Personal & Communal Retreats |
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Xavier House provides retreats for individuals and communities according to Ignatian tradition.
I. Personal Retreats
Personal retreats given can be from 2 days up to 30 days. Spiritual direction may be offered upon request and subject to availability.
We have certain requirements for those who apply for 8 days or more:
1) Individual Guided Eight Day Retreat in Ignatian Tradition: During the 8-day retreats, retreatants will have up to four contemplative prayers each day, approximately one hour for each prayer. Spiritual direction will be provided. Applicants should have 3 or 5-day individual guided retreat experience before. Applicants who do not have such experiences are recommended to come for shorter retreats first.
Spiritual Direction in English can be provided in the following eight day retreats in 2027:
4-12 December, 2026
22-30 March, 2027
19-27 May, 2027
6-14 July, 2027
3-11 August, 2027
4-12 October,2027
1-9 December, 2027
Fee for food and lodging: $3,480 (This fee does not include fees for spiritual direction, offering would be appreciated. For reference, the unit cost of spiritual direction for eight day retreat is $2,000, for details please refer to
Application: 
2) Thirty Day Spiritual Exercise: Written by St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Spiritual Exercises is a long retreat to meditate on the Life of Jesus Christ through prayers, meditations and contemplations, in order to prepare and dispose the soul to rid itself of all inordinate attachments, to seek and find the will of God in the disposition of our life for the salvation of our soul. [Sp. Ex. #1]
The Spiritual Exercises is different from ordinary individual directed retreat. On one hand, there are specific contents for prayer and contemplation; on the other hand, each exercitant's spiritual journey is unique. It will be very profitable for both the exercitant and the spiritual director to enter with openness and generosity to God, to explore and discover the grace in this interior journey. The exercitant shall have thorough understanding and personal experiences of Ignatian prayer and dynamics, therefore it is expected that the applicant shall have eight-day individual guided retreat in an Ignatian tradition within two years. The application process is a discernment process, where the applicant will be accompanied by a spiritual director to discern whether one is well disposed for the Spiritual Exercises. Applicants please contact the Director or the Formation Officer of Xavier House directly to initiate the discernment process. Please allow at least one year for the process.
3) Communal Silent Retreats
Groups are welcome to come for communal silent retreats. Please note that total silence shall be observed in Xavier House. Subject to availability, applicant groups may request for a member of our team of spiritual directors to provide input and guidance during the retreat period.
Online Application 
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Ignatian Spirituality and Theme Retreat:
International Conference - Ignatian Spirituality:
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Ignatian Spirituality: Spiritual Transformation in a Change of Era
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| Introduction |
As part of the centennial celebration of the Society of Jesus in Hong Kong, we are called to a deeper reflection of the meaning of spirituality in this era. The emergence of artificial intelligence compels us to reflect on what it means to be human, the outbreak of war underscores the mounting severity of polarization and enmity. This epochal change is in fact a calling for transformation, from individual person to being Church. Titled “Ignatian Spirituality: Spiritual Transformation in a Change of Era,” this conference intends to discuss how Ignatian Spirituality can contribute to this journey of transformation.
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| Daily Theme |
Day 1: Epochal Change as a Call for Personal Spiritual Transformation
Day 2: Synodality as Transformation of the Church: Joys and Challenges
Day 3: Revisiting the Society’s Universal Apostolic Preferences:
Insights from the Past and the Way Ahead
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| Keynote Speakers |
Fr. Daniel Patrick Huang SJ
Fr. Barton Geger SJ
Sr. Nathalie Becquart XMCJ
Fr. James Hanvey SJ
Fr. Mark Ravizza SJ
Fr. Johnny Go SJ
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| Date
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23-25 July, 2027
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| Venue |
Wah Yan College, Kowloon
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| Participant |
All Interested Persons |
| Fee |
To be confirmed |
| Application |
Coming soon! Please stay tuned. |
Eight Day Theme Retreat: “Sensing Humanity, Sensing the Divine”
| Content |
In the Scriptural tradition, coming to the senses marks the beginning of a conversion journey, a change for a more meaningful life. The younger son turns his life around when “he comes to his senses” (Luke 15:17). Peter finally “comes to his senses” before having realized how he was saved by the angels of the Lord (Act 12: 11). Saint Paul seemed to suggest to the Corinthians that come home to the senses served as a way to know God more fully (1 Cor 15:34).
In the Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius seems to follow the same spirit warning that “For it isnot knowing much, but realizing and relishing things interiorly, that contents and satisfies the soul” [2]. These Exercises emphasize on the tasting (gustar) and trying out (probar), thus focus on the senses. In the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus, one of the essential dimension of Jesuit formation involves with“guarding the senses.”
Follow this spirit, this 8-day Ignatian retreat, “Sensing Humanity, Sensing the Divine,” will provide various spiritual exercises seeking the grace that empowers the retreatants to come home to their senses so to find a home in the heart of God in Christ.
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| Participant |
Participants who have joined prayer workshop or have previous experience of individual guided retreat for three days or above in Ignatian style.
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| Facilitator |
Fr. Hung Pham SJ
Fr. Pham is a Jesuit priest specializing in guiding and teaching the Spiritual Exercises and Ignatian spirituality. His mission includes training future formators, developing different methods of spiritual direction, and fostering networks among Ignatian centers worldwide. He pr eviously served as Director of the Office of Ignatian Spirituality and as provincial assistant for formation in the US. With 26 years as a Jesuit, he has also taught at various institutions, led retreats and seminars globally, and worked in education and refugee services. He holds multiple degrees, including a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from Spain.
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| Medium of instruction |
English, may choose English or Cantonese for spiritual direction
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| Date
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28 Aug - 5 Sep , 2027
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| Time |
From dinner on first day till lunch (included) on last day
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| Venue |
Xavier House, Cheung Chau |
| Fee |
HK$5,980 |
| Application |
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