October 1962, he was ordained priest that same month. He has served in the diocese of Salford as curate and parish priest and for eighteen years was secretary to Bishop Thomas Holland. Pope St Paul VI appointed him a papal chaplain in 1977. In 1982 Pope St John Paul II named him a prelate of honour. Elected to the Old Brotherhood of the English Secular Clergy in 1999, he has been president since 2014. Publications include The English Hospice in Rome (ed.), The International Eucharistic Congresses: A Spiritual Odyssey 1881-2016, Palazzola 1920-2020, A Popular History of the Salford Diocese and Pilgrims of Hope: Out and About in the Salford Diocese.
The retreat will be preached by the Monks of 
Father Michael Miners o.c.d.s was born in Blackburn in 1953. He read theology at St Johns College, Durham, becoming a Catholic there in 1974. He undertook postgraduate research in Durham and then at Keble College, Oxford, before joining Ushaw College Seminary. He was ordained as a priest of the Order of Discaled Carmelites in 1984. Fr Michael has worked in both parish ministry and in formation as a novice master and master of students. He edited the Spiritual Journal “Mount Carmel” for eight years, and has a long experience of preaching retreats and offering Spiritual Direction. After five years as Catholic Chaplain at Keele University (1993-1998) he became a priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Fr Michael lectures in Ecumenism at Oscott College and was Chair of the Diocesan Ecumenism Commission.
