The Abbey has a rich history filled with generous hospitality, deep personal & spiritual journey, awareness & preservation of the native environment.
The Abbey Program offers individuals and groups the opportunity to be involved.
The Program includes a range of creative events, retreats, workshops, conservation activities and pilgrimages.
Please email us at info@theabbey.org.au to be added to our mailing list.
We look forward to welcoming you at The Abbey.
Weekly Eucharist
11.00am every Wednesday at The Abbey Chapel. Everyone is welcome.
Monthly Celtic Music Sessions
2nd Thursday of each month (7.00pm – 10.00pm). Come join us for an evening of music. Bring an instrument or just come and enjoy the evening. We’re in the Chapel.
Monthly Chat & Chew lunches
2nd Tuesday of each month -12.00pm. Come share a simple lunch and intentional conversation.
For further information and bookings call 03 5156 6580 or info@theabbey.org.au
SEPTEMBER
September 10th – Hush Quiet Day: The Sound of Music
Facilitators: Sue Newcombe and Cath Connelly
If you could name one piece of music that expresses the core of who you are, what would it be? What piece is the one that when you listen to it, you know that part of you is being expressed? Bring that piece of music along with you today. Music has a deep connection with spirituality because it can express emotions and experiences that words sometimes cannot. This is what we are going to explore on this Hush day. We are going to share our ‘soul’ piece of music, allowing room for conversation and reflection. We will also listen to the music of outside in our stunning natural environment at The Abbey, the music of birds, water, wind…
10.00am – 3.00pm. BYO lunch. $20 donation. Please RSVP by September 5th.
https://www.trybooking.com/DHEWO or phone us at The Abbey on (03) 5156 6580.
September 12th – Our Annual Abbey Feast.
Your Chef – Jackie O’Connell and her band of helpers.
Come and celebrate with other Friends of The Abbey as we enjoy the chefs’ gourmet creations – a 3-course meal, with wine: $60 per person.
https://www.trybooking.com/DMACS or phone us at The Abbey on (03) 5156 6580.
OCTOBER
October 3rd – Blessing of the Pets: A FREE event
St Francis, lover of animals, would be thrilled to think that we are hosting an afternoon to honour our animal companions. On the weekend of his Feast Day we are inviting you to bring your pets for an afternoon of animal fun, culminating in a pet blessing by Revd Dennis Webster, the Abbey Chaplain. There will be competitions for the fluffiest, the cutest, the oldest, the wisest and the most unusual pet. Bring your rabbits, dogs, rats, goats, donkeys, cats, guinea pigs… Please note that the sensitive natural environment of the Abbey requires all animals to be restrained at all times.
Afternoon tea is provided for humans.
https://www.trybooking.com/DHEWZ or phone us at The Abbey on (03) 5156 6580.
October 8th – Hush Quiet Day: Being Present in the in Between
Facilitator: Rev’d Gradwell Fredericks
Facilitator: Revd Gradwell Fredericks. Come away for a day of gentle rest and restoration on beautiful Raymond Island. Gradwell always offers us a day of deep engagement. It is a treat to have Gradwell present to us this day.
10.00am – 3.00pm. BYO lunch. $20 donation. Please RSVP by October 2nd.
https://www.trybooking.com/DHEWS or phone us at The Abbey on (03) 5156 6580.
October 9th – 11th – Restoration of Relationships weekend retreat
Facilitator: Julia Fullarton
Throughout this weekend, we will look at three often misunderstood components of maintaining healthy relationships; Apology, forgiveness and restoration (or reconciliation.) We will spend time on each of the components, looking at them closely and trying to understand where they can go wrong and where they can go well – and how when each component is done well, strong, durable relationships can be forged between people, no matter what their relationship is like at present, or how damaged they have been.
We will also look at how to look after ourselves in the journey towards restoring a broken or damaged relationship – and when not to embark on the journey at all.
Residential single motel room $495
Residential shared motel room $345pp
Residential single retreat room $395 (bathroom is in adjacent amenities block)
Non-residential (includes all meals) $230
Please RSVP by October 2nd
https://www.trybooking.com/DHEXS or phone us at The Abbey on (03) 5156 6580.
