This year's Annual Retreat for the Stechford Associates took the form of a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Thérèse in Lisieux. As some Associates needed time off work plans needed to be in place several months ahead.

On 14th September, the Sisters along with 9 Associates, a Corpus Christi Carmelite Sister and Parishioner Mrs. Terri Longworth set out by car and minibus on Pilgrimage to Lisieux. We sailed overnight from Portsmouth to Le Havre arriving at the Ermitage in Lisieux for lunch on 15th.

It was a blessed experience to visit the Carmel and other places associated with St Thérèse and to pray each day as a group and individually. The Ermitage is a wonderful place to stay where we were waited on at table by the Community of Donum Dei Missionaries.

We prayed for all Sisters & Associates of Mercy and many more besides.

We left Lisieux on 19th September and returned home safely but tired in the early hours of 20th September. We recommend this Pilgrimage to all who read this on the website.