The Centres of Ignatian Spirituality

Our Centres offer retreats on spiritual themes to meet the needs and desires of particular people. These retreats offer spiritual conversations about prayer and life experience in guided groups or individual spiritual direction. Each retreat has it’s own rythmns of silence and withdrawal, guidance, prayer, liturgy, teaching, rest and recreation. Please read the retreat descriptions to choose the weekend that best meets your desires.

No special knowledge or holiness is required! In every retreat, expect to be given encouragement, spiritual direction, spiritual exercises and ways to pray. Finally these retreats will offer practical ways for you to continue to deepen your relationship with God.

Within a Day

For God’s Sake Stop

Sat 27 March (Loyola, SA)
Sat 8 May (Campion, VIC)
Sat 11 Sept (Loyola, SA)
Sun 14 Nov (Campion, VIC)

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” We offer you a day of quiet prayer and a listening ear. This is a chance to experience silence, spiritual direction and enjoy a gentle introduction to Ignatian Spirituality. ($60 Campion, $30 Loyola - live-out)

I Need Time Out

Need to break the cycle of busy-ness, activities and no time? Why not create some space and catch up with yourself and your God this day. 9am to 4pm. ($65 live-out)

Introduction to Meditation in the Christian Tradition

Sat 6 Mar (Canisius, NSW) Sat 24 Jul (Canisius, NSW)
Des Purcell SJ, Guy Yeomans, Sally Longeley

In recent years, many people seeking a deeper spirituality have sought out Eastern religions and gurus, often unaware of the treasure in the Christian faith tradition. This introductory day offers three short talks on aspects of meditative prayer including the use of Scripture. Each talk is followed by an hour or so for individual silent meditation. There will be a time of group reflection at the end. Lunch, morning and afternoon teas provided. 9am - 4pm ($65 live-out)

Come Dance with Me

Dance is a powerful medium to liberate the inner self by the free expression of movement of the body. For a short while you can put your busy mind to rest, and experience the sheer joy of expression through movement. Based on Ignatian principles, this short day of prayer and reflection invites you to discover the joy and freedom of your inner self by experiencing the scripture stories not with your mind, but with your body. A safe and holy space is created using music and scripture where you can just be yourself, and dance with Jesus. ($30 live-out)

Be Still and Know that I am God

A day for prayer and reflection, being still, knowing that God is God. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea provided. 9am-4pm. ($65 live-out)

Tuesday Afternoons - Ignatian Prayer with Art

Tuesday afternoons 1.00 – 3.00pm Mar - Oct (Faber, QLD)
Kerry Holland, Ann Hoare and the Faber Retreat Team

In a happy, peaceful environment enjoy praying silently together with others. Paint, write or use other creative means as you contemplate the reading of the day. Some art materials provided or bring your own. ($20 per session)

Praying with Music

Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable (Leonard Bernstein). “In my father’s house there are many rooms” (John 14:2) – this retreat invites you to explore through the door of music some of the many rooms in the house of your Father. In a silent prayerful space you are invited to enter the music and allow it to communicate the mysteries of the scriptures to you. ($30 live-out)

Come and See

May, July, September Wednesday evenings 7.30-9.00 pm (Campion, VIC)
Campion Team

These evenings are a chance for you to come, relax and be guided through diffferent styles of meditation and contemplation. We will use Imaginative Contemplation, Music, Poetry and Prayer of the Senses to lead you gently in meditative prayer. Come to one or all of our sessions. ($20 per session)

Gospel on Location

“Resurrection of Jesus” Wed 7 April Dawn (Loyola, SA) “Birth of Jesus The Messiah” Wed 8 Dec 7.30 pm (Loyola, SA)

Loyola Team Two hours of meditation, gospel reflection & quiet contemplation. (Free)

Nurture for Carers

Fri 21 May (Campion, VIC) Fri 17 Sep (Campion, VIC)
Trish Chisholm, Marea Richardson

This day is set aside for those who give care for others. It will be a time for rest, nurture and renewal of spirit. During the day you will be guided in gentle meditation, relaxation, music and scripture. We will provide a delicious lunch and lots of space to refresh and rest. ($65 live-out)

