Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, St. Joseph’s by the Sea, Williamstown

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Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, St. Joseph’s by the Sea, Williamstown Retreat Centre - Attentive to the Sacred, the Evolving Universe, Relationships of Compassion Spiritual Direction is also available by appointment.

St Joseph’s by the Sea is a gathering place for all who seek to: nurture contemplation, explore and celebrate the wonders of the Universe and Earth, nourish body, mind and spirit, develop just and respectful relationships and live into new ways of being. St Joseph’s by the Sea has several meeting rooms and breakout out areas for hire as well modern short term accommodation available. Through out the year we also offer live in Retreats, which offer participants space to be nourished and reflect on their journey. For more information email us [email protected]

Happy Grandparents Day to all the grandparents in our community.Grandparents hold a special place in our lives. They sha...
24/10/2026

Happy Grandparents Day to all the grandparents in our community.

Grandparents hold a special place in our lives. They share their stories, their time and their wisdom, and often pass on the faith and traditions that shape who we become.

Today, we give thanks for the love and care of grandparents, and remember those who are no longer with us but whose influence we still carry.

Today marks the start of Children's Week, a national celebration of children and their rights, running until 1 November....
23/10/2026

Today marks the start of Children's Week, a national celebration of children and their rights, running until 1 November.

This year's theme reminds us that every child has the right to use their own language, celebrate their culture and practise their faith.

Caring for children was at the heart of Mary MacKillop's mission. She and the Sisters of St Joseph opened schools in some of the most remote corners of the country, so that children who might otherwise miss out could learn, grow and feel they belonged.

This week, we give thanks for the children in our lives and for everyone who helps them feel safe, valued and free to be who they are.

Life is a Journey is a five-day retreat at our Williamstown centre, now available as a day-only option for those who can...
22/10/2026

Life is a Journey is a five-day retreat at our Williamstown centre, now available as a day-only option for those who can’t stay overnight.

Facilitated by Chris McPhee MSC, this retreat draws on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius to help you reflect on where you’ve been, where you are now, and where God might be calling you next.

📅 16–20 November 2026
🕘 9:30 am daily
📍 Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, Williamstown
💲 $250 (no meals included)

Book your place: https://mmsm.org.au/retreats/life-is-a-journey-day-only/

On 20 October 1887, four Sisters of St Joseph arrived in Perth to begin the first Josephite foundation in Western Austra...
19/10/2026

On 20 October 1887, four Sisters of St Joseph arrived in Perth to begin the first Josephite foundation in Western Australia.

They came at the invitation of Bishop Matthew Gibney, whose diocese stretched across a vast and sparsely populated region. The Sisters soon travelled on to Northampton, a small copper mining town around 500 kilometres north of Perth, where they began teaching and were warmly welcomed by the local community.

It was the start of a story that would see the Josephites serve families from the Goldfields to the Kimberley in the decades that followed.

Today, that legacy continues at Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, Safety Bay, where we welcome people from across WA to rest, reflect and reconnect.

17/10/2026

Four Values Behind Mary MacKillop’s Canonisation

Today (17 October) we celebrate the 16th anniversary of Mary MacKillop's canonisation.

"Mary’s deep faith and love for her God, and the values she held, helped her to live an extraordinary life in the face of great obstacles," shares Sr Diane Philips.

"We are beneficiaries of her loving service to God and to God’s people in her lifetime. We praise and thank our good God for our Australian saint."

View four values of Mary that highlight aspects of her life and contributed to the cause for her canonisation here: www.sosj.org.au/four-values-mmk-canonisation



📸 Hanging of banner of Mary MacKillop on 16 October for her canonisation on 17 October 2010 at St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.

Today we pause to remember Father Julian Tenison Woods on the anniversary of his death, 7 October 1889. A man of extraor...
07/10/2026

Today we pause to remember Father Julian Tenison Woods on the anniversary of his death, 7 October 1889. A man of extraordinary vision whose legacy continues to inspire the Josephite mission to this day.

One week to go 🗓️The Way, Your Way is on Friday 9 October at MMSM Williamstown.There are a handful of places left. Take ...
02/10/2026

One week to go 🗓️

The Way, Your Way is on Friday 9 October at MMSM Williamstown.

There are a handful of places left. Take a day to slow down to walking pace wiyth Mark Walsh's guidance.

If you've been thinking about it, this is the moment.

BOOK NOW: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01p6dh0

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God goes with you." (Deuteronomy 31:6) Most blokes don't ...
01/10/2026

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God goes with you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Most blokes don't get a day to stop. Career pressure, family demands, mortgage, kids, ageing parents – and underneath it, a restlessness or a loneliness you don't really talk about. It piles up fast, and it's easy to let your faith get buried under all of it.

