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GRACE-FILLED SEASONS

...connecting with Joseph and Julian in exploring the Symphony of Life

During the June long weekend, 19 people came together at the Emmanuel Centre in Launceston for a retreat experience.  All of these people had a strong connection with the Josephite spirit and with Emmanuel.  

The focus of the retreat was to connect more deeply with both

St Joseph and Fr Julian Tenison Woods
through exploring the seasons of their lives – Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.  

This exploration lead naturally into an exploration of the seasons of the lives of the participants and the realisation that each person creates their own unique symphony of life.

In the words of Fr Julian we can liken our life to a flute through which the energy of God flows – the quality and depth of the music determined by our response to the Musician’s touch.

A musician takes a flute which has nothing in it,

and of itself produces no sound. 

He breathes into it and the sounds which issue

he modifies by the keys he touches.

(Julian Tenison Woods A Book of Instructions 1877)

Music was very much part of the retreat – Vivaldi’s Four Seasons set the atmosphere at the beginning of each reflection time and mantras and songs composed by Sisters of St Joseph were part of each prayer experience.  

Symbolism was also an important feature with a central focus point gradually emerging as one season followed on another.  Participants added their own symbols along the way.

The climax of the retreat was an emergence into a New Spring experience as participants explored where their hearts were calling them into new life at this time. 

This retreat was organised by the Emmanuel Team and lead by Carmel Drew rsj  and Carmel Jones ssj. 

...God’s ways are not our ways,

but if we look closer into it

we see that God is the Way,

just as God is the Truth and the Life 

(Julian Tenison Woods, Letter to Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 23 October 1885)