We are excited to extend a special invitation to you for a series of captivating talks and discussions that will take place at Sacred Heart Church in Kew. These sessions will delve into topics that touch the very core of our being, offering insights and perspectives to help navigate the complexities of life. By attending these talks, you will have the opportunity to explore the depths of psychology, spirituality, meditation, and theology. Each session will be led by experienced speakers who will share their wisdom and insights on these thought-provoking topics. You will gain valuable knowledge, engage in stimulating discussions, and connect with fellow individuals who are seeking personal growth and a deeper understanding of life.
Transformative journey of self-discovery
Life Stage Transition - Psychology
Embark on a journey through life transitions! Join psychologist Mia Lander to explore transitions across the lifespan. Explore how we navigate significant shifts in various stages of life, from adolescence to adulthood, from midlife to retirement and beyond. Gain insights into the psychological processes that shape our responses to change and evidence-based coping mechanisms to navigate these transitions successfully. Reserve your seat now and unlock the keys to thriving through life's remarkable transformations!
About Mia Lander
Mia is a registered psychologist and clinical registrar. She has spent the last 15 years studying psychology after a corporate career culminating in a partnership at a Big 4 firm. She has completed a Masters in Clinical Psychology, Master of Professional Psychology and Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours). Currently, Mia is working with teens and adults suffering from eating disorders. Previously she delivered services to clients aged from 8 years to early 70s suffering from depression, anxiety and personality disorders. She is a grandmother of 4 and mother of 5 and in her spare time is training to run a half marathon.
Spirituality for the 21st Century
Fr John Madden has been a priest for almost 33 years. He continues to study to inform his priesthood. Fr John will address the theme of spirituality from a psychological perspective using the psychology of Luigi Rulla, a vocational psychologist, and the scriptures to explore the theme of spirituality for the 21st century.
Spirituality, for some, is the belief that we are not just physical beings with intellect and free will but rather we have a soul which is the essence of our existence. How do we nurture this spiritual aspect of ourselves? How do we connect with our inner nature and how might we allow this to inform our lives? In our world of today where there is much confusion, the question of spirituality and connectedness is paramount, especially for our younger generations. We live in a time of deconstruction where the need for a new spirituality is necessary so our sacred truths can speak to the next generations in our quest for meaning and our care for planet Earth.
Tuesday 29 August 2023 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Stillness Meditation - where therapy meets spirituality
An exploration of Stillness Meditation Therapy, a medically-based and effortless practice which was created for anxiety relief and stress management – a simple but profound innovation. Perhaps never before has our world been in such need of the management of stress and of personal serenity. Stillness meditation is one powerful way to gain those strengths and one which opens the way to profound spiritual experience.
About Pauline Mckinnon
Pauline is an author and psychotherapist who has practised and taught Stillness Meditation for over 40 years. She is internationally known for her pioneering book In Stillness Conquer Fear which has offered hope and relief to anxiety sufferers throughout the world and across the lifespan. Beyond other published works, her most recent release is the illustrated edition of Quiet Magic, a parable-type tale to help kids find calm – a story initially inspired to nourish her four children and subsequently, her eleven grandchildren and as many other young people as possible! Widowed in recent years, Pauline continues to offer her clients the simplicity and power of ‘stillness’ for therapeutic purposes and to support personal contemplative practices within all faiths and religions. She is currently collaborating with neuroscientists and philosophers at Monash University and the University of Melbourne on research into stillness-based practices.
Tuesday 26 September 2023 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
How wondrously we are made!
The way in which human consciousness is created to function provides the best analogy we have so far for understanding what it means for us to be made in the image and likeness of God. We will explore this understanding together, giving particular emphasis to the practical implications it has for our day-to-day living. In these days when so-called ‘alternative facts’ are proposed as relevant, Bernard Lonergan clarifies how we arrive at truth and reality.
About Kathleen Williams Kathleen is a Sister of Mercy and a theologian. While having studied many theologians and philosophers, she has had the particular advantage of learning from the Canadian philosopher and theologian Bernard Lonergan S.J. She was awarded two post-doctoral Fellowships to the Lonergan Institute at Boston College, and has given several papers at the annual conference there. She was also a member for six years of the Executive Council of WOCATI (the World Conference of Associations of Theological Institutions) which was formed initially to support the work of theologians in less affluent countries. In recent years she has set up a program of theology and pastoral ministry for women Religious in PNG and the Solomon Islands.
In teaching theology to university students for over thirty years Kathleen has had the privilege of seeing the transformation theology can bring about in people’s lives. The theology of Bernard Lonergan has been central to this realisation.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM