The Centre                                                               

Kerever Park Spirituality Centre is a place of peace, reflection and renewal for people who are searching for meaning and deepening their understanding of their spirituality.

A community of Catholic religious women is at the heart of the spirituality Centre.

The grounds provide a place of peace, reflection and renewal.

The buildings offer a wide variety of rooms and accommodation including a retreatants' wing, accommodation suitable for school groups, meeting rooms, conference rooms and chapel.

The Centre is a work of the Society of the Sacred Heart an International Order of Catholic religious women.

Click to view short movie (3Meg):

Compass
© Copyright ABC
Used with permission.

Mission

We believe each person is a seed of God and we strive to make Kerever Park a place where that seed can be nurtured towards full maturity.

Our logo, a Ginkgo tree, reflects our belief creation is ongoing and each person always has the possibility of new beginnings in life and prayer.

Vision

Our vision for the Centre includes:

a) A Christian Community in residence

A Christian community is at the heart of the Spirituality Centre. The current community is a community of sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart. In the future the community could include others. The community is connected with the local neighbourhood community and the wider national and international community.

The staff and those who come to the Centre become part of the Kerever Park Spirituality Centre community.

b) A place of peace, reflection and renewal

The physical surroundings are a place of peace, reflection and renewal; a place which gives expression to the contemplative aspect of the Society’s mission. The gardens are an essential element.

c) Spirituality programs

The Centre organises core programs of its own, especially programs initiated by the community in residence. The Centre also invites others to come and facilitate their own programs.

The typical programs and activities of the Centre include:

• retreats for adults
• Year 11 and 12 school retreats and leadership development
• The Madeleine Sophie program for women (25 to 45 years)
• Evenings of reflection - Finding God in all things (2006)
• A place for spirituality and self development groups to come (eg ecumenical, meditation)
• A space for individuals to have time for renewal and reflection

d) People searching for spirituality

People are searching for meaning and spirituality. Being able to provide a space to find what they are searching for is key. Being responsive to the needs of people in society is a key to success.

e) Flexible space

The buildings and spaces allow the Centre to flexibly meet the needs of different groups of people including:

• Directed retreatants (up to 15)
• Year 11 and 12 school groups (up to 45 overnight and up to 80 for day only)
• Spirituality groups (up to 38)
• Staff days etc (up to 38)
• Day or evening programs (up to 50+)
• Self catered individuals (2).

f) Environmentally sustainable

The Centre values being environmentally sustainable. There are vegetable gardens in the grounds. There is a worm farm. Recycling is a high priority. We work at conserving water and energy.

Groups who come can work in the garden. They are encouraged to recycle and become aware of environmental issues.

We are responsible for the future of our planet.

Long term vision for the buildings

Within this context the long term vision for the further development of buildings includes:

• Several new independent living units that can meet multiple needs (eg members of community, self-catering retreatants, retreat directors)
• A new sacred space
• Refurbishment of the Oak Wing and Cedar wings in the long term.

The Ginkgo Tree

Our logo, a Ginkgo tree, reflects our belief creation is ongoing and each person always has the possibility of new beginnings in life and prayer.

We have been inspired by the Gingko tree's characteristics:

Click to view short movie (3Meg): Compass © Copyright ABC Used with permission.

It is the sole survivor of the dinosaur age,
It thrives in any condition,
It represents fighting the odds and surviving,
It represents stamina and endurance,
It is solid gold when its leaves change in Autumn.
It is inspiring yet grounding.
It gives hope and joy.
On a certain day it lets go of all its leaves.
It gives a sense of permanence and connection with the good of creation.
All time,
with our present earth,
in this time...
in this place...
and yet it lets go completely.

Governance

Kerever Park Spirituality Centre was incorporated in 2006 as a public company limited by guarantee.

The single member is the Trustees of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

There is a Board of Directors made up of individuals from a range of professional backgrounds.