The day is intended to promote our relationship with God so that we will be more real about our relationships with ourselves, other people and the world.  To this end, we go apart, we seek out a secluded place and listen.  We seek an undistracted time when we can be as present to the Presence as we can be.  This in turn will enhance our ability to be present to the Presence in the busyness of our daily lives.

There is ample evidence in the Gospels that Jesus did precisely this.  Aside from the reference to forty days in the desert – see Matthew 4:1ff; Mark 1:12ff; Luke 4:1ff – we find the following references in Luke’s Gospel:

·        even under pressure from the people who needed him, “he would go off to some deserted place and pray” (5:16);

·        before he chose the twelve apostles “he went onto the mountain to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God” (6:12-16);

·        “he was praying alone” when the disciples came to him and he put the question: “Who do the people say I am?” (9:18-21);

·        he was “transfigured” when “he went up the mountain to pray” (9:28-29);

·        the disciples, having observed Jesus at prayer many times, asked him to teach them how to pray, and in reply he said: “When you pray, this is what you are to say: Father, may your name be held holy …” (11:1-4);

·        on the Mount of Olives, in his darkest hour, Jesus told his disciples to “pray not to be put to the test” and “withdrew from them, about a stone’s throw away, and knelt down and prayed” (22:39-44);

·        on the Cross he cries out in the words of Psalm 31:5: “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit” (23:46).

THE PRACTICALITIES

You will be out in the countryside.  We recommend that you wear the sort of clothes you would wear if you were going bush walking.  Most especially, wear shoes for rough terrain.

Take your personal journal or writing materials together with a Bible.

Coffee, tea and biscuits will be provided.  If you want to eat more than that, please take what food you think you will need.  We recommend that you fast.

Marie Biddle and Michael Whelan will meet you in Harrington Street, near the entrance to Aquinas.  We will set out from there at 7.30am.  It will take us about 75 minutes to get to “Nazareth.”  We will aim to be back at Harrington Street by 5pm.

Inquiries: secretary@aquinas-academy.com

Date posted: 1 May, 2010
Guided Day of solitude and silence at "Nazareth" 02 - MAY 1 2010

The day is intended to promote our relationship with God so that we will be more real about our relationships with ourselves, other people and the world.  To this end, we go apart, we seek out a secluded place and listen.  We seek an undistracted time when we can be as present to the Presence as we can be.  This in turn will enhance our ability to be present to the Presence in the busyness of our daily lives.

There is ample evidence in the Gospels that Jesus did precisely this.  Aside from the reference to forty days in the desert – see Matthew 4:1ff; Mark 1:12ff; Luke 4:1ff – we find the following references in Luke’s Gospel:

·        even under pressure from the people who needed him, “he would go off to some deserted place and pray” (5:16);

·        before he chose the twelve apostles “he went onto the mountain to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God” (6:12-16);

·        “he was praying alone” when the disciples came to him and he put the question: “Who do the people say I am?” (9:18-21);

·        he was “transfigured” when “he went up the mountain to pray” (9:28-29);

·        the disciples, having observed Jesus at prayer many times, asked him to teach them how to pray, and in reply he said: “When you pray, this is what you are to say: Father, may your name be held holy …” (11:1-4);

·        on the Mount of Olives, in his darkest hour, Jesus told his disciples to “pray not to be put to the test” and “withdrew from them, about a stone’s throw away, and knelt down and prayed” (22:39-44);

·        on the Cross he cries out in the words of Psalm 31:5: “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit” (23:46).

THE PRACTICALITIES

You will be out in the countryside.  We recommend that you wear the sort of clothes you would wear if you were going bush walking.  Most especially, wear shoes for rough terrain.

Take your personal journal or writing materials together with a Bible.

Coffee, tea and biscuits will be provided.  If you want to eat more than that, please take what food you think you will need.  We recommend that you fast.

Marie Biddle and Michael Whelan will meet you in Harrington Street, near the entrance to Aquinas.  We will set out from there at 7.30am.  It will take us about 75 minutes to get to “Nazareth.”  We will aim to be back at Harrington Street by 5pm.

Information: secretary@aquinas-academy.com

Date posted: 2 July, 2010
Guided Day of solitude and silence at "Nazareth" 03 - Friday July 2 2010

The day is intended to promote our relationship with God so that we will be more real about our relationships with ourselves, other people and the world.  To this end, we go apart, we seek out a secluded place and listen.  We seek an undistracted time when we can be as present to the Presence as we can be.  This in turn will enhance our ability to be present to the Presence in the busyness of our daily lives.

There is ample evidence in the Gospels that Jesus did precisely this.  Aside from the reference to forty days in the desert – see Matthew 4:1ff; Mark 1:12ff; Luke 4:1ff – we find the following references in Luke’s Gospel:

·        even under pressure from the people who needed him, “he would go off to some deserted place and pray” (5:16);

·        before he chose the twelve apostles “he went onto the mountain to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God” (6:12-16);

·        “he was praying alone” when the disciples came to him and he put the question: “Who do the people say I am?” (9:18-21);

·        he was “transfigured” when “he went up the mountain to pray” (9:28-29);

·        the disciples, having observed Jesus at prayer many times, asked him to teach them how to pray, and in reply he said: “When you pray, this is what you are to say: Father, may your name be held holy …” (11:1-4);

·        on the Mount of Olives, in his darkest hour, Jesus told his disciples to “pray not to be put to the test” and “withdrew from them, about a stone’s throw away, and knelt down and prayed” (22:39-44);

·        on the Cross he cries out in the words of Psalm 31:5: “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit” (23:46).

