2012 Program

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Year at a Glance
People, Planet & Spirit Connect Education Programs and Events for 2012
Regular Programs				Pg
Wednesdays each week	Volunteers Day at Rahamim	10am-3pm Starting Feb 1st		4
Thursdays each week	D.U.C.K.S – A self-help group for people with anxiety & depression – Pat Linnane rsm	10am - 12noon Starting Jan 19		4
Last Friday Feb - May, Aug - Nov	Green Drinks	5.30 - 7pm		4
2nd Saturday each month	Rahamim Community Gardeners’ Gathering	9.30am – 11am Sum 10.30 – 12 Win Starting Feb 11		5
Phone for Details & Bookings	Private Retreats & Spiritual Direction Contact Sr Ann-Maree O’Beirne rsm	02 6331 9571		5
Phone for Details	Country Care – School Environmental Education Program. Contact John Fry	02 6332 9950		5
Phone for Details & Bookings	Earth Literacy: Pilot Program for Catholic Schools By Catholic Earth Care Australia.	02 6332 9950
Phone for Details	Cosmology for Kids Pachamama Program for Schools Contact Sr Patricia Powell &          Roz Townsend.	02 6332 9950
Calendar Program
Date	Event		Time	Pg
March 7, 14, 21, 28	Cosmology Patricia Powell rsm		7.30 – 9pm Wednesdays	7
March 17 & 18	Dare To Dream – Maree Haggerty		9-30am – 3.30pm Sat & Sun	6
March 23	Praying With Scripture Part 1 Lectio Divina – Pondering the Word Rahamim Spirituality Team		10am – 3pm Friday	8
March 24 & April 18	Heritage Tour – Logan Brae		10am – 12noon Sat & Wed	6
March 31 April 1	Australian Open Gardens at Rahamim		10am – 4.30pm Sat & Sun	11
April 13	Autumn Concert in the Chapel – featuring Loosely Woven – “On the Road 2012”		7.30 – 9.30pm Friday	11
April 28 – May 5	Autumn Retreat: The Universe and the Revelation of God – Mary Dennett rsm		Six Day Retreat Sat pm – Sat am	9
May 23	Healthy Soils, Healthy Plants, Healthy People!		9.30am – 4pm Wednesday	8
May 25 – 27	Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream – Margie Abbott rsm		Friday 9am – Sunday Lunch	7
June 1 – 3	Praying with Your Dreams – Mary Flynn rsj		Fri eve – Sun Lunch	9
June 4	Supervision tips for the Supervisee! – A workshop for Spiritual Directors – Mary Flynn rsj		10am – 4pm Monday	6
June 6, 13, 20, 27	Resilient Landscapes - Guides for Listening to the Earth Story – Paula Smith rsm		10am – 12.30pm Wednesdays	9
June 27 – July 31	Full Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius – Kathleen Jones & Ann-Maree O’Beirne		30 Day Retreat	9
August 2 – 9	Winter Retreat - Journey of the Universe – Journey of the Self – Valda Dickinson rsm		Six Day Retreat Thursday evening  – Thursday morning	10
Date	Event		Time	Pg
August 25 & 26	Introduction to Permaculture – Nick Ritar (Milkwood)		9am – 5pm Sat & Sun	8
September 7	Praying With Scripture part 2 – Gospel Contemplation – Rahamim Retreat Team		10am – 3pm Friday	10
September 5, 12, 19, 26	Cosmology – Patricia Powell rsm		7.30 – 9pm Wednesdays	7
October 18 – 21	Awakening From Within... Reclaiming You – Tarnie Fulloon		Thurs 9.30am – Sun 4pm	6
November 8 – 15	Spring Retreat: “Ageing – It Is All A Question Of Story” (Thomas Berry) – Valda Dickinson rsm		Six Day Retreat Thurs pm – Thurs am	10
November 23	Praying With Scripture Part 3 – Conversation with the Divine – Rahamim Retreat Team		10am – 3pm Friday	11
Costs in the Program are a suggested Donation. Our suggested fees are very generous and do not always cover our costs.   If you cannot afford the suggested donation, please don’t let this prevent you from participating in a program you desire, simply give what you can.   We always welcome donations beyond the suggested fee if you can afford to give more.   Thank you for your support.

