Time OutFollowing the Desert Fathers to that place apart - for a while - and spending time intentionally tuning in to the presence of the Divine.
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Come Apart for a While ...
It is almost a universal experience for modern people to find that the many competing demands of their lives seem to tear them apart. When they read stories of the spiritual heroes of our past, they think with longing of the freedom embodied by their lives and wish they could do likewise, but ...
Some of the modern expressions of the New Monasticism Movement have sought to create in-between spaces for people who are unable to retreat to a cloister as a life's vocation. So, communities like the Dayspring Community in Boorloo-Perth, and the Wellspring Centre in Naarm-Melbourne have created ways for people to come apart for a while, despite the continuing obligations they may have to family and home.
Some of the modern expressions of the New Monasticism Movement have sought to create in-between spaces for people who are unable to retreat to a cloister as a life's vocation. So, communities like the Dayspring Community in Boorloo-Perth, and the Wellspring Centre in Naarm-Melbourne have created ways for people to come apart for a while, despite the continuing obligations they may have to family and home.
Residential Retreats
The most common form of residential retreat for busy people is one held over a weekend. The Dayspring Community will run or co-sponsor such a retreat each year. They are generally held in designated retreat facilities, or using the Guesthouse Facilities of a monastic Community.
A contemplative retreat offers intentional time out from the hustle and bustle of life in order to rest, listen deeply and attune to God. It can be an opportunity to explore silence or other contemplative practices with the guidance of a retreat facilitator and to experience the deep communion of being ‘alone, together’ with other people. Some retreats offer an extended time for the exploration of some aspect of Contemplative Spirituality and combine times of learning and practice.
Some contemplative traditions offer longer retreats. Seven days is used in some traditions, and some groups that follow the Ignatian Tradition will offer a Thirty-Day Retreat on which one will explore the Four Phases of the Spiritual Life as outlined by Ignatius of Loyola. Many facilitated retreats and quiet days offer a balance of private time for prayer/reflection and group sessions offering input or contemplative practices around a particular theme. Some retreats will include meeting with a spiritual director each day.
The most common form of residential retreat for busy people is one held over a weekend. The Dayspring Community will run or co-sponsor such a retreat each year. They are generally held in designated retreat facilities, or using the Guesthouse Facilities of a monastic Community.
A contemplative retreat offers intentional time out from the hustle and bustle of life in order to rest, listen deeply and attune to God. It can be an opportunity to explore silence or other contemplative practices with the guidance of a retreat facilitator and to experience the deep communion of being ‘alone, together’ with other people. Some retreats offer an extended time for the exploration of some aspect of Contemplative Spirituality and combine times of learning and practice.
Some contemplative traditions offer longer retreats. Seven days is used in some traditions, and some groups that follow the Ignatian Tradition will offer a Thirty-Day Retreat on which one will explore the Four Phases of the Spiritual Life as outlined by Ignatius of Loyola. Many facilitated retreats and quiet days offer a balance of private time for prayer/reflection and group sessions offering input or contemplative practices around a particular theme. Some retreats will include meeting with a spiritual director each day.
Final Eucharist at a Desert Retreat in 2004
Day Retreats
A consistent part of life in the Dayspring Community has been a schedule of special Day Retreats that are designed to encourage and nurture the contemplative life for people who are often quite busy. Monthly Quiet Days are scheduled where people are offered a little guidance into the day and then are free to use the time and space as they will or need. Often, busy faith workers have taken advantage of these days as a time away from their busy work yet engaged in an activity that is congruent with their work.
At times, the Dayspring Community has offered day retreats that focused on the anticipation of the liturgical seasons that form part of the annual cycle in Christian Communities. These have variously focused on Advent, as a time of preparation for celebrating the Nativity, Lent as a time of journey towards the Crucifixion of the Christ, Holy Week as the culmination of the Lenten Journey, and Pentecost as a celebration of the spiritual gifting of those who followed in the Way of the Christ. These have been held in a variety of settings - ecclesiastical and natural.
Dayspring acknowledges the role of the Noongar People as the traditional custodians of the land on which Dayspring Events are held. Dayspring recognizes their unbroken continuing connection to land, water and community, their efforts to preserve and strengthen their culture and language and pays respects to elders past present and emerging who share in this work.
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© Dayspring Community (WA) Inc. 2025
Except as permitted by the copyright law applicable to you, you may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this website, including files downloadable from this website without the permission of the copyright owner.
EMAIL: [email protected]
© Dayspring Community (WA) Inc. 2025
