St Joseph's Spirituality and Education Retreat

17/01/2025

If anyone is affected by the multi day power outage and needs a hot water shower, charge their phones or drink a hot cuppa and relax for a bit, you're welcome to come by.

06/01/2025

All our retreats have now been published!

Spirituality Ministry 2025 Retreats brochure

We share with you an updated version of the Spirituality Ministry of the Sisters of Saint Joseph 2025 Retreats brochure!

As they enter a new chapter, Spirituality Ministry have endeavoured to diversify, broaden and increase their offerings for 2025.

They are delighted to be offering these reflection days, retreats and sabbaticals as opportunities to nurture one’s spirit. These programs are an invitation to all to encounter the sacred in their lives.

We share and invite you to view the updated brochure on our website here: www.sosj.org.au/resources/retreats

Mary MacKillop Precinct St Joseph's Baulkham Hills Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre Josephite Mission and History Centre St Joseph's Spirituality and Education Retreat St Josephs by the Sea Williamstown

📷 Spirituality Ministry 2025 Retreats brochure front cover

23/12/2024

As Christmas Eve arrives, we reflect on a year of growth and connection at St Joseph’s Spirituality and Education Centre. Nestled in the natural beauty of Kincumber, we've embraced a renewed focus on offering accessible spiritual experiences through shorter reflection days, workshops, and retreats which we will be coninuing in 2025. These flexible offerings have allowed many to reconnect with their inner selves and find moments of peace amidst their busy lives. We’ve also enjoyed bringing the community together, especially through events like our Christmas Market, which celebrated the season in a joyful and meaningful way.

Inspired by Mary MacKillop’s wise words, “Keep your mind in peace, whatever happens,” as seen in the photo, we’ve strived to create a place where people can find calm and reflection. Looking ahead, we’re excited about 2025. We are grateful for the continued support of our vibrant community and look forward to growing together in 2025. Wishing you all a peaceful and joyful Christmas season and a great start to the New Year 🌿💫

While our offices are closed until January 6, we do offer private accommodation bookings for our centre, which can be booked online https://www.stjosephskincumber.org.au/bookings/
All queries about retreats and group bookings will be answered in the New Year.

18/12/2024

Sustainability doesn't need to be hard at Christmas

We can be overwhelmed at Christmas - shopping, decorating, cooking, etc. With all the hustle and bustle, we often forget to think of our environment impact.

🎁 This holiday season, the Sisters of Saint Joseph are making sustainability easy. They remind us to live sustainably and enjoy a healthy festive period.

🎁 Simple steps such as reducing plastic consumption, composting food waste, and using eco-friendly wrapping paper can make a big difference. Not to mention the positive impact of buying gifts from ethical companies or locally made products.

🎁 This Christmas, let’s reduce our carbon footprint and give back to the environment and our community.

Learn more about having a Sustainable Christmas via our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYmO81H69R0

Laudato Si’ Action Platform Laudato Si Movement Josephite Justice Network

16/12/2024

It was great to have this pantomime during our inaugural Christmas Twilight Market last weekend. Thank you so much to all involved!

13/12/2024

We're very excited about our Twighlight Christmas market tomorrow! The weather looks fantastic, the gardens are in prime condition, the cakes that just came out of the oven look fantastic...we're looking forward to seein you all here (and bring cash please, as some stalls don't have eftpos)

27/11/2024

🎄✨ Last Call for Stall Holders! ✨🎄

We’ve had a couple of last-minute cancellations, so there’s still a chance to secure a stall at our Christmas Market on December 14 from 4pm to 8pm!

This festive celebration is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season, with a variety of handmade and artisanal products, food stalls, a visit from Santa on a fire truck, and plenty of family-friendly activities. Enjoy a magical night with a raffle, chocolate wheel, Christmas Carols, a pantomime, and so much more!

For more event details, visit:
https://www.stjosephskincumber.org.au/event/christmas-twilight-market/

Or check out our Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/12CK61AKQSh/

Don’t miss out on this magical event! 🎁✨

Send a message to learn more

22/11/2024

What a great initiative.

