This retreat offers a space for rest, contemplation ,and for hope to bloom The focus of the retreat is the human heart together with all its longings especially in the midst of doubt and disillusionment. Let the quiet space of Santa Casa surround and nurture you during this special season Arrival time at Santa Casa is any time after lunch and before a light tea at 5.45pm. Departure time is before 10am Fully Booked
“ Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love…” Come and join us in the peaceful surrounds’ of Santa Casa, where together through prayer and spiritual conversation with your spiritual director we will explore what it means to kindle into flame the fire of God’s love which burns so uniquely in the core of our being. Silent Retreat. Spiritual Direction is available
In this retreat, we will explore a selection of stories from across the gospels, focusing on the characterization of women in these stories. Women’s discipleship, faith and initiative will be highlighted. Silent Retreat
Now is the time of the nightingale In every meadow you hear The sound of the turtledove. Sg 2:12 Quietened by the beauty of Santa Casa, in this silent retreat we will enter into the garden of the Song of Songs, into the garden of our hearts. We will listen to the song of the Beloved inviting us to bathe in contemplation. Drawing on the Song of Songs and the reflections of mystics on the Song, we will hear in the silence the song of our soul creating a new harmony with the song of the soul of the earth.
Drawing on connections to nature, a passion for learning, prayer, soul friends, music, art, poetry and pilgrimage, Celtic spirituality offers a deeply engaging way of relating to God. Director of The Abbey, Co-Director of The Living Well centre for Christian Spirituality, spiritual director, retreat leader and professional Celtic harpist, Cath Connelly is well qualified to lead us through a weekend of exploring the major themes of this form of spirituality. The retreat will be reflective, experiential and informative. It will include harp music, meditation, input sessions and time for personal reflection.
Deepening our Encounters with God, Self, Others and Creation Need a break? Seeking an opportunity for renewal? This is a sacred time for you to stop, rest, explore, reflect, be nourished and emerge anew. Inviting lay and religious, women and men, who are ministering as Christian servant leaders in education, health, aged care and related pastoral and social work. We offer a wide range of topics including: prayer, scripture, spirituality, integral ecology, mystics, cosmology, indigenous spirituality, human and faith development, contemporary justice issues, and more ... A Six-day retreat is included Weekly spiritual direction is available for participants. Daily prayer and liturgies will sustain communal living. We have ensured a balanced timetable of input, personal reflection and free time for excursions and activities such as iconography, yoga, book club and film nights. Cost includes accommodation, meals and elective activities. Please note travel costs to and from Queenscliff, and expenses for personal excursions on free days are excluded. To Book An application form is available from Lizzie Finnerty rsm, Manager santacasa@ismapng.org.au or call 0418 194 261. Places in this sabbatical are limited to 15 participants. Closing date for applications is 1st August 2025.
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14. My heart and soul rejoice in you, with all the substance of my flesh and spirit, through the being of the entire universe. Gertrude of Helfta, Spiritual Exercises VI: 487 In the silence of Advent we will immerse our hearts in the fullness of love that has become us and dwells within us. We will enjoy the teachings of Gertrude of Helfta and Mechthilde of Hackeborn, especially their Advent writings, as we sense with all our heart the birthing of the Word in contemplation. We will delight in this birthing and its unfolding wisdom in this evolutionary moment, making everything new, everything worthy and everything one.