Latest News
“Grace and Gratitude” by Brian Gallagher msc – OUT NOW!
Brian Gallagher's latest book, Grace and Gratitude: A Way of Life (Coventry Press, 2023) looks at the lyrics of several favourite pieces of music, including Louis Armstrong's 'What A Wonderful World,' 'I Dreamed A Dream' from Les Misérables and 'Grace and Gratitude'...
A Truly Gifted Woman of Vision & Deep Spirituality – Vale, Anne Boyd csb
I write with the sad news that Sr Anne Boyd csb, the leader of the Brigidines who are located across the courtyard and are owners of the Kildara Centre (the present site of Heart of Life), died peacefully on 12 September 2023, five weeks after receiving the...
The Secrets of My Heart
When Thomas More was being led to his execution on Tower Hill in 1535, a large crowd gathered to witness. Robert Bolt’s play A Man for all Seasons portrays the scene: More’s beloved daughter Meg breaks from the crowd and rushes to embrace her father, in tears. More...
Stephen Hackett, msc Provincial Visitation
Newly-appointed MSC Provincial, Fr Stephen Hackett msc, is visiting the different communities in each city since returning to Australia from Vietnam. He spent some time today with the group from the Heart of Life Centre for Spiritual & Pastoral Formation, met the...
Human Relationships
We humans are instinctively relational. We are made for relationships. ‘No man is an...
God’s Spirit in Creation
Pope Francis wrote in his encyclical Laudato Si (#42): Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another. Loud bells rang for me. I lived near the sea for many years....
Come and study at Heart of Life, in partnership with the #1 University in Australia!
The University of Divinity has once again been voted by students as having the highest quality overall educational experience of any university in Australia. Our Siloam and Damascus Programs can be awarded through Yarra Theological Union, a College of the University...
What a celebration it was!
A happy gathering of people attended our 40th Anniversary celebrations on the Feast of the Sacred Heart on 16th June. Forty years signifies another milestone for Heart of Life as the longest-running Spirituality Centre in Australia. People from all over the world...
Understanding Spiritual Direction
Heart of Life calls itself a Centre for Spiritual and Pastoral Formation. Pastoral formation is about preparing people for their pastoral ministry. But what is spiritual formation? Something to do with preparing people inwardly, preparing one’s heart and soul, one’s...
Listening Hearts
Former chief justice, Sir Gerard Brennan, was much loved by Australia’s first peoples because of his significant ruling on Aboriginal land rights, the Mabo ruling. Senator Pat Dodson, a Yawuru man from Broome, often called the father of Reconciliation, spoke at...