Men's Retreat is a new one-day retreat at our Baulkham Hills centre, led by Nehme Khattar – Head of Mission at Catholic Healthcare, father, sports lover and straight talker. Straight-talking input, honest reflection and small group conversation, with no pressure to share. Practical spirituality and prayer you can actually use on Monday.

For men 25–50 who've been asking why life feels harder than it used to, how to carry it all without losing yourself, and where God fits into any of it.

📅 Saturday 17 October 2026

🕘 9:30am – 3:30pm

📍 Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, Baulkham Hills

💛 $198 incl. GST – morning tea and lunch provided

Book now: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ieLmOLXNdk-FaUfTgqP7W-aArKEERZZIqW8HbkXqj0FUNFlFRk5CVk00U05SVkRCRzlBQk5ZTUZPRi4u

29/09/2026

Ever caught yourself asking any of these?
✔️ Where am I actually heading?
✔️ What do I need to leave behind?
✔️ How do I make this decision well?
✔️ Can I find God right where I am?

The Way, Your Way is a day for exactly that. Guided by pilgrim and spiritual director Mark Walsh, you'll explore the spirituality of walking pilgrimage through silence and prayer, Lectio Divina and Visio Divina, music, spiritual conversation and a short walk together.

Whether you've walked the Camino, are preparing for one, or are simply standing at a crossroads, you'll come away with space to reflect on the change or decision in front of you, contemplative practices you can take home, and the quiet confidence that God can be encountered wherever you are.

📅 Friday 9 October
🕘 9:15 am – 3:15 pm
📍 MMSM St Joseph's by the Sea, Williamstown
💛 $198 incl. GST – morning tea and lunch included
👉 Book: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01p5F60

24/09/2026

"And what does the Eternal require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

Pilgrims have always known that walking changes things. Step by step, the noise falls away and the real questions come up: Where am I heading? What am I carrying? Where is God in all of this?

The Way, Your Way is a new day of reflection and dialogue at our Williamstown centre, guided by pilgrim and spiritual director Mark Walsh. Through silence, prayer, lectio divina, visio divina, music, spiritual conversation and a short walk, you'll discover that encountering God is possible wherever you are – whether you've walked the Camino, dream of it, or are simply standing at a crossroads in life.

📅 Friday 9 October
🕘 9:15am – 3:15pm
📍 MMSM St Joseph's by the Sea, Williamstown
💛 $198 incl. GST – morning tea and lunch included

Secure you place: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01p5vc0

Ever caught yourself asking any of these questions?Why does life feel harder than I expected?Why can't I figure things o...
24/09/2026

Ever caught yourself asking any of these questions?

Why does life feel harder than I expected?
Why can't I figure things out on my own?
How do I keep my past from hurting my future?
Where is God in all of this?

Release, Restore, Reclaim is a weekend for exactly that. Guided by Anne Slingo, you'll work through a structured 12-step process to:
- Release the weight you've been carrying,
- Restore your understanding of who God is, and
- Reclaim a life shaped by healing rather than your past.

You'll come away with your pressures named and brought into the light, a repeatable process for letting go, practical centring prayer, 1–2 concrete decisions to carry home, and new connections with people finding their own way back to God.

Learn more: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01p22k0

14 September marks the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross, one of the oldest feasts in the Christian calendar.It is ...
13/09/2026

14 September marks the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross, one of the oldest feasts in the Christian calendar.

It is a day that invites us to look again at the cross, not as a symbol of defeat or suffering alone, but as the sign of God's greatest act of love. In the cross, death was not the end but the beginning. What looked like failure became the source of all hope.

For Christians, the cross is never simply a historical event. It is the lens through which we see everything, our struggles, our losses, our moments of darkness, all of them held within a love that conquered death itself.

Today we venerate the cross and give thanks for the mystery at the heart of our faith.

This Sunday, 13 September, the Catholic Church in Australia observes Safeguarding Sunday.It is a day to pray for those w...
12/09/2026

This Sunday, 13 September, the Catholic Church in Australia observes Safeguarding Sunday.

It is a day to pray for those who have been harmed in Church settings, to acknowledge the failures of the past, and to recommit to making our communities the safest possible places for children and vulnerable people.

Safeguarding is not simply a policy or a procedure. It is a gospel value. It is the lived expression of our belief that every person carries the dignity of God, and that protecting the most vulnerable among us is not optional but essential.

At MMSM, we remain committed to creating safe, welcoming and respectful spaces for all who come through our doors.

Today is R U OK? Day and World Su***de Prevention Day.Three simple words can make a world of difference. Are you okay? I...
11/09/2026

Today is R U OK? Day and World Su***de Prevention Day.

Three simple words can make a world of difference. Are you okay? It sounds small, but asking with genuine care and really listening to the answer can be the thing that changes someone's day, or even their life.

This year's theme is Changing the Narrative on Su***de, moving from silence and stigma toward openness, understanding and support. Because the more we talk about mental health, the less alone people feel when they're struggling.

