RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE HOLY SPIRIT
(Note: Compulsory for first time SSE attendees)

The Holy Spirit is an absolute game changer in living the Christian life. Unfortunately, many Catholics do not yet know the life-giving power of the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, our faith is mere empty ritual, but with the Holy Spirit, we come alive and enter into a real and personal relationship with God. This lecture series will unpack the questions: Who is the Holy Spirit?  How do I listen to the Holy Spirit? How is the Holy Spirit typically manifest? What's the deal with the charismatic renewal? What difference can the Holy Spirit make in my life?

PRESENTERS: Fr. Michael Last MGL

Fr Michael Last is a newbie priest of the Missionaries of God's Love. Prior to entering religious life, Fr Michael was pursuing a career as an orchestral flautist, but while on this path he discovered a growing desire to be an instrument in God's hands. Born and bred in Sydney, Fr Michael attended his first Summer School in his early 20s. This was a key stepping stone in his journey of opening up to a relationship with God. Fr Michael loves being an MGL, bush walks, the beach, good coffee, quality chats, and listening to classical music in the car verrrrry loud.

RESISTING TEMPTATION: ADDICTION AND SELF-CONTROL

“The only thing I can’t resist is temptation” — Oscar Wilde

As humans, we crave control, yet we often fail spectacularly at managing the one thing we can control—ourselves. Pornography. Procrastination. Shopping. Alcohol. Gaming. Gambling. Gossip. YouTube. Insta. Coffee. Cocaine. Vaping—pick your poison. We all have our bad habits, guilty pleasures, and vices. Drawing on neuroscience, modern psychological theories, and ancient biblical wisdom, we’ll explore why we’re so prone to addiction despite our best efforts and most ardent resolves.

We’ll also prepare for war. Armed with an arsenal of evidence-based strategies and two millennia of Catholic spiