Retreats & Programs

EVENT DETAILS
ON SITE
Start: Sun, 12th March 2023
Finish: Thu, 16th March 2023
Fr Brendan Byrne SJ
$380+ GST

“Paul’s Intimate Letters: Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon"

Veteran Scripture scholar and Pauline specialist, Brendan Byrne will give input and invite reflection on the letters, written from prison, in which Paul most reveals his heart and his hopes". Arrival time at Santa Casa is any time after lunch and before a light tea at 5.45pm. Departure time is after lunch


EVENT DETAILS
ON SITE
Start: Fri, 17th March 2023
Finish: Sun, 19th March 2023
Peter Saunders
$360 + GST

“A Stillness Weekend Exploring our Spiritual Connection with the Ocean"

“God is a bright ocean that distils and reveals hidden truths so that my soul has a better understanding of how to trust Love.” Catherine of Siena This weekend will offer a time of rest and quiet in Nature. The retreatant is invited to listen to how God speaks to their heart through Nature. During the weekend, retreatants will have the opportunity to relax and contemplate the beauty of Nature and God’s presence in the Ocean calling them to new life. Arrival time at Santa Casa is any time after lunch and before a light tea at 5.45pm. Departure time is after lunch.


EVENT DETAILS
ON SITE
Start: Sun, 23rd April 2023
Finish: Sun, 30th April 2023
Fr Frank O'Loughlin
730 + GST

A Spirituality for Our Time of Transition

Beginning with our current situation of transition into a new age of the Church. Consequent to this to look at the meaning of Christian conversion as ‘going beyond where we are’. And then to look at ourselves in the light of Jesus ‘original disciples. The meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection as that which shapes Christian identity. And following this to look towards our continuing fidelity: “to the teaching of the apostles, the fellowship, the breaking of the bread and to the prayers” (Acts 2.42) Arrival time at Santa Casa is any time after lunch and before a light tea at 5.45pm. Departure time is before 10am


EVENT DETAILS
ON SITE
Start: Sun, 7th May 2023
Finish: Sun, 14th May 2023
Carole Carmody rsm
730 + GST

Autumn Wisdom

This retreat offers a time just to be - to savour the wisdom of Autumn with all its colour and letting go. The beautiful space at Santa Casa draws the heart to deeper places of contemplation and solitude, refreshment and peace . Each day there is a morning reflection, space for yourself to reflect , walk in the beautiful grounds including the labyrinth, ponder the gifts of the sea . There’s is also opportunity to meet for individual Spiritual Direction if desired. Eucharist will be celebrated each day for those who wish to participate. Arrival time at Santa Casa is any time after lunch and before a light tea at 5.45pm. Departure time is before 10am


EVENT DETAILS
Online
Start: Mon, 15th May 2023
Finish: Sat, 20th May 2023
Elizabeth Dowling rsm
300 + GST

"Remember I Am With You Always" Exploring the Gospel of Matthew

In this retreat we will explore stories from the Gospel of Matthew, bringing some of the insights of Laudato Si’ to our reading of the biblical text. Each day of the six-day retreat will have two sessions of input with discussion at 10am AEST and 4pm AEST. The rest of the day is for your own reflection.


EVENT DETAILS
ON SITE
Start: Mon, 15th May 2023
Finish: Wed, 24th May 2023
Lisa Stewart
930 + GST

Gems of Inner Truth

This retreat in the Ignatian tradition offers an opportunity to gain greater self-awareness. Experiential exploration makes achieving insight into the wonderful richness held in our inner world, possible. Our quest to unwrap this inner wisdom is a challenging one, which at the same time can be difficult, inspiring, puzzling and exciting, as we will seek to answer the most revealing of all questions, ‘Who actually am I?’ There will be group discussion, silence, and the opportunity for individual spiritual direction. Arrival time at Santa Casa is any time after lunch and before a light tea at 5.45pm. Departure time is 10am.