Volunteers Day				Patricia Powell rsm
Wednesdays	10am – 3pm
If you would like to join a team of volunteers at Rahamim on Wednesdays we have plenty of wonderful projects to work on. We will find something to suit your skills. Come for the full day or part thereof.
D.U.C.K.S				Pat Linnane rsm
Thursdays	10am – 12pm
A self-help group for people suffering from depression, grief and loss, and loneliness. The depression support group known as DUCKS has been a key part of the community support offered by the Mercy & Justice Centre and then Rahamim since 1995.   Why the name DUCKS? The acronym stands for:           Depression Understanding Concern Kindness Support   One member in the early days explained that it was a very apt name: ducks glide on the top of the water and can look quite serene and calm, while underneath their feet are paddling desperately to keep them going. So it can be for people with depression as they struggle each day to cope. If you would like to join this group please contact Sr Pat Linnane at Rahamim.
Green Drinks				John Fry
Last Friday each Month Feb – May, Aug - Nov		5.30 – 7pm			Donation
Green Drinks is a social evening where people who have an interest or a passion about the environment and ecology can gather, network, listen to a guest speaker and engage in discussion. Our drinks are not green in colour, rather the conversation is “Green” in nature. Come along to Rahamim Conference Centre and meet some wonderful people.
Community Gardeners’ Gathering				Community Garden Committee
2nd Saturday each Month		9.30 – 11.30 (Summer ) 10.30 – 12.30 (Winter)
The Rahamim Community Garden has a gathering for gardeners and members on the second Saturday of each month. This is a time to work in the communal gardens, share some ideas and learn new gardening tips and sometimes share some produce and a BBQ lunch. If you would like to become a member of the Rahamim Community Garden, please contact Sr Ann-Maree at Rahamim.
Private Retreats & Spiritual Direction		Ann-Maree O’Beirne rsm Kathleen Jones & Maureen Schiemer rsj
“Spiritual direction is the contemplative practice of helping another person or group to awaken to the mystery called ‘God’ in all of life, and to respond to that discovery in a growing relationship of freedom and commitment.” James Keegan, SJ “Spiritual direction is a time-honored term for a conversation, ordinarily between two persons, in which one person consults another, more spiritually experienced person about the ways in which God may be touching her or his life, directly or indirectly.”Marian Cowan, CSJ “Spiritual direction explores a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human. Simply put, spiritual direction is helping people tell their everyday sacred stories. Spiritual direction helps us learn how to live in peace, with compassion, promoting justice, as humble servants of that which lies beyond all names.” Liz Budd Ellmann, MDiv, Executive Director, Spiritual Directors International Ongoing Spiritual Direction is available for anyone who wants to explore more deeply their own spiritual journey. Simply phone Ann-Maree O’Beirne rsm on 02 6331 9571 or 0407 329902 or Kathleen Jones on 02 6331 9405 or 0429 319405 Maureen Schiemer rsj 02 6336 1277 or 0429 468 847
CountryCare Schools Environmental Education Program - CCSEEP				John Fry
Phone for details and bookings			During school term		$5 per student
Rahamim’s CountryCare School Environmental Education Program has been developed for all students to learn how to conserve energy, collect water for better plant growth, create healthy soils, and grow food gardens, wetlands and forests. The CountryCare vision is to share the knowledge and develop the skills that will motivate students to plan and manage for environmental change. Students will also learn about our planets natural systems and challenge some of the accepted ways of engaging with the natural world. A typical half day school visit involves an introduction and discussion in our conference room, a site tour involving selected themes, and a practical environmental work project.