Praying with Fantasy

“What is now proved was once imagined” (William Blake). The rules of discernment had their birth in a daydream of St Ignatius, and so this day of silent reflection offers you an opportunity follow the experience of St Ignatius and give wings to yourimagination. ($30 live-out)

The Gospel of Luke

Guy Carlson SJ Series of discussions on Luke’s Gospel from 10-11.30am. ($10 per session)

Spirituality of Motherhood

How we can experience God in the midst of the hectic demands of little people, often coupled with a lack of sleep! This retreat is specifically created for mothers, and will offer some perspective on experiencing the felt presence of God in the ‘eye of the storm’. There will be some silence, solitude, reflection and food you have not had to prepare yourself! Morning Tea & Lunch provided. 9.30am-2.30pm. ($55 live-out)

Eating Honey with God

When God uses images, they have immense power to transform us heart, mind and soul - from the inside out! The Scriptures offer many rich images given to us by God and of God. Some are so well known that we can almost become numb to their potency. This day will explore three images with time for solitude and silence. Here you can drink deeply from living waters and “feed on God in your heart, by faith”. Morning and afternoon teas & lunch provided. 9am-4pm ($65 live-out)

Wellness day for Professionals

This is a day for professionals to step aside from your normal busy routine to be nourished. The day will offer opportunities for reflection and to refocus their energy. We will provide a delicious lunch and lots of space to refresh and rest. ($65 live-out)

Reflecting on the Call to Volunteer

Many people are drawn to help those who are at the edges of our society – the homeless, the mentally ill, the refugee, the prisoner, those living in isolation and loneliness. But how do we sustain such a commitment and how do we make sense of what drives that commitment? God is found in every human being we encounter. The peace we all seek is to be found in our service and our compassion for others – what we crave for ourselves is found in our giving. When we reflect on and explore our volunteering in this way, our experience becomes all the richer and all the more sustainable. (No Cost)

The God Who Comes

Do you want to prepare your heart for Adve

nt, but find yourself very busy? Do you hate the materialism of Christmas yet have many things you need to do? This half day offers you space to breathe in a hectic life. Draw aside for the afternoon and be led in a silent retreat, present to the God who knows you and beckons you near. Afternoon tea provided. 1pm-5pm. ($25 live-out)

Three Day Retreats

Painting, Poetry and Ignatian Prayer

Wed 8 to Fri 10 Sep (Faber, QLD).
Kerry Holland, Maria Shelley and the Faber Retreat Team

Using simple art materials and poetry enjoy the experience of some of the ways of Ignatian prayer. It is easy to find a sense of peace and quiet in the lovely old home set in spacious grounds with beautiful octagonal chapel designed by priest/artist David Binns. There will be some sessions on art and poetry as a group and also individual direction. This is a live-out retreat and will be held at the Centre for Christian Spirituality, Brookfield, Qld. ($90 per day live-out)

Pathway to the Oasis – Men’s Retreat

Reflective contemplation for men seeking inner silence and a relationship with God. Retreatants have the opportunity to experience various ways of praying from the Ignatian tradition. Held at Sevenhill, the retreat will commence at 7.30pm on Friday night and end at 3.00pm on Sunday. ($180 live-in).

The Prodigal Son – Men’s Retreat

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus gives us deep insights into the issues we face within ourselves, in developing an intimate relationship with God. This retreat will explore the implications of this parable for our own personal journey. Held at Sevenhill, the retreat will commence at 7.30pm on Friday night and end at 3.00pm on Sunday. ($180 live-in)

Six Day Retreats

Contemplation to Receive Divine Love

The contemplation, or ‘Contemplatio’ as it is known, is the last crowning ex

ercise in The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius. Extravagantly and restfully, we will take a whole week to seek, receive and absorb the graces of this contemplation. We will delve prayerfully into the great gifts we have received: creation, redemption and personal gifts. We will wonder at how God works in us, in all the creatures, heavens and plants giving life and growth. We will seek to see deeply how all that is good and gift, descends from God like rays from the sun or waters from a fountain. We will open ourselves to God’s gift and work, to the very source of divine love. Interested? ($588 live-in, $500 live-out)

Praying St Luke’s Gospel

Six days of mainly silence, to pray the great stories of Luke’s Gospel. Individual spiritual direction will be provided and two reflections each day will be offered as a catalyst for your meditations. ($595)

Theme/Preached Retreats - 2010