Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, Baulkham Hills

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.

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

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

17/09/2026

Last call. Sunset Spirituality is tomorrow!

📅 18 September 🕡 6:15pm arrival for a 6:30pm start 📍 MMSM Norwest 💛 Donations welcome

Bring a friend, make some more, and find your footing. Still deciding? Just come — you're welcome either way. 👉 https://mmsm.org.au/events/sunset-spirituality/

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.

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.

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

08/09/2026

If you have a young adult in your life who would benefit from discussing faith and spirituality amid life's busyness, please share this event with them.

08/09/2026

Adulting is hard...
Ever asked yourself any of these?

️✔️ How do I fit faith into a life that's already full?
✔️ Is spirituality only for church, or does it show up in daily life?
✔️ What does growing in faith actually look like at this age and stage?
✔️ Where do I even start?

Sunset Spirituality is a couple of hours with other young adults working through exactly that — guided by Donnie Velasco, with keynote input, group discussion and a panel conversation.

You'll walk away with a stronger sense of how life and faith connect, practical tools for everyday life, and a bit of connection with people in the same season as you.

📅 18 September, 6:15 pm arrival for a 6:30 pm start 📍 MMSM Norwest 💛 Donations welcome 👉 Register: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01m5Rf0

07/09/2026

Today, 8 September, marks International Literacy Day, now in its 60th year.

This year's theme, Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity, reminds us that the ability to read and write is not simply a skill. It is the foundation upon which dignity, opportunity and inclusion are built. Despite decades of progress, hundreds of millions of adults around the world still lack basic literacy skills, and two thirds of them are women.

For those of us in the Josephite tradition, this day resonates deeply. Mary MacKillop gave her life to ensuring that children, no matter their background or circumstance, had access to education. That work continues in spirit through everything we do.

06/09/2026

This week, 6–12 September, Australia observes National Child Protection Week, with this year's theme: Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action.

It's a reminder that protecting children is everyone's business, not just the responsibility of governments or institutions, but of every adult, every community, and every one of us. Conversations matter, but they are only the beginning. This year the focus is on moving beyond awareness and into meaningful action, strengthening the environments, relationships and support systems that help children feel safe, seen and valued.

As people of faith, we are called to stand as advocates for the most vulnerable. Mary MacKillop knew this well, dedicating her life to children who had been overlooked and forgotten.

05/09/2026

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, grandfathers, godfathers and father figures celebrating today.

The role of a father is one of the most profound gifts a family can receive. Whether through quiet steadiness, gentle guidance, or simply showing up day after day, the love of a father shapes us in ways we often only fully understand as we grow older.

Today we also remember those whose fathers are no longer with them, and those for whom this day carries a mixture of joy and grief. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

To all the fathers in our community, thank you. We hope you feel celebrated today.

02/09/2026

Know a young adult (18+) who wants more connection with life and faith? Encourage them to join us at our first Sunset Spirituality Event, created just for them.

Work. Rent. Relationships. Media. The news.
Adulting is a lot. And somehow faith always ends at the bottom of the list.
Want to change that?
Join us at our first Sunset Spirituality event for Young Adults, 18+!

📅 Friday 18 September
🕡 6:15 for 6:30pm start
📍 MMSM Baulkham Hills
💛 Donations welcome

Bring some friends, make some more, find your footing.
For more info and to register, visit: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01lj1b0

28/07/2026

The doors of Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, Baulkham Hills, open on 15 August for a very special morning.

Join us for our Women's Breakfast, celebrating the Feast of the Assumption with Mass, breakfast and reflection. Our guest speaker, Sr Catherine Mead RSJ of the Sisters of St Joseph Congregation Leadership Team, will explore Mary MacKillop's faithful "yes" to God and how it was lived out so beautifully in her life and mission.

Women of all ages are warmly invited to come as you are and share in this meaningful morning together.

📅 15 August 2026
💲 $35 per person incl. GST
📍 Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, Baulkham Hills

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1616846?qr=true&qr=true

Places are limited, please register soon to secure yours.

12/06/2026

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Today, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, we join with the Sisters of St Joseph and the wider Church in contemplating the boundless love of Christ—a love that is compassionate, merciful, and ever faithful.

The Sacred Heart reminds us that God’s love is not distant or abstract. It is a living love that welcomes, heals, forgives, and calls us into deeper relationship with Him and with one another.

This feast holds special significance for the Sisters of St Joseph, who are known as the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Inspired by the spirituality of St Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods, the Sisters placed their trust in the loving Heart of Jesus, drawing strength and courage from His compassion as they served those most in need.

At Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, we give thanks for the enduring witness of the Sisters and pray that the Heart of Jesus may continue to shape our lives and ministry.

May we become people of the Sacred Heart—welcoming with hospitality, serving with compassion, and responding with love wherever there is need.

"Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart." (Matthew 11:29)

Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place our trust in You. ❤️

25/05/2026

Let’s plant seeds of hope and peace. 🌱

Do you long to slow down, enter stillness and reconnect with God, self and the earth? This six-day contemplative retreat at our Baulkham Hills Centre is the space you have been looking for.

Facilitated by Sr Ann Morrison RSJ, this week invites you to hear the call of the universe and go home renewed, hopeful and inspired.

📅 21 to 28 June 2026
📍 Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, Baulkham Hills
💰 $1,595 incl. GST - accommodation and all meals included

Places are limited. Call 02 9634 2317 to enquire now.

20/05/2026

This National Volunteer Week, we want to take a moment to celebrate and thank the wonderful volunteers who give so generously of their time across all of our Mary MacKillop Spirituality Ministry centres.
From welcoming guests and sharing the story of Saint Mary MacKillop, to supporting our museums and helping create spaces of peace and reflection, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Without them, so much of what we offer simply would not be possible.
Mary MacKillop herself believed deeply in the power of service and community, and our volunteers carry that same spirit forward every single day.
To all of our volunteers across Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, the Central Coast, Baulkham Hills, Williamstown and Safety Bay, thank you. You make a difference that cannot be measured.
If you feel called to volunteer with us, we would love to hear from you. Visit mmsm.org.au/contact to get in touch with your local centre.

24/04/2026

ANZAC DAY

Today, we pause.
We remember the men and women who gave their lives in service of others—those who stepped forward with courage, and those who carried the weight of sacrifice.

At the Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, we hold them in prayer.

May we honour their legacy not only in remembrance, but in the way we live—
with humility, with compassion, and with a deep commitment to peace.

Lest we forget

24/04/2026

There are moments in the life of a place when hospitality becomes something more—when hearts meet, and grace quietly does its work.

This past week, we had the privilege of hosting the clergy of the Coptic Orthodox Church for their national retreat here at the Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre.

Clergy from across Australia gathered in a spirit of prayer, reflection, and fraternity—accompanied by their Bishops and guests from abroad.

It was a true honour to receive them.

As a sign of their gratitude, the clergy gifted our staff an icon of the Resurrection.

We thank the clergy for the gift of their presence among us. It was a joy to host you.

https://ozarab.media/the-conference-of-the-priests-of-the-coptic-church-in-australia-concludes-its-activities-with-the-presence-and-participation-of-four-bishops-from-the-holy-synod/