Origins Retreat Center — Kromdraai, South Africa

A Christian place of silence and prayer in the Cradle of Humankind, Kromdraai

Three times a day, retreatants at Origins make their way to Poustinia, the chapel, to pray: in the morning, at noon and again at 18:00. The rhythm is the spine of the place. Origins Retreat Centre sits on Sterkfontein Caves Road in Kromdraai, Gauteng, in the Cradle of Humankind, and describes itself simply as a place of silence, a sacred space for prayer. It is run by Mosaïek Church, and its stated mission is to support and foster an active prayer life and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. The thinking behind it is drawn from Luke 5:16: Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. To go on retreat, as the centre puts it, is to do the same. It likens itself to the guest houses of monasteries, which have long taken in people who want to step away from everyday noise, but without being a monastery itself. The programme is built from four kinds of retreat. One-day retreats are offered as a first taste of silence and reflection, each gathered around a theme. Weekend retreats run from Friday afternoon to Sunday noon, led by guides from Mosaïek or its wider network. Directed week retreats typically start on a Sunday afternoon and end on Friday noon. Each day the retreatant meets a spiritual director or retreat guide, then takes a specific Scripture or practice into the next day. Solo retreats, as day visits or with a sleepover, are self-directed, though daily conversations with a spiritual director are advised. The buildings and spaces are varied enough to suit day, midweek and weekend retreats. Mosaïek leads its own weekend retreats for groups and silent retreats for individuals, and other churches and groups are welcome to book.

Traditions: Christian contemplative prayer, Silent retreat, Spiritual direction, Scripture-based prayer, Daily communal prayer

Programs: One Day Retreats, Directed Week Retreats, Weekend Retreats, Solo Retreats, Silent retreats for individuals, Group weekend retreats, Daily prayer in Poustinia