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An Other Voice
A National Gathering of the Spiritual Direction Community of Australia
This second gathering of the Spiritual Direction Community of Australia offers an opportunity for spiritual directors of all traditions to come together to listen deeply to some of the contemporary voices impacting our ministry today:
- Listening to the Earth
- Listening to a universally shared religious Spirit
- Listening to the challenge of Nonviolence
National Gathering
Friday Night 24 April
Patricia Fox RSM will give the keynote address – “God As Difference In Communion”. Otherness and difference – particularly that which threatens and disturbs – is a primary challenge of our times. It provides an invitation to experience God as Other and to deepen our reception of God as Communion.
Patricia is a Sister of Mercy from Adelaide who has been involved in secondary and tertiary education, as well as in formation, spiritual direction, and retreat work. She has held leadership positions within the Mercy Institute and the Archdiocese of Adelaide. Patricia's doctoral studies were in systematic theology with a focus on the Trinity and on feminist theologies. She is presently a member of the faculty of the Adelaide College of Divinity and is directing a ministry formation program for the Catholic Archdiocese based on that campus.
Saturday 25 April
Theme: Contemporary issues confronting spiritual directors in this country.
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Anne Boyd CSB will speak about listening to the earth. Anne is a Brigidine Sister with a long history of involvement in Catholic Education at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. In 2002, she fulfilled a growing desire to study the inter-relationship between ecology and spirituality and visited a number of centres in Ireland and the United States. She also completed studies in Earth Literacy and Earth Ethics. Anne is currently the co-ordinator of the Earth Song Project, sponsored by seven Religious Orders in Victoria. She enjoys gardening, bush walking, and is an avid follower of the Western Bulldogs! |
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John Seed will talk about listening to a universally shared religious Spirit. John is a long time environmental activist who, as well as working on the nuts and bolts of conservation, is deeply interested in the spiritual and psychological aspects of protecting our planet. He has worked with Thomas Berry, Sister Miriam Therese McGillis and Matthew Fox to create rituals that reframe the scientific creation story into a spiritual one and has for many years explored the overlaps between ecology and the great faith traditions. Practical and effective nature conservation and restoration projects in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand have flowed from this focus. |
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Brendan McKeague will discuss listening to the challenge of nonviolence, with a particular focus on 'love of enemy'. Brendan was born and raised in Northern Ireland where he was exposed to a culture of violence, injustice, and faith-based, denominational segregation. The cycle of violence was maintained by a culturally-embedded fear of 'the other' expressed in an 'us and them' division. For the past twenty-five years, while living in Australia, Brendan has been working in the area of adult education, facilitation and conflict transformation. He is an Associate of the Pace e Bene Franciscan Service in Nonviolence and enjoys combining his Celtic spirit with a passion for sustainable, nonviolent peace-making. |
Sunday 26 April
Patricia Fox will continue her keynote presentation and facilitate a process session. A Worship service follows and the morning concludes with lunch. The afternoon is available to existing spiritual direction networks and associations to have their own gatherings and for others to find out about them.
Formators’ Day
Thursday Night 23 April and Friday 24 April
This will be an opportunity for formators in Australia to share their experience of forming spiritual directors and dialogue with the Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction about the new Formation Guidelines: Recommendations to Foster, Support, and Recognise the Formation of Spiritual Directors in Australia (2008)
RegistRation
Listed below are the options regarding registration at the Formators’ Day and the National Gathering.
Formators’ Day: Thursday evening 23 and Friday 24 April 2009
Option A: Attendance at Formators’ Day and accommodation at Mary MacKillop Centre (Including Thursday evening meal, and Friday breakfast and lunch) $196.00 (Inc. GST)
National Gathering: Friday evening 24 Friday – Sunday afternoon 26 April 2009
Option B: Attendance at National Gathering (Including Friday evening meal, Saturday lunch and Conference Dinner, and Sunday lunch) $265.00 (Inc. GST)
Option C: Attendance at National Gathering and accommodation at Mary MacKillop Centre (Including Friday evening meal, Saturday breakfast, lunch and Conference Dinner, and Sunday breakfast and lunch) $490.00 (Inc. GST)
Formators’ Day and National Gathering: Thursday evening 23 - Sunday afternoon 26 April 2009
Option D: Attendance at Formators’ Day and National Gathering (Including Thursday evening meal, Friday lunch and evening meal, Saturday lunch and Conference Dinner, and Sunday lunch) $331.00 (Inc. GST)
Option E: Attendance at Formators’ Day and National Gathering, and accommodation at Mary MacKillop Centre (Including Thursday evening meal and Friday breakfast, lunch and evening meal, Saturday breakfast, lunch and Conference Dinner, and Sunday breakfast and lunch) $686.00 (Inc. GST)
Register Your Interest
To register your interest, click on the “click here” selection below and select the option that suits you. Upon receipt of your registration of interest, we shall forward you a Tax Invoice. Upon our receipt of your payment, we shall confirm your registration. For those seeking accommodation at Mary MacKillop Centre, please register your interest by Monday 2 February.
(Please note that while the Mary MacKillop Centre can host 150 delegates attending the National Gathering, the Centre can only accommodate 50 delegates. Upon registering your preferred option, we shall advise you as to the availability of accommodation at Mary MacKillop Centre or suggest alternative accommodation nearby from which you can easily attend the conference.)
Register your interest by clicking here and completing our online form.
Contact Us
For further information about the National Gathering and the Formators’ Day contact:
Anne Lane PBVM
National Conference Coordinator
Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction
49 Park Road
BURWOOD NSW 2134
P. (02) 9701 0215 E. annelane@ozemail.com.au
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation of a registration must be in writing to the National Conference Coordinator prior to Wednesday 8 April 2009. Cancellations prior to 8 April 2009 will receive a full refund less a $44.00 administrative fee. No refund will be given for cancellation after 8 April 2009, however substitutions will be possible. |