Our online interactive Advent calendar will offer an opportunity to reflect, pray and learn as we prepare for Christmas.

15/11/2024

Julian Tenison Woods and our centre go hand in hand. You can learn more about him on the link below!

Birth of Julian Tenison Woods

On this day (15 November) in 1832, a remarkable man was born in Southwark, England.

In Julian's life, he was a fervent priest and a deeply spiritual man who composed religious songs and poetry, he was a well-respected geologist, botanist, explorer and environmentalist. He wrote many scientific books and articles documenting the history, exploration and geological formation of Australia. The system of education he devised with Saint Mary MacKillop lead to him being appointed the first Director of Catholic Education in South Australia.

He co-founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart and Sisters of St Joseph Lochinvar with Mary MacKillop and founded the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

As Sr Adrienne shares, "today on Julian’s birthday, we acknowledge and celebrate his single-minded love of God, devotion to the Sacred Heart, Saints Mary and Joseph, his unwavering trust in Divine Providence and his mystic lens that could see with depth and humility all the wonders of creation; along with the familial love making it all possible."

View Sr Adrienne's reflection 'Julian Tenison Woods – No Ordinary Man' here: www.sosj.org.au/jtw-no-ordinary-man

14/11/2024

If you happen to be in Melbourne next week, you may want to join this interactive seminar!

BOOK YOUR PLACE TODAY taking time to reflect and dwell in an evening to be 'Awaken to the Divine in Nature'.
Join us for a Reflection Day focusing on the central theme of the 'Experiencing Wonder and Awe: Connecting with Nature' facilitated by Peter Hay.
This interactive seminar will enable you to deepen your spirituality through interconnection with all of life. Includes input, sharing of ideas and a reflective experience in Fitzroy Gardens.
📌 Facilitator: Peter Hay
📌 When: Thursday 21 November 2024
📌 Where: Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre, 362 Albert St, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002
📌 Time: 5:45pm – 7:45pm
📌 Bring a journal or notebook and wear warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes
📌 Cost: $40
📌 Facebook event: www.facebook.com/share/a4Dpvdx1Y4HhUzer
📌 For more information and to book: www.mmhc.org.au/retreat/awakening-to-the-divine-in-nature

04/11/2024

Stunning morning at our Sister property in Williamstown, VIC.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092419444700&mibextid=ZbWKwL

26/10/2024

Aged 16 to 89, our sold out half day workshop "Taste of Presence" gave every attendant the opportunity for some grounding and learning ways of being present. From soulcollage and colouring in, to morning tea and walks in the grounds, gentle movement and stretches to poetry and meditation... it was a great taste of presence and a great taste of what the one day and multi day retreat hosted by Vicki will be like.

25/10/2024

With less than 2 months to Christmas, it's time to promote our Christmas Market on the grounds - we have a couple of stall spots still available if you or anyone you know is interested. We also still have a few rooms available for accommodation options that weekend, in case you need a place for your loved ones to stay (and all rooms will be fully airconditioned by then too, we're on track with our renovations!)

More info here: https://www.stjosephskincumber.org.au/event/christmas-twilight-market/

15/10/2024

Janeane Moore took some stunning photos walking our Mary of the Cross walk last week during a Women's Shed Central Coast NSW Inc meeting and kindly shared them with us.

If you haven't been to our centre yet, come join us for one of our regular morning teas, a walk, or book one of our romantic or family picnic baskets and come for a picnic in our stunning grounds.

Here are some of Janeane's photos which give you a great first impression of our grounds (and her great skill with a camera!)

10/10/2024

Our delicious home made jams and relishes are back in stock. Making these is a team effort at the centre, everyone gets together, brings fruit from their own properties (or helps collect them on site), and then we gets cooking under the warchful eyes of our chef.
You can buy them in our onsite shop or at our upcoming Christmas market.