October 16th – 18th – Zen and the Art of Lego weekend retreat
Facilitator: Grant Palmer
Residential single motel room $495
Residential shared motel room $345pp
Residential single retreat room $395 (bathroom is in adjacent amenities block)
Non-residential (includes all meals) $230
Please RSVP by October 9th
https://www.trybooking.com/DHEXZ or phone us at The Abbey on (03) 5156 6580.
October 31st – Clothes Swap morning
Please bring five or more items of quality clothing to add to the swap table. Here is that perfect opportunity to hunt out some quality new clothes. The idea is that everyone brings at least five items of quality clothing that they donate to the occasion. Then you get to take home anything that you like from the clothes donated by others. There is no limit to the number you can take away, if they’re items that are going to enhance your wardrobe. What a great way to recycle those gorgeous items that you haven’t worn for years…
10.00am – 12.00noon. Delicious home-made morning tea provided.
$20.00 per person – pay cash or card on the day.
NOVEMBER
November 4th – 8th – Embodied Listening: Awakening to the Spirit of Place with earth, wind, fire & water. Mid- week retreat. This retreat is fully booked.
Facilitator: Revd Susanna Pain
Come away. Be still and listen in the bush, on the shore, in the chapel. Encounter the land and her creatures. Be silent, meditate, move, make art, sing and tell stories that connect us with ourselves, each other and the spirit of the land herself. Play in an embodied way using InterPlay tools and principles… Immerse yourself…
Susanna Pain is Senior Associate: Community, Spirituality and the Arts at Benedictus Contemplative Church, Australia. (https://benedictus.com.au). She is cofounder of InterPlay Australia, spiritual director, retreat leader, contemplative, dancer, priest. She has a deep passion for enabling people to be still, play and grow. https://www.susannapain.com
Residential single motel room $640
Residential shared motel room $445pp
Residential single retreat room $495 (bathroom is in adjacent amenities block)
Non-residential (includes all meals) $310
Please RSVP by October 28th
https://www.trybooking.com/DHBWC or phone us at The Abbey on (03) 5156 6580.
November 12th – Hush Quiet Day: Australian Religious Poetry
Facilitator: Michael Fox
Michael Fox is a scholar and theologian. He has much to teach us as he unfolds the wisdom of Australian Religious Poetry.
10.00am – 3.00pm. BYO lunch. $20 donation. Please RSVP by November 5th.
https://www.trybooking.com/DHFBU or phone us at The Abbey on (03) 5156 6580.
November 16th – 19th – ‘From here to eternity’: exploring the practice of sacred image making. Mid-week retreat.
Facilitator: Revd Moira Evers
Moira is an Anglican priest and currently Vicar of the Alpine Parish, North-East Victoria in the Diocese of Wangaratta. She is drawn to the style of the icon especially from the Coptic and Ethiopian traditions, and the layers of deeper meaning contained in what appears to be quite a simple image. An icon will tell a story about heaven and earth, and it is in this telling, that a soul is drawn to the heart of God. For Moira, the practice of sacred image making is an extension of her ministry to make the love of God known.
Residential single motel room $570
Residential shared motel room $395pp
Residential single retreat room $445 (bathroom is in adjacent amenities block)
Non-residential (includes all meals) $270
Please RSVP by November 8th.
https://www.trybooking.com/DHEXP or phone us at The Abbey on (03) 5156 6580.
November 20th – Ecumenical Advent Conversation
Hosts: The Right Reverend Dr Richard Treloar & The Most Reverend Greg Bennet
The Anglican and Roman Catholic Bishops of Gippsland warmly invite you to join the ninth annual Advent Conversation – an ecumenical gathering of clergy and laity from both traditions. This year’s Conversation will reflect on Advent themes through Old and New Testament passages from our common lectionary.
9.30 for 10.00am start – 3.30pm. $30 includes lunch and morning tea. Please RSVP by November 8th.
https://www.trybooking.com/DHFER or phone us at The Abbey on (03) 5156 6580.
DECEMBER
December 10th – Hush Quiet Day: My heart in hiding stirred for a bird…
Facilitators: Grania Sheehan & Cate North
We’re going bird-noticing today. The joys, the patterns, the varieties, the passion…
10.00am – 3.00pm. BYO lunch. $20 donation. Please RSVP by December 5th.
Please RSVP by December 5th.
https://www.trybooking.com/DHEXG or phone us at The Abbey on (03) 5156 6580.
For further information and bookings call 03 5156 6580 or info@theabbey.org.au