Dare to Dream		Maree Haggerty
March 17 & 18	Saturday & Sunday 9.30am – 3.30pm				$145 Live Out $210 Live In
Using the principles of Projective Dream Work, this two-day workshop will offer ways to unwrap dreams, ways to ‘crack the code’, so that participants can see with greater clarity the way their life is and why it might be so.
Heritage Tour: Logan Brae			Contact Rahamim Office
March 24	Saturday 10am – 12 Noon				$10 Includes Devonshire Tea
A walk through St Joseph’s Mount/Logan Brae/Rahamim is a walk back through 130 years of Bathurst History in the areas of Civic, Political, Educational, Religious, Cultural and Contemporary life.
Supervision Tips for Spiritual Directors				Mary Flynn rsj
June 4	Monday 9.30 – 4pm				Cost TBA
A Workshop for Spiritual Directors. We will explore what supervision is and how to best make use of it for our ministry of Spiritual Direction.

Awakening From Within... Reclaiming You		Tarnie Fulloon
October 18- 21	Thursday 9.30 - Sunday 4pm	$510   Live Out $695   Live In 3 nights
In this safe and nourishing workshop you will learn ways to heal and release what is not serving you. By using specific BodyFreedom® techniques of movement, writing and dialoguing this workshop will assist you in finding your aliveness, connection and answers from within. Your body knows how to heal and when you give it the space, time and focus to express itself it gives you all the information you need to expand, and feel alive and free again.

Cosmology					Patricia Powell rsm
March 7, 15, 22, 29 September 5, 12, 19, 26	Wednesdays 7.30 – 9pm					$10 per session
Everyone has a cosmology. This course is an introduction to the new cosmology based on contemporary science. It explores how an operative cosmology has the power to influence our experience, our understanding and our response to reality.
Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream				Margie Abbott rsm
May 25 - 27	Friday 9am – Sunday Lunch		$180 Live Out: Course,        Lunches & M/A Tea. $300 Live In: Course, B&B Fri & Sat, and all meals.
Awakening the Dreamer offers a bold vision for an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on Earth. Margie will explore the current state of our planet from the perspective of our interconnectedness with all things and connect with a powerful global movement to reclaim our future. This powerful multi-media exhibit has been shifting lives worldwide. We will consider four questions: .              Where Are We? .              How Did We Get Here? .              What's Possible for the Future? .              Where Do We Go from Here? There will be time for quiet reflection and sharing, and experiencing Nature in Rahamim’s beautiful grounds, we will listen for God's presence and guidance in the voice of the Earth and its peoples.
Healthy Soils, Healthy Plants, Healthy People		Walter Jehne
May 23	Wednesday 9.30am – 4.30pm	Donation
This workshop will explore the science of creating and maintaining healthy soils which in turn create healthy plants which provide good nutrition for human and animal development with the following areas being key:   1.     Australia's accelerating $110 billion dis-ease industry and social challenge. 2.     The epidemiology of our key health and disease challenges. 3.     The association of such disease increases with our diet and food quality. 4.     Changes in the quality of our soils, nutrient dynamics and thus food in recent decades. 5.     Potential health implications from changing from natural to current food production systems. 6.     Response options; what we know, don’t know and need to know. 7.     Criteria for minimizing risks and ensuring the integrity of our food and food systems. 8.     Preventative health action and priorities at community levels.
Introduction to Permaculture		Nick Ritar (Milkwood)
August 25 & 26	Saturday & Sunday 9am-5pm	Cost TBA
Join Milkwood Permaculture's Nick Ritar as he leads you through 2 days of permaculture design theory and action. This course will give you a comprehensive overview of how to apply pro-active, ecological design techniques to your immediate environment - whether you live in a small apartment, a quarter-acre block, or a rural property.

