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]