Trustee Retreat - Saltbush Balnarring Beach

Challenging ourselves

Interfaith and intercultural dialogue

How can we be more inclusive, understanding, compassionate,

‘Enter under my roof …’

Last Monday 14th October, the Kildare Ministries Trustees gathered at Saltbush, Balnarring Beach to commence 2 days and 2 nights of prayerful and communal retreat.

The retreat was centred around the following question:

‘How can Interfaith and Intercultural dialogue become a means for peace?’

In our diverse Kildare Ministries community, the need to listen, learn, and become more aware of all the beautiful nuances of interculturality and interfaith is increasingly important if we are to build truly welcoming and inviting communities. Indeed, rising voices of intolerance, ignorance and racism make our mission all the more important and urgent.

Saltbush, as always, opened its arms wide with welcome, and we were blissfully surrounded by nature and instantly felt at home in our houses. Fr. Michael Trainor joined in as a companion to the retreat and Nicole Mangelsdorf, Niluka Perera and Renee Oberin were present as well, to facilitate sessions and contribute to conversations.

The first day commenced (for some) with a walk to the beach and breakfast together. Settling into prayer and reflection after that, we contemplated the carefully chosen wording and detailed advice of the Dalai Lama on Compassion before listening to the exchange between the Roman centurion, Jesus, and the crowd from Luke 7 and Matthew 8. We reflected on the words about entering under the roof of another with compassionate humility, listening and reverence for the other.

This gentle start provided a foothold for the next, more rousing, session presented by Hana Assafiri: a passionate, wise and motivating leader in the space of intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Hana is the author of ‘Hana: The Audacity to be Free’ and the owner of the groundbreaking restaurant the Moroccan Soup Bar in North Melbourne 1. Hana’s life experience and education deeply qualifies her to lead others in dialogue about Islam, faith, patriarchy, compassion and peace. We were captivated by the genuine warmth of her mission to encourage warm conversations between people of differing faiths and cultures and to challenges structures that are harmful. We were lit up with sparks of new understanding.

In conversation with Hana, Fr. Michael Trainor echoed Hana’s call for peaceful communion and conversation. Among other gems for consideration, he proposed breaking down the concept of genuine dialogue into 7 principles/requirements: Interpersonal relationship, Love, Listening, Social Consequences, Truthful Disclosure, Communion and Healing. He said; ‘Dialogue is truth – allowing that which is hidden to be revealed.’ We wondered how many times we enter a dialogue convinced we know what the other is to say, or fearful of the division or tensions that revelations will bring. When we bring a posture of openness to dialogue, we allow the other the define themselves. Instead of comparing our strengths to their weaknesses or vice versa, we compare their treasures with our treasures, their weaknesses with our weaknesses, and in this way find healing and common ground between ourselves.

The dialogue was riveting and motivating, and time was the only barrier to it continuing, there was so much more interesting ground to cover, saved for another time.

The following day began with a ‘Walking Eucharist’. Joined by Presentation Sister, Sr. Joan Power, as we walked along, we paused at each section of the Mass to reflect and pray. Sr Joan commenced each part of the Mass with a reflection on each stopping point, an important landmark in Saltbush’s development, and the mass was imbued with the grace and generosity of the work of the Presentation Sisters. As we walked from place to place in gentle contemplation, we were accompanied by the smells of freshly rained on earth, and a whole chorus of birds chirping and singing – it was glorious to say the least – a real rejoicing and thanksgiving moment.

Then, the work began on the strategic directions for 2025-2026 and all that had gone before flowed into the conversation, enriching it with new depths. Taking time away from all the distractions allowed our Trustees to take the time needed to deeply consider our most recent directions and begin to lead us in walking the path forward.

Finally, we reflected on the story of Martha and Mary and their role in leading Jesus’ ministry in his own time. We contemplated the dual nature of ministry – the busy hands-on work, and the time we need to listen to Jesus teaching about his mission and to pray – converse – with God. We recognised the equal nature and necessity of both.

We are so grateful to Saltbush for their warm hospitality. There was no better place to be together, and we left energised for the future and refreshed in our work.

2024 Calendar Dates