EVENT DETAILS
ON SITE
Start: Mon, 15th May 2023
Finish: Wed, 24th May 2023
Madeline Duckett rsm
930 + GST

SILENT MUSIC

Directed Retreat:  This fully directed 8-day retreat is an invitation to deepen into the silence that dwells within and beyond the noise and activity of our everyday lives. In this sacred time we will listen to the “silent music” arising from our depths and attune to the Spirit’s promptings. There will be the opportunity for spiritual direction each day as well as a daily contemplative time together for those who feel drawn to pray in communion with others. Arrival time at Santa Casa is any time after lunch and before a light tea at 5.45pm. Departure time is 10am.


EVENT DETAILS
ON SITE
Start: Wed, 7th June 2023
Finish: Wed, 14th June 2023
Kerrie Hide
730 + GST

The Fragrance of Oneing

The Beloved is mine and I am the Beloved’s. Song of Songs 2:16 In this silent retreat, we will awaken the sense of the heart, as we enter into the repose of communing silence.  We will be inspired by the beauty of images of mystical union in the Song of Songs, mystical illuminations,  and the writings of mystics such as Hadewijch of Brabant, Mechthild of Magdeburg,  Jan van Ruusbroec, The Cloud of Unknowing, John of the Cross, Abhishiktananda and the evolving contemporary expressions of oneness.   We will ruminate on how these mystics invite us into oneness in the ground of our heart and inspire us to enjoy living from this ground. Arrival time at Santa Casa is any time after lunch and before a light tea at 5.45pm. Departure time is before 10am Bookings Closed


EVENT DETAILS
ON SITE
Start: Fri, 16th June 2023
Finish: Sun, 18th June 2023
Cath Connelly
360

HILDEGARD OF BINGEN.

Who is this woman who was poet, artist, visionary, musician, playwright, spiritual leader, healer and scientist?  Why the upsurge of interest in her nine centuries later?  What does this 12th Century mystic have to say to women of today?  Come and immerse yourself in all that this most amazing woman might offer us. Yes, Cath will bring her harp and play for us! Arrival time at Santa Casa is any time after lunch and before a light tea at 5.45pm. Departure time is after lunch.    


EVENT DETAILS
ON SITE
Start: Wed, 30th August 2023
Finish: Mon, 4th September 2023
Cathy Solano rsm
$520

Encounter: the essence of interculturality and the path to conversion

The Gospels present us with many encounters Jesus has with the women and men of his time. These encounters inevitably changed them - and Jesus too! In this four-day retreat we will reflect on several such encounters and use the lens of interculturality to explore the fears and biases we carry when confronted with people and situations that are different from our usual circumstances. A spirituality of interculturality can help us be more open to the encounters we are offered. Pope Francis preaches that interculturality is God’s gift to us, a gift that is desperately needed in our times.


EVENT DETAILS
On site and Online
Start: Mon, 25th September 2023
Finish: Mon, 2nd October 2023
Madeline Duckett rsm
730 + GST (on site) $300 + GST (Online)

“IMMORTAL DIAMOND”

“IMMORTAL DIAMOND” These last two words of Gerard Manly Hopkins poem are a powerful and poetic statement of faith. They provide a metaphor for the essence of who we really are - in Christ. It is an essence that we spend a lifetime seeking, one way or another. This retreat explores the movement of seeking that essence throughout our lives and the discoveries along the way, especially in the final season(s) of life. The retreat invites us into the “heart seeing” needed to see more than the externals and so respond to Love’s calling to sink into the deeps of the Ground of Being, there to discover the true self hidden there. Spiritual direction will be available, and some form of creativity encouraged. Arrival time at Santa Casa is any time after lunch and before a light tea at 5.45pm. Departure time is 10am.


EVENT DETAILS
ON SITE
Start: Fri, 1st December 2023
Finish: Fri, 8th December 2023
Carole Carmody rsm and Margaret Moore rsm
730 + GST

Gentle Waiting with a Hopeful Heart

This retreat invites you to a time of reflection and peace during the beautiful season of Advent. It offers space and nourishment at the end of the year as well as a savouring of the gifts and challenges. The peaceful surroundings nourish the mind, heart and body during the day as well as rest and peace in the evening. Each day there will be a morning and evening reflection as well the opportunity for Spiritual Direction if desired. Arrival time at Santa Casa is any time after lunch and before a light tea at 5.45pm. Departure time is before 10am