Edgewalkers Retreat
This is the fourth time that we’ve together from the Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand Dominican Congregations, an initiative of the Federation, for an “Edgewalkers”’ gathering.
Just what is an edgewalker? The name originates from the 2012 assembly of sisters and associates of U.S. Dominican Congregations about walking between the worlds of what is now and what could be, and building bridges between them. Timothy Radcliffe says that “Dominicans thrive best on the edge, but must claim their place in the centre, which is the Church.”
The focus of our six day “Parable” retreat, led by Sr Mary Ellen Green OP, our Sinsinawa Dominican sister, was contemplative listening in silence, waiting on the Word of God. It was a profound experience for twenty-two sisters and associates to begin each day with 30 mins of silent contemplation, as a group. Twice daily, within the context of morning and evening prayer, different members of the group preached on the day’s scriptures, posing some challenging and stimulating interpretations and questions for reflection. In the evenings we met again to share the fruits of the day’s contemplation, with rich, diverse, and thought-provoking offerings revealing that together as Dominican women, we might see what we might otherwise not. This experience was enhanced in several other moving rituals that freely evoked heart-focused personal responses.
We value the deepening bonds of knowing one another through sharing our charism of preaching and our sisterhood, and appreciation of the Marist Retreat Centre’s hospitality with delicious, healthy meals, and time for walking and resting in the beautiful country surrounds of Mittagong.
