Retreat Centre | The Hermitage

RETREAT & SPIRITUALITY PROGRAMS

In addition to the retreat and spirituality programs facilitated and presented by various church groups and other organisations, a number of Marist programs are conducted here each year by the Marist Mission and Life Team. The Hermitage team also offer retreats: The Care for the Soul Retreat is an adult retreat experience offering an opportunity for deepening and integrating prayer, mission and service. These retreats will provide an opportunity for participants to experience input, reflection time, journaling, different styles of prayer (including Eucharist), and the opportunity to meet with a Spiritual Director.

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"A plus, five stars. A perfect retreat, in ways both expected and unexpected. All sessions and all members of the team were wonderful. Thanks for a simple, authentic time."

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“A transforming experience. The words thank you do not say enough. When else have I felt the presence of God so deeply in my life.”

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“Thank you for this wonderful experience that I will now apply in my everyday life and ministry.”

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“I did one of these retreat’s last year and feel I need to do something like this every 6 months. Thank you.”

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“I really enjoyed the time here in this holy place. I enjoyed the way in which both Br Bill’s guided my experience. I am happy I came.”

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“The spiritual wisdom shared from much spiritual reading was helpful. Many gems in the quotes and input.”

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“Another wonderful retreat, I am looking forward to the next one.”

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"Thank you for this retreat. The balanced, paced, varied experience has greatly touched and guided my spirit."

HERMITAGE RETREATS 2024

CARE FOR THE SOUL 2 Nights $430

How do we nurture the Spiritual in the midst of our daily routine? This silent retreat offer participants a quiet and reflective space away from the busy nature of daily life. A variety of input, prayer experiences, individual spiritual accompaniment and silence is offered during the retreat. This retreat is an ideal place to start if you have never experienced a silent retreat. The Eucharist is offered on the final morning of this retreat.

Dates: 23-25th August 2024. Commences 5pm and finishes 11am (AEST)

Contact: John Hickey | john.hickey@marists.org.au

CARE FOR THE SOUL – GIFT OF THE MYSTIC WITHIN 3 Nights $545

This is a guided silent retreat with accompaniment. It would be an advantage to have previously experienced a silent retreat though this is not essential. There will be daily input, Eucharist and a variety of prayer experiences offered. The writings of some of the mystics will be explored during this retreat. Much of the final day will be unstructured to allow participants the space to consider what has been offered during the retreat time.

Dates: 2-5 May 2024. Commences 5pm and finishes 11am (AEST)

Contact: Andrea Grant | andrea.grant@marists.org.au

PRIVATE RETREATS

The Hermitage offers a variety of retreat experiences including those tailored to individual circumstances. If you would like to participate in a personal retreat, please contact Reception on 02 4872 1911 or bookings@thehermitage.org.au. Spiritual direction is available during these retreats for those wishing to consider this.

Prices may vary according to retreat requirements. Individual Hermitage Cottages are available for retreatants and a variety of catering packages are available for these retreats.

ACCOMPANIMENT OR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

The Hermitage offers retreats for those seeking some time in prayer. Accompaniment or Spiritual Direction is available for retreatants, or guests may choose to take some time for a private retreat. Catering or self-catering is available. Please contact the office to make enquiries for retreat availability.

Spiritual Accompaniment at The Hermitage

Life is a long journey, but a journey that cannot be travelled alone. Rather it must be travelled with our brothers and sisters in the presence of God. We are sisters and brothers. We journey as sisters and brothers. (Pope Francis, Korea, August 2014)

The sharing of our journey with others enhances the faith life of any believer. One way of doing this is through spiritual accompaniment.

Spiritual accompaniment is provided at The Hermitage by qualified spiritual companions. This was traditionally described as spiritual direction.

What is Spiritual Accompaniment?

Spiritual accompaniment is when a person walks the faith journey with another person in a safe and confidential setting. The spiritual companion respectfully holds a space for the other to explore their relationship with God.

God tries to reach us in the everyday events of our lives. We often miss the cue and we fail to locate God in the ordinary raw experiences of our lives. Sharing these experiences with a spiritual companion can enable a person to uncover God in their everyday experience. The person can talk honestly and openly about their experience, sharing their hopes, fears, joys, disappointments, and other human realities.

It is Jesus who helps us see the presence of God in the experiences of our lives and it his Spirit that leads and animates any spiritual accompaniment conversation. The companion listens with an open heart, in a non-judgemental manner to help the person to stay present to the movements of the Spirit. Furthermore, spiritual accompaniment supports the person to live out the consequences of this relationship with God.

Spiritual accompaniment is not….

While all aspects of life can be brought to the conversation, it differs from counselling in that the focus is on the presence of God and the person’s relationship with God. It is not about therapeutic practices or problem solving.

It is not a friendship in the ordinary sense of that word even though intimate sharing may take place in this context.

Note: All Spiritual Direction at the Hermitage is undertaken by appropriately qualified Spiritual Directors who are members of a recognised professionally credited Spiritual Direction Association (such as; ANSD, AECSD, CSD or SDI), participate in their own Spiritual Direction and receive regular professional supervision.

As Marists

In keeping with Mary’s presence in our lives – her gentle, comforting, and guiding presence – spiritual accompaniment at The Hermitage seeks to provide a similar presence with those seeking a deeper understanding of their relationship with God.