The Heart of Life Centre celebrates 40 years.
February 14th was the official day of the beginning of the Heart of Life Centre, now known as the Heart of Life Centre for Spiritual and Pastoral Formation. The founder, Brian Gallagher MSC.
Brian had already established the Siloam Spiritual Direction program in Sydney in1979. He brought it with him when he was appointed to Croydon. It became the central program of Heart of Life – and still flourishes with a growing number of international participants and, with the covid lockdown experience, Face to face and Zoom. There is a full- time program and a part-time program.
Other programs include Damascus Spiritual Leaders, Let the Heart Listen, the Emmaus Supervision program. Spiritual Direction is available, retreats, education programs and a variety of one day seminars.
Sue and Paul
Over 20 MSC have completed the Siloam program, a number of OLSH and MSC Sisters and Lay MSC. In 2023, the full-time program has two Indonesian MSC and a PNG OLSH Sister, while the second year part-time has a Filipino MSC. MSC on the staff are Khoi Nguyen, participating in the Emmaus program and tutor for the first year part-time students, and Peter Malone, lecturing in the Religious Experience course and tutor for the full-timers.
A tribute to Directors past and present, Brian, Susan Richardson PBVM (two terms as Director), Cheryl Bourke PBVM, Paul Beirne and, currently, Clare Shearman. (And in 40 years, a number of venues: Surrey Hills, Canterbury, Wantirna, Box Hill, Malvern and, currently at the Kildara Centre, Malvern.)
Clare
For the Australian province, Heart of Life is a key Spirituality Ministry, at Mary’s Towers Retreat Centre (in abeyance at present) and the Chevalier Insitute.
The main celebration will be held on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, June 16th 2023. More news then.