Praying With Scripture Part 1 – Lectio Divina – Pondering the Word			Rahamim Spirituality Team
March 23	Friday 10am – 3pm			$20
This is a day of quiet reflection where you will be lead through how to pray with scripture using the age old method of prayer – Lectio Divina. The day includes input, space and time for you to spend with the Divine and an opportunity to share your experience if you so wish. BYO Lunch – morning tea and afternoon tea provided.
Autumn Retreat: The Universe and the Revelation of God			Mary Dennett rsm
April 28 to May 5	Saturday evening – Saturday morning Six Day Live In Retreat			$540
For some people the new Universe Story raises questions about God. For people of faith the Universe reveals God – as Trinity – as Incarnate. This retreat provides the opportunity to reflect on God revealing Godself through the Universe.
Praying With Your Dreams			Mary Flynn rsj
June 1 – 3	Friday Evening to Sunday Lunch			$145 Live Out $245 Live In
God takes every possible opportunity to communicate with us, using even our dreams to share his life and love with us. This weekend invites us to enter into a way of exploring our dreams in prayer, so that we can discover God’s personal word to us.
Resilient Landscapes - Guides For Listening to the Earth Story			Paula Smith rsm
June 6, 13, 20, 27	Wednesdays 10am – 12.30pm			$10
This workshop will follow the life and writings of a number of people who have been in awe of creation and whose search seems highly relevant for this time when old and new stories seem to be in collision.
Full Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius		Kathleen Jones Ann-Maree O’Beirne rsm
June 27 to July 31	30 Day Silent Retreat			Cost on application
The Spiritual Exercises are a set of structured spiritual exercises, woven with a particular dynamic into a retreat. The essential aim of the retreat is to free people so they can deepen their relationship with God and be at peace in their response to God’s call. “The Spiritual Exercises will help you to make the most of yourself.” (Ignatius) Over the last 450 years the Spiritual Exercises have been fruitful for hundreds of thousands of people across cultures, social conditions and churches. They have helped seekers and lovers, the confused and the sure, the sinful and the wounded. They have been received by those desiring more in their spiritual life, those with major life decisions ahead and those who simply seek confirmation that they are living their religion well. (Spiritual Exercises [238])
Winter Retreat: Journey of the Universe – Journey of the Self			Valda Dickinson rsm
August 2 – 9	Six Day Silent Directed Retreat Thursday pm – Thursday am			$580 Limit 6 People
It has been said that the “world view” we hold influences the way we see things and the way we live. Simultaneously it influences the way we image and relate to the Divine. This retreat will be an opportunity to ponder how the patterns and rhythms of nature revealed in “The New Universe Story” reflect your own life journey, and how this is challenging or disturbing your faith journey and that of the communities to which you belong. There will time for silence, prayer, spiritual reading and accompaniment.
Praying With Scripture Part 2 Gospel Contemplation			Rahamim Spirituality Team
September 7	Friday 10am – 3pm BYO Lunch			$20
This is a day of quiet reflection where you will be lead through how to pray with scripture using the age old method of prayer – Gospel Contemplation. The day includes input, space and time for you to spend with the Divine and an opportunity to share your experience if you so wish. BYO Lunch – morning tea and afternoon tea provided.
Spring Retreat: “Ageing – It is all a Question of Story” (Thomas Berry)			Valda Dickinson rsm
November 8 - 15	Six Day Silent Directed Retreat Thursday pm – Thursday am			$580 Limit 6 People
It has taken billions of years of evolution to get the world where it is today. The maturing of spirit, insight, community and compassion has involved numerous stories of trials and errors, challenges and relationships, joys and sorrows, births and deaths, chaos and creativity. This retreat is an opportunity to remember, harvest and celebrate the wisdom gleaned from your evolving story. It is also a time to ponder what is setting and what is rising for you today. There will be time for silence, prayer, spiritual reading and accompaniment.
Praying With Scripture Part 3 – Conversation with the Divine – Intimacy with God			Rahamim Spirituality Team
March 23	Friday 10am – 3pm			$20
This is a day of quiet reflection where you will be lead through how to pray with scripture using the age old method of prayer – The Colloquy or Conversation with the Divine. The Colloquy part of your prayer is the place or space where you are most intimate with God, sharing your thoughts and feelings and waiting and listening for God’s response. The day includes input, space and time for you to spend with the Divine and an opportunity to share your experience if you so wish. BYO Lunch – morning tea and afternoon tea provided.

