Oasis Retreat.

The retreat lasts 15 days and usually consists of 60-80 people divided into groups of eight to ten; each group has its own group leader, someone who is often only a few years older than the rest of the group but has undergone special training. The responsibility for the entire camp lies with a priest, called the “supervisor”.

Living conditions are spartan; participants lodge with the local farmers, often sleeping in bams. Shopping and preparing meals has to be done by each group on a daily rota system.

The retreat has three aims: to bring the Word of God to the participants; to teach them to pray better and to bear witness to Christ in everyday life. Though slightly dif­ferent in detail, the programme always fol­lows one pattern. Each of the 15 days begins with common prayer, as early as 7 o’clock, followed by a Mass. The sermon corresponds to one of 15 mysteries of the Rosary, to which the whole day is dedicated. After the Mass and a meagre breakfast there is an hour of group work “sharing the Gospel”. Extracts from the Bible are read and discussed under the supervision of the group leader. Emphasis is put on the relevance of Christ’s teaching to the everyday life of Oasis members. Then a break for lunch and a free period which allows for personal prayer, meditation, reading, etc. The groups meet again in the early afternoon for “a walk with open eyes” through the sur­rounding countryside. The idea of the walk is to intensify awareness of the beauty and per­fection of nature and point to the Creator of all things -God, while contrasting this with the abuses of God’s gifts by man.

In the late afternoon all groups meet together for “Bible school” — a theological lecture delivered by the priest. The day ends with a bonfire and then evening prayer at about 10 p.m.

There are three exceptions to this pattern. On the fourth day, the offertory day at the camp, a liturgy is held for the renewal of bap­tismal vows. By the simple gesture of lighting a small candle from a huge common candle the participants pledge themselves to follow the Light — Christ.

On the ninth day the Way of the Cross is acted out. A huge cross, corresponding to the original size, is carried in turn by the partici­pants. At the 12th station a Mass is celebrated at a makeshift altar. Whenever possible a hill is chosen for the Way of the Cross to add to the element of realism.

The 13^th day is “Pentecost Day”, also called Community Day. Several camps come together for a day, sometimes as many as a thousand people altogether. During a solemn Mass — the central point of the day — rep­resentatives from all camps share their spiritual experiences.

On the last evening before departure instead of the usual simple evening meal there is an agape banquet, a traditional Christian supper, lavish by Oasis standards, for the par­ticipants. Agape ends with an hour of witness — people pray and talk openly about the meaning and importance of die last 15 days to them. Next morning the last Mass is celebrated and all participants are “sent” out into the world to spread the good news, as the Apostles were sent by Christ.