THE PRACTICALITIES

You will be out in the countryside.  We recommend that you wear the sort of clothes you would wear if you were going bush walking.  Most especially, wear shoes for rough terrain.

Take your personal journal or writing materials together with a Bible.

Coffee, tea and biscuits will be provided.  If you want to eat more than that, please take what food you think you will need.  We recommend that you fast.

Marie Biddle and Michael Whelan will meet you in Harrington Street, near the entrance to Aquinas.  We will set out from there at 7.30am.  It will take us about 75 minutes to get to “Nazareth.”  We will aim to be back at Harrington Street by 5pm.

Information: secretary@aquinas-academy.com

Date posted: 19 July, 2010
AN EVENING WITH DONALD COZZENS

Monday July 19 2010

6pm-7.30pm

Salvation Army Assembly Hall, 140 Elizabeth St Sydney

$20/person

An opportunity to hear a presentation from Fr Cozzens and be part of an open forum with him.

RESERVATIONS ARE NOT NECESSARY BUT THEY DO HELP WITH THE ORGANIZATION

Donald Cozzens is Writer in Residence and Adjunct Professor of Theology at John Carroll University in Cleveland.  He spent the 2001-2002 academic year as a scholar at the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he studied the dynamics of institutional denial. His research led to his award-winning book, Sacred Silence: Denial and the Crisis in the Church (Liturgical Press, 2002).

For more than a decade, Cozzens has been writing and speaking about the January of 2002 when the clergy sexual abuse scandal received wide media attention, he has appeared on “Meet the Press” with Tim Russert, Terry Gross’ “Fresh Air,” NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and BBC radio and television.  His experience as vicar for clergy and as president-rector of Cleveland’s Saint Mary Seminary led to his best-selling and award winning book, The Changing Face of the Priesthood (Liturgical Press, 2000) which has been translated into Portuguese, Italian, German, Spanish, French, Dutch, and Czech editions.  His latest books are Faith That Dares to Speak (Liturgical Press, 2004) and the award-winning Freeing Celibacy (Liturgical Press, 2006).

A priest of the Diocese of Cleveland, Cozzens has served as spiritual director, counselor, and retreat master for monks, nuns, priests, and bishops.  His doctoral research focused on the philosophical anthropology of the Lutheran philosopher and theologian, Paul Tillich.

Date posted: 22 August, 2010
Guided Day of solitude and silence at Nazareth 04 - August 2 2009

SundayAugust 22 2010.

See the note to the first of these days, April 3 2009.

Information: secretary@aquinas-academy.com

Date posted: 3 September, 2010
Guided Day of solitude and silence at Nazareth 05 - September 3 2010

Friday September 3 2010

See Day of Solitude and silence scheduled for Friday March 26 2010 for details 

Inquiries: secretary@aquinas-academy.com

Date posted: 10 October, 2010
Guided Day of solitude and silence at "Nazareth" 06 - Sunday October 10 2010

The day is intended to promote our relationship with God so that we will be more real about our relationships with ourselves, other people and the world.  To this end, we go apart, we seek out a secluded place and listen.  We seek an undistracted time when we can be as present to the Presence as we can be.  This in turn will enhance our ability to be present to the Presence in the busyness of our daily lives.

There is ample evidence in the Gospels that Jesus did precisely this.  Aside from the reference to forty days in the desert – see Matthew 4:1ff; Mark 1:12ff; Luke 4:1ff – we find the following references in Luke’s Gospel:

·        even under pressure from the people who needed him, “he would go off to some deserted place and pray” (5:16);

·        before he chose the twelve apostles “he went onto the mountain to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God” (6:12-16);

·        “he was praying alone” when the disciples came to him and he put the question: “Who do the people say I am?” (9:18-21);

·        he was “transfigured” when “he went up the mountain to pray” (9:28-29);

·        the disciples, having observed Jesus at prayer many times, asked him to teach them how to pray, and in reply he said: “When you pray, this is what you are to say: Father, may your name be held holy …” (11:1-4);

·        on the Mount of Olives, in his darkest hour, Jesus told his disciples to “pray not to be put to the test” and “withdrew from them, about a stone’s throw away, and knelt down and prayed” (22:39-44);

·        on the Cross he cries out in the words of Psalm 31:5: “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit” (23:46).

THE PRACTICALITIES

You will be out in the countryside.  We recommend that you wear the sort of clothes you would wear if you were going bush walking.  Most especially, wear shoes for rough terrain.

Take your personal journal or writing materials together with a Bible.

Coffee, tea and biscuits will be provided.  If you want to eat more than that, please take what food you think you will need.  We recommend that you fast.

Marie Biddle and Michael Whelan will meet you in Harrington Street, near the entrance to Aquinas.  We will set out from there at 7.30am.  It will take us about 75 minutes to get to “Nazareth.”  We will aim to be back at Harrington Street by 5pm.

Information: secretary@aquinas-academy.com