Communio Calling

Hear from our Prophetic Voices 2025 students at the Triennial Conference, ‘Ever Ancient Ever New’—now available in the latest Communio Calling episode.

This year’s topics:

• Mental Health: Stewarding Supportive Communities

• Access to Education for All: Rural, Remote, and Vulnerable Communities

Students answered audience questions and shared honest reflections. Listen in to discover their perspective.

In June, GSE Staff Immersion participants journeyed to Timor-Leste, taking part in the first staff immersion since 2019. The group included staff from our GSE schools, the Good Samaritan Schools Network (GSSN) and, GSE. The 8-day immersion saw participants learn about the country's rich history and witness the impact of the work of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, particularly the work of Sister Rita Hayes sgs.

In this episode, host Gabrielle Sinclair is joined by participants Megan Goodwin from St Mary Star of the Sea College, Eliza Johns from Mater Christi College, and Adrian Peachey from St Scholastica's College. Together, they reflect on their journey and share their experience, learnings, and relationships they formed. 

In this special NAIDOC Week episode, we invite listeners into a reflective conversation about reconciliation with members of the GSE Reconciliation Action Plan Working Party.

Recorded in the lead-up to National Reconciliation Week 2025, this insightful and honest conversation is filled with both hope and frustration, reflecting on the imperfect journey of reconciliation that each of us—and Australia as a whole—is on.

Host Gabrielle Sinclair is joined by fellow RAP Working Party members: Libby Denny, GSE Governing Councillor and Chair of the Working Party; Sharon Cooke, State Manager for Aboriginal Education at Catholic Schools NSW and a proud woman of the Ngemba people; and Dr Joanne Hack, GSE’s Executive Director.

Ten years ago today, 24 May 2015, Pope Francis's letter to the world about Care for Our Common Home, Laudato Si', was born. In this episode our host Gabrielle Sinclair is joined in heartfelt conversation with Jacqui Remond and Beth Riolo. Recorded days before the conclave which elects Pope Leo XIV, they reflect on the legacy of Pope Francis as a 'Pope of Creation' and our ongoing journey towards integral ecology.

Jacqui Remond is lecturer at ACU and Co-Founder of the global Laudato Si' Movement. As the Co-Chair of the worldwide 'Schools Working Group’ of the Laudato Si' Action Platform, she is passionate about accompanying communities to live an Integral Ecology through a culture of care for all creation.

Beth Riolo is an educator, Good Samaritan Benedictine Oblate, and Board Director of St Mary Star of the Sea College. With over 35 years in Catholic Education, she is currently the  Professional Officer for Environment and Liturgy (K-12) for the Diocese of Wollongong.  

You can learn more about the 10-year anniversary celebrations of Laudato Si' here: https://laudatosimovement.org/news/laudato-si-week-2025/

In this episode, Judith Sutera OSB joins Gabrielle Sinclair to explore how the Benedictine tradition offers a grounded, inclusive, and deeply human lens for understanding who we are and how we live together. In this enriching conversation, Sr Judith shares her own Benedictine journey and highlights the importance of articulating faith and tradition with care and intention.

 Judith is a member of Mount St. Scholastica monastery in Atchison, Kansas, is a retreat leader, counsellor, and one of the first women to earn a master’s in monastic theology. She recently completed a tour in Australia where she ran, alongside Elizabeth Carrillo OSB, a series of retreats and workshops across three states, focusing on the connection between Benedictine spirituality and eco-spirituality.

Special guest Joan Chittister OSB shares her insights on what the Benedictine way of life can teach us beyond the cloisters.

In her eighties now, Joan has authored an extensive list of books, from commentaries on the Rule of Benedict to the call for action on climate change. Her words, insights and reflections have shaped, challenged, and inspired many to reengage with the monastic worldview.

Join us in conversation.

This recording is produced and distributed with permission under license to Benetvision and Sr Joan Chittister OSB.  Accordingly, this recording will only be available online for 3 months once released. This recording remains copyrighted to Benetvision and Sr Joan Chittister OSB. Reproduction and/or unauthorised distribution of this work in whole or in part is not permitted. http://www.joanchittister.org/

In Season Five's first episode in the Year of Jubilee, host Gabrielle Sinclair is joined in dialogue with Elizabeth Carrillo OSB from the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kansas. In our Year of Stewardship, they engage in a nuanced conversation about our sacred home with awe and wonder while also looking at how we engage the lens of Benedictine stewardship.

Elizabeth brings to the conversation vast knowledge from her studies and her work with the Center for Deep Green Faith, which provides offerings that blend eco-theology with eco-spirituality grounded in the Christian tradition. 

In our final episode for 2024, we unpack the evolving story of GSE and the journey regarding changes to the governance structure that will come into effect in 2025. Moira Najdecki, Jane Comensoli and Biljana Apostolova join host Gabrielle Sinclair for this important conversation.

Moira, Jane and Biljana share with us the journey of discernment to more clearly articulate and structure the civil identity of Good Samaritan Education to ensure clarity for the community and, importantly, civil regulators. This has resulted in moving to a sole-member model, making necessary changes to the GSE standardised company constitution and reporting mechanisms, and deepening and clarifying our ways of relating to ensure communio.

Prophetic Voices, our student voices forum returned in 2024. Host Gabrielle Sinclair is in conversation with some of GSE students reflecting on their experiences and unpack their final statements. This year the students investigated the topics:

• Integral Ecology: In a Culture of Consumerism
• Towards a Future of Non-Violence: Domestic and Family Violence
• Reconciliation: Beyond the ‘No’ Vote

Students were guided by the topic experts: Jacqui Remond from Australian Catholic University, Alice Dunlop from Naturally Connected, Erin and Nardine from the Good Samaritan Inn, and Nina Ross from Reconciliation Australia.  

You can find more information on Prophetic Voices and the final student statements on our website: https://goodsameducation.org.au/prophetic-voices/ 

In this special episode, Gabrielle Sinclair is joined in conversation with Sister Teresa Jackson OSB, the prioress of the Centre for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho.

Sister Teresa, with wit, strength and vulnerability, shares her faith journey and the steps of transformation she and her community are evolving in their expression of Benedictine life and ministry.

This dynamic conversation has many interesting insights for all communities who are nuancing who they are called to be for the realities of this moment.  Sister Teresa will be the keynote speaker for the upcoming Good Samaritan Oblate Community Gathering, breaking open the theme The Spirit Unfolding: Who Are We Now?