Australian Open Gardens at Rahamim		Rahamim Staff & Volunteers
March 31 & April 1	Saturday & Sunday 10am – 4.30pm		Admission $6 Free under 18
Mature trees surround the gracious 1878 homestead, today serving as a convent and environmental learning centre. Permaculture community garden of raised vegetable beds. Rose garden, labyrinth of seaside daisies, ornamental crabapples. Recently planted trees and shrubs funded by an AOGS grant. Talks and demonstrations through the weekend. Refreshments available on site.
Autumn Concert in the Mount Chapel “On the Road 2012”		Loosely Woven
April 13	Friday 7.30 – 9.30pm		$20 Adult $5 Children under 16
Loosely Woven are an adhoc troupe of musicians from the Northern Beaches who come together, playing and performing music just for the fun of it. They have offered Rahamim a concert as part of their “On the Road 2012” tour to Bathurst then south to Goulburn and Canberra. Featuring an eclectic selection of songs ranging from musical comedy to timeless classics and also songs about social justice. Come and enjoy an evening of music and fun and support Rahamim’s fundraising efforts.

Margie Abbot rsm Sociometrist and adult faith educator, Margie works in private practice in the areas of counselling, equal opportunity, spirituality and retreats and is the author of four books.

Dr. Valda Dickinson rsm Valda has a long history of involvement in education. During the past 16 years her life has been enriched through interactions with many people and communities both in Australia and overseas. She is interested in exploring with others the implications of the new cosmological and ecological insights for life-style and spirituality. She believes that one of the challenges for us humans today is to open our hearts and minds to love and care for the planet and its community of life. Valda has a Ph.D in Education, a Bachelor of Theology and Masters degrees in Spirituality and Culture and in Human Relations and Community Education.

Mary Dennett rsm Mary is a Sister of Mercy who taught senior secondary students in biology, chemistry and religious education for many years. In recent years she has completed the Earth Literacy Course at Genesis Farm New Jersey and a Master of Arts in Culture and Spirituality at Sophia Centre, Holy Names University in California.

Mary Flynn rsj Mary is a Sister of St Joseph was trained in the CRD model of spiritual direction and retreat work in Australia, has several years experience in the field and graduated in Ignatian Spirituality and retreat work at Toronto University Guelph, in Canada, and as a supervisor of spiritual directors and retreat teams at Burlingame, California. Mary is currently on the Retreat Team at Ignatian Centre of Spirituality Canisius, Pymble.

Tarnie Fulloon Tarnie Fulloon MA, is medically trained Body Intuitive Physiotherapist and movement facilitator. She is an author, international speaker and workshop and workshop leader, and creator of BodyFreedom™.com. Tarnie specialises in awakening the body intelligence, and awakening the feminine heart centre, through healing touch, dialogue and movement. She believes all the answers are stored in the body and when the body intelligence is accessed she has witnessed many women (and men) reclaim their right to express themselves from a place of joy, love, power and freedom.

John Fry Since July 2010 John Fry has been the “Living with Sun and Water” environmental project officer at Rahamim in Bathurst. During the last 20 years John has designed, managed and facilitated environmental restoration projects across NSW and the South Pacific, including Landcare, Rivercare, Bushcare and Green Corps programs. John is a CSU communications graduate and has training and permaculture certificates.

Dr. Maree Haggerty rsm Maree is a Sister of Mercy. Formal and informal studies have enticed Maree into an exploration of the ever-changing relationship between energy and creativity, physicality and spirituality. Maree holds a Master of Arts in Applied Theology, a Doctor of Ministry in Creation Spirituality. She is a trained process facilitator and an accredited leader and mentor of InterPlay.

Walter Jehne Walter Jehne is a soil microbiologist with research experience in CSIRO and extensive work in government and industry. In his work with Healthy Soils Australia, he has been involved in assisting landholders to access and implement innovative soil management and remedial solutions. He is a member of the Sustainability Science team and has a keen interest in developing autonomous water systems.

