OUR MISSION AT EMMANUEL
Emmanuel…”God with us”!
This blessing invites us to reach out to others from the richness of the Christian spiritual tradition through offering opportunities for
prayer
personal growth
pastoral formation.
In desiring to respond to the ‘signs of the times’ we hope to be
a community that is responding to the Spirit in the challenges and joys of our world.
in an environment of dedicated hospitality.
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction is about listening to God in one’s life experience and finding God in the ordinary things of life. The trained Director is a companion who journeys with the one who comes and, through contemplative listening, listens to where that person is and what is happening in his or her life. Together they notice God’s active presence and find ways to respond to this.
For more information contact us or attend one of our introductory sessions.
Individual Retreats
We have a number of options available for people who would like to make an individual retreat for any length of time and at any time of the year. These include an Individual Directed Retreat, Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola (a 30 day retreat) and a retreat in daily life.
Please contact us for more information if you think one of these retreats may suit you.
About Retreats
A retreat offers the opportunity for time apart from the cares and concerns of daily life in order to be more fully present to the God who is always present to us. Significant times of silence will always be part of a Retreat or Quiet Day.
Bookings at least three weeks in advance are necessary.
Emmanuel Centre Staff
The team at Emmanuel for 2007 are Margaret Cousins ssj, Carmel
Drew ssj
(Ministry Coordinator), Dot Beer and Tina Ritchie (Office Assistants), Trish Dance ssj (Community Coordinator), Peter Ryan
and Ed van Galen (Admin. Coordinator). The ministry is supported by a number of
fantastic lay and religious volunteers.
Volunteering Opportunities
The ministry of Emmanuel is heavily dependent upon its community of volunteers who assist staff. Volunteers assist in many ways according to their interests, skills and time availability. Some lead courses, groups, minister through Spiritual Direction and offer us prayer support. Others help organise our extensive library, assist in our office and help in the planning of our programme. This year we especially need more people to assist us in practical ways- in our garden, our dining room and occasionally
house keeping at our centre. If you are interested in how you may become further involved in the Emmanuel community we’d love to hear from you. Please speak to
Ed for more information.
How can we help you?
The team is happy to respond to your requests for assistance with presentations and programs in the areas of spirituality and pastoral care. We can work with you in providing prayer days, retreats or reflection sessions aimed at deepening a personal relationship with God.
About weekend programmes and retreats
· All retreats are residential and include meals and accommodation (linen and towels provided)
· Some of our weekends are residential as indicated on flyers (sent on request)
· For non-residential programmes we can provide bed and breakfast for $25 a night.
· Bookings are essential at least three weeks in advance. Activities will be cancelled if there are insufficient numbers of participants. We will contact you to confirm your booking or to let you know of a cancellation.
Information on all programmes (including retreats) is available on flyers, which will be sent on request.
Retreats: basic rate….$65 per day
Residential weekends: $130 or more, depending on programme
Non residential weekends: Available on request
For groups using Emmanuel as a venue, costs are negotiated by the Centre with the organisers.
The Emmanuel Centre is dependent upon the financial contributions of those who attend the centre. We ask participants to make a responsible donation for the activities they attend. Where a set cost has been made, we make every effort to keep it as low as possible. It is our policy that no one be excluded from any of our activities due to cost. We are happy to accept an affordable donation.
Please note: cancellations and changes to our programme
can occur. Please contact the Centre to confirm details at time of
booking.