Program The Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction The Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction seeks to recover the freedom and peace of the Desert Elders. That ‘desert paradise’, to quote Thomas Merton, is where, and how, we can ‘discard the useless and tedious baggage of vain concerns’. With this emptying and liberation, we are more able to devote ourselves to the one thing really necessary: the quest for meaning and love, the quest for our true identity. Making this prayer tradition our own, we grow in compassion for one another and become more sensitive to the movement of the Spirit in their lives, more able to be still and present. Our world cries out for this stillness and presence.  Presenters Rev. Paul Coury, CSsR Director of the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tuscon, Arizona. Paul holds a Masters degree in theology, religious education, art and psychology. Rev Thomas Santa CSsR Former President of Liguori Publications and a former Director of the Redemptorist Renewal Centre, Picture Rocks, Arizona. He is the author of 12 books on pastoral spirituality. Richard White Religious Program and Mission Development Coordinator at St Clement’s, Richard has extensive experience of Ignatian spirituality, qualifications in counseling and degrees in history and theology. Week 1 Week 2 Welcome to Hesychia and Contemplative Spirituality Introduction to Interfaith Spirituality General introductions and an explanation of the history of contemplative spirituality, the desert tradition and hesychia. Fr Tom Santa and Fr Paul Coury What does it mean to embrace a multi faith world? Fr Tom Santa Spiritual Direction for the ‘Spiritual but not Religious.’ An explanation of the evocative mode and its importance for practicum sessions. Fr Tom Santa and Richard White The challenges of working with people who come seeking spiritual direction but with little or no background in traditional faith and who nevertheless are seeking a deep and meaningful relationship with God. Fr Paul Coury Contemplative Listening 12 Step Spirituality Learning the art of listening deeply, with the ears of the heart. Fr Paul Coury The Oxford Group’s highly successful Alcoholics Anonymous program (and its offshoots) has had an enormous impact on spirituality throughout the world. An outline of the 12 Steps and how spiritual direction can benefit from them. Joanna Thyer Introduction to the Evocative Method Lectio Divina An experiential class on learning the ancient Benedictine practice of ‘sacred reading’ and different ways of practicing it. Sr Helen Barnes Theology for the Evocative Spiritual Direction Some theological themes that are helpful for understanding the Hesychia method of spiritual direction. Fr Tom Santa Theologies Encountered in Spiritual Direction An overview of the many different theologies we may encounter among directees in spiritual direction. Fr Paul Coury Stages Along the Spiritual Journey Looking at the many stages that people frequently move through as they seek God along a spiritual path. A helpful framework. Fr Tom Santa Principles of Spiritual Discernment Discernment is one spiritual practice that drives many people into spiritual direction. It means ‘faithful choices’ and there are many ways to help a person discern around life choices. Richard White Relationships as a Window to the Divine Finding the movement of the Spirit in the context of interpersonal relationships. Fr Tom Santa Psychological Dimensions of Spiritual Direction Therapy and Spiritual Direction are quite different yet there are psychological dimensions of spiritual direction that we need to take into account. Fr Paul Coury Gender Differences in Spiritual Direction Honouring both masculine and feminine spirituality in spiritual direction. Sr Helen Barnes and Richard White Self –Care for the Spiritual Director Fr Tom Santa and Fr Paul Coury St Clements is a ministry of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) Sister Helen Barnes rsj Helen is Artist-in-Residence at St Clement’s. Helen is author and illustrator of three books with a life time’s pastoral experience in education and parishes. For further information and a detailed program contact Joanna Thyer Joanna is a published author of five books, including, Steps to Life, a Spiritual Journey with Christian Mysticism and the 12 Steps’, a medical educator and chaplain. The Retreat Director St. Clement’s Retreat and Conference Centre Kalangan Road, Galong, NSW 2585 Tel 02 6380 5247 Fax 02 6386 7353 Email: [email protected] www.stclement.com.au What St Clement’s offers St Clement’s is situated on 800 acres of rolling countryside at Galong on the south west slopes of New South Wales. The European settlement of the property dates to the late 1820s with the Redemptorists gaining title to the property in November 1914. Since 1976 it has been a destination for retreatants seeking spiritual renewal in a beautiful rural setting, complete with a variety of walks and a swimming pool for the use of guests. Our conference and meeting spaces are air conditioned with indoor breakout spaces and easy access to the outdoors. Guests are accommodated in comfortably furnished air conditioned rooms with a choice of either an ensuite room or a single room with shared facilities. Bed linen and towels are provided and wireless internet access is available throughout the complex. Our meals are served in a spacious dining room with generous home style cooking prepared in our own kitchen which is able to cater for vegetarian, diabetic and glutenfree diets. Tea making facilities are available at all times. The all inclusive registration fee covers the Hesychia School from the evening meal on Sunday 5 October to breakfast on Friday 17 October, all meals and accommodation of your choice. Ensuite Room: $1,070 Single room, shared facilities: $950 Registration requires a deposit of $100 Pay in full before 1 February & receive a $40.00 discount. GETTING TO GALONG From Sydney (327kms) take the Hume Highway. Eighteen klms north of Yass (and thirteen klms on from the Yass Service Centre) on the Hume Highway turn right into the Harden exit on Burley Griffin Way (State Route 94), which has been re-routed around Bowning. Drive on through Binalong and for a further 10 klms towards Harden to the Bouyeo - Galong crossroad. Take the right hand turn to Galong village and follow the signs to St Clement’s. From Canberra (111 kms) take the Barton Highway which joins the Hume Highway near Yass. Take the Melbourne-Gundagai Exit. On the Hume Highway take Burley Griffin Way R.94 as above. Buses run daily from Canberra Civic at 9.47am arriving at Galong at 11.45am. From Melbourne (603 kms) branch off Hume Highway at the Jugiong exit and take the Jugiong-Harden Road; turn right at Harden and continue along Burley Griffin Way towards Yass for 20 kms. Take the left hand turn at Galong/ Bouyeo crossroads to Galong village and follow the signs to St Clement’s. BY TRAIN From Sydney The nearest station is Harden. The 7.42am XPT from Sydney arrives at 12.18 pm. Retreatants are met at the Harden Station and driven to Galong. ($20 pp return) The return Sydney train now leaves Harden at 3.13pm arriving in Sydney at 7.54pm. From Melbourne. Please book ticket & luggage to Galong (not Harden). The 8.30am XPT arrives at Cootamundra at 2.37 pm where the CountryLink bus meets the train and at 3.35pm arrives in Galong village where you will be met by a courtesy car and driven to the Retreat Centre. The bus leaves Galong at 11.45am for the return journey with the train arriving in Melbourne at 6.55pm St. Clement’s Retreat and Conference Centre Kalangan Road, Galong, NSW 2585 Tel 02 6380 5222 Fax 02 6386 7353 Email: [email protected] www.stclement.com.au Desert Wisdom and Attending to the Spirit The Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction Sunday 5 - Friday 17 October 2014 ST CLEMENT’S RETREAT & CONFERENCE CENTRE GALONG NSW