Kathleen Jones Married with five children; Kathleen has an MA in Christian Spirituality, and has a strong desire to enable others to encounter God's compassionate, all-embracing love for them in their own sacred stories and in the detail of their daily lives. Kathleen has been involved in Directing Retreats in Everyday Life in the Bathurst Diocese for three years and is currently completing a Graduate Diploma of Spiritual Direction through Melbourne College of Divinity. Kathleen is a member of the Rahamim Spirituality Team and Rahamim Community Garden Committee.

Pat Linnane rsm Pat is a Sister of Mercy, educator, facilitator and long time social justice advocate. Pat founded the Mercy and Justice Centre at St Joseph’s Mount after years teaching then working as a Parole Officer within the NSW Justice System. She also founded the D.U.C.K.S program which continues to be an important support for those suffering depression and anxiety. Pat is passionate about educating for justice and is a founding member of the Bathurst Refugee Support Group and now oversees a respite cottage for refugees on the St Joseph’s Mount property. Pat was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Charles Sturt University for her years of work in Social Justice. She is currently Facilitator of the D.U.C.K.S. program.

Patricia Nugent rsm Patricia is a Sister of Mercy. She has completed an MA in Applied Theology from Berkeley, CA, USA and a 9 month internship in spiritual direction at a Jesuit Centre at Guelph, Canada in 1996-1998. Since then Patricia has been offering retreats and spiritual direction in the Bathurst Diocese and beyond. Patricia is a member of the Rahamim Spirituality Team

Ann-Maree O’Beirne rsm A Sister of Mercy, Ann-Maree has fifteen years experience teaching and six years as a parish pastoral assistant. She is sustained by faith and life in God and enjoys assisting others in their search to find and give expression to God in their everyday life. Ann-Maree has Masters degrees in Education & Theology and a Graduate Diploma of Spiritual Direction through Melbourne College of Divinity. She has been involved in Directing Retreats in Everyday Life and Spiritual Direction in the Bathurst Diocese for the last three years. Ann-Maree is currently on the Rahamim Spirituality Team and Rahamim IT and Web Management. She is also a member of the Board of Rahamim Inc.

Patricia Powell rsm Patricia is a Sister of Mercy and an educator in faith and spirituality. She is passionate about education using the New Universe Story as a foundation for a new world view which underpins all that occurs at Rahamim. Patricia has a M.Theol from Toronto University Canada and is currently completing a D.Min through Sydney College of Divinity. She is the Executive Officer of Rahamim Ecological Learning Community.

Nick Ritar Nick is a Permaculture educator based at Milkwood Permaculture Farm, near Mudgee, NSW. He provides world-class courses and workshops in a range of sustainable farming and living practices - all within a relaxed, professional and positive hands-on environment.

Maureen Schiemer rsj Maureen is a Josephite Sister with degrees in Theology and Christian Spirituality and a certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Heart of Life, Melbourne. Maureen has been involved in Directing Retreats in Everyday Life in the Bathurst Diocese for the past two years. After long involvement in Catholic Education in the diocese, Maureen is currently Pastoral Assistant in the Oberon parish. Maureen is also a member of the Rahamim Spirituality Team.

Dr Paula Smith rsm Paula is a Sister of Mercy, educator and sociologist who has worked for many years with women’s storytelling. She has a wealth of experience and delights in investigating times of cultural change. Paula has a PhD in Poststructual Feminism and is using this research in her workshops throughout Bathurst Diocese and around Australia. Paula is currently President of Rahamim Inc Board

Roz Townsend M Ed Admin, BA (Social Science), Dip Teach, Dip Adolescent Development Roz is a recognised Australasian educator and meta coach. As well as her training programs Roz helps people understand how their brains are organised. She gives clients the tools to understand how they choose to think, feel and behave - that is how they create their own life and work situations and how these can be changed. Roz is also an author of several books.