Today we encourage everyone in our community to reach out to someone they haven't heard from in a while. A colleague, a friend, a family member. Ask the question, listen without judgement, and remind them that help is available.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14, available 24 hours a day.

***dePreventionDay

31/08/2026

Step away from the noise of daily life into a week of silence — a space to be fully present and to listen: to yourself and to the ever-present God who seeks you always. Through the Scriptures of your own life, this retreat invites you into deep contemplation and a renewed awareness of God’s movement within you and around you.

We invite you to join us at Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, Williamstown

Our week-long Directed Retreat is almost filled. If you have been needing to step away from the noise of everyday life a...
31/08/2026

Our week-long Directed Retreat is almost filled.

If you have been needing to step away from the noise of everyday life and enter into seven days of silence, prayer, and gentle reflection in peaceful surrounds, we invite you to join us from 13-20 September.

With the support of a daily Spiritual Director, Jenifer Scally RSJ, you'll have the opportunity to reflect on your prayer experience, deepen your relationship with God and notice where the Spirit is leading.

Learn more online https://mmsm.org.au/retreats/directed-retreat-14/

Contact the centre to secure your place: [email protected]

Centre Spotlight: St Joseph's by the Sea, WilliamstownPerched on the Esplanade in Williamstown, Victoria, St Joseph's by...
31/08/2026

Centre Spotlight: St Joseph's by the Sea, Williamstown

Perched on the Esplanade in Williamstown, Victoria, St Joseph's by the Sea is one of our most unique and beloved centres.

A place to gather, a place to stay, and a place to slow down and pay attention to what truly matters. The centre weaves eco-spirituality into everything it offers, from its vegetable gardens, fruit trees and worm farms, to its tranquil rooms overlooking the bay.

Accommodation includes 6 beautifully appointed king bed rooms with private ensuites, or a whole house option for groups of up to 12. Conference and meeting facilities are available daily, with bay views, natural light and spaces for groups of all sizes.

Whether you're coming for a retreat, a day of reflection, or simply a quiet night away, St Joseph's by the Sea offers something rare: a place where the beauty of creation and the sacred genuinely meet.

📍 16 Esplanade, Williamstown VIC
📞 (03) 9397 6012

One Place Has Become Available – 7-Night Directed Retreat | WilliamstownStep away from the noise of everyday life and en...
28/07/2026

One Place Has Become Available – 7-Night Directed Retreat | Williamstown

Step away from the noise of everyday life and enter into seven days of silence, prayer, and gentle reflection in the peaceful surrounds of St Joseph's By The Sea, Williamstown.

A Directed Retreat is an invitation to slow down and become attentive to God's presence in your life. Through quiet contemplation and listening deeply to the Scriptures of your own life, you'll discover the many ways God is gently speaking and inviting you each day.

With the support of a daily Spiritual Director, you'll have the opportunity to reflect on your prayer experience, deepen your relationship with God and notice where the Spirit is leading.

🌿 A sacred space for silence.
🙏 Daily one-on-one spiritual accompaniment.
🌊 Peaceful bayside setting in Williamstown.

Contact the centre today to secure your place.

17/07/2026

MacKa Moment – NAIDOC Week

As we conclude NAIDOC Week [1], in Sr Rita Malavisi's latest MacKa Moment video, she is at the Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, Melbourne standing in front of the temporary gallery. It features information on how Mary MacKillop ministered to the Aboriginal people in the area of Penola (South Australia), and notes that Mary was born on Wurundjeri land.

Sr Rita shares, “we remember our elders, past and present, and we give thanks for the way that they have been able to look after our land and to continue to be good stewards of this land.” She also shares about the Sisters of Saint Joseph working in ministry in the Kimberley region of Australia, “walking together in peace, and in harmony, and in reconciliation, and may we continue to do that.”

With Mary MacKillop’s feast day coming up on Saturday 8 August, Sr Rita shares about the celebrations happening at the Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre in Melbourne. View more information here: https://mmsm.org.au/events/open-day-melbourne

View Sr Rita’s video via YouTube here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zKUPBfZA9Q

You can view past MacKa Moments videos via YouTube here: www.youtube.com//videos

Mary MacKillop Spirituality Ministry National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council

[1] NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week - www.naidoc.org.au/about/naidoc-week

17/07/2026

Pope Benedict XVI visits the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel

During Pope Benedict XVI's Australian visit for World Youth Day 2008, held in Sydney, he visited the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney on 17 July.

Pope Benedict XVI announced on 19 February 2010 that Mary MacKillop would become Australia’s first canonised saint. She was canonised later that year in St Peter’s Square on 17 October.



📷 Sr Anne Derwin (our former Congregational Leader) with Pope Benedict XVI, standing beside his gift: a bronze bust of Saint Mary MacKillop sculpted by Gerard Darwin.

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16 Esplanade
Melbourne, VIC
3016

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+61393976012

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