Communio Calling

In this episode of Communio Calling we talk with a well-known face in Good Samaritan circles and beyond, Monica Dutton, taking a look at cross-cultural immersion programs and their significance within the GSE community.

Based on the knowledge gained through Monica's experience and academic thesis, she shares the key components to foster transformative outcomes, for individuals, school communities and visiting communities alike.

This powerful conversation and a must-listen for those preparing for upcoming immersions, particularly as GSE's Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) and the Philippines immersions approach. 

Monica Dutton's current role is working directly with the Sisters of the Good Samaritan as their Spirituality and Mission Animation Leader.

Catherine McCahill sgs, Sisters of the Good Samaritan Congregational Leader, sits down with host Gabrielle Sinclair to unpack their Statement of Directions for 2023-2029. Discerned at last year’s Chapter, the statement gives shape and direction to the Sisters of the Good Samaritan's lives and ministries.

In conversation, Catherine shares with us her own journey and stories of the audacious women she’s met along the way.

In this episode, we hear Sister Antonia Curtis OSB share with us the journey behind her new book ‘I Give You My Word’. A practical guide in Lectio Divina. Written with educators, parishes and lay people in mind, I Give You My Word is a culmination of Antonia’s learnings and experience of sharing and teaching Lectio Divina.  It is a remarkable gift to the world. You can purchase your copy at the link below: https://www.jamberooabbey.org.au/shop/ 

Special guest Dr Carmel Bendon, academic, author, and presenter, sits down with host Gabrielle Sinclair to discuss the life and legacy of 13th-century Benedictine abbess, Hildegard of Bingen.

Hildegard’s vast knowledge, mystical teachings, and body of works has made her an inspirational model of holy audacity, she is one of the four female ‘Doctors of the Church’. Carmel’s expertise and profound insights has made her a leading expert in Medieval Mystics. Wanting to provide a way into these amazing stories and lives has resulted in her latest book ‘The Mystics Who Came to Dinner’.

You can find Carmel’s works on her website:

https://carmelbendon.com/

You can also find Hildegard’s artworks and music in the links below:

https://www.wikiart.org/en/hildegard-of-bingen

https://www.arthistoryproject.com/artists/hildegard-von-bingen/

 https://youtu.be/5zdUZ9WEyfM?si=74Fh5dlRYCRZ-ZQs

In this episode, GSE shares the special presentation ‘Liturgy of the Hours and the Psalms’ by Sisters Elizabeth Brennan sgs and Elizabeth Murray sgs. Originally presented at the Mission Leaders Conference, this powerful session provides insights into the Prayer of the Church, the communal prayer that plays a vital role in the spiritual life of Benedictines and many others.

The presentation launches ‘The Psalm Project’ developed by Gabrielle Sinclair and Elizabeth Brennan as another tool of communio, that we may sing in one voice.

For our first episode of 2024, we are in captivating dialogue with Sr Aquinata Böckmann OSB. With our host Gabrielle Sinclair, Aquinata graciously shares her compelling narrative and profound insights. Together they reflect on the essence of Holy Audacity, with a specific focus on the themes of Hospitality and Peace.

Aquinata Böckmann OSB, a distinguished member of the Benedictine Missionary Order of the Sisters of Tutzing, stands as an esteemed academic, author, and educator. Notably, she achieved the milestone of becoming the first female professor at Sant’ Anselmo in Rome, Italy. 

In our final episode of Communio Calling for 2023, GSE delegates discuss their whirlwind South American adventure to this year’s BENet Conference and visit to Chile's lay Benedictine Manquehue Community.

Hosted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in October,  about 180 representatives from 16 countries gathered to share their insights as educators in the Benedictine tradition 

On route to Rio, the GSE group spent time with the Manquehue community in Santiago, Chile, forming deep connections while exploring another expression of Benedictine education and community.

Following the success of the 2022 program, GSE’s Prophetic Voices student forum initiative returned in 2023 and was expanded to consist of three online student sessions that culminated with a two-day in-person gathering at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre in Varroville, NSW, in July. 

In this episode, host Gabrielle Sinclair chats with four GSE students who participated in the program  to reflect on their experiences and the process they undertook to create their final position statements on the three issues chosen for the year:

• First Nations: Country, Connection and Custodianship
• Homelessness: Encounter beyond financial aid
• Diversity: Human dignity

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

Special guest Carmel Posa, lecturer, author and Good Samaritan Sister, shares her wisdom and insights on St Scholastica in the lead-up to the release of her new book due in 2024, ‘The Lost Dialogue of Gregory the Great: The Life of Scholastica’.

In this conversation with host Gabrielle Sinclair, Carmel walks us through the process of shaping this new hagiography of the life of Scholastica. Many people have asked "Why don't we know more about Scholastica?"; Carmel answers this question and more as she walks with and reclaims the voice of Scholastica.

Good Sams Anne Dixon and Grace Marcello, sit down with host Gabrielle Sinclair to share stories of their ministry work in the Philippines in Bacolod on the island of Negros.

Set up in the 1980s by two Japanese Good Samaritan Sisters, the Bacolod community and Good Samaritan Education continue to have a strong partnership, with student immersions to the region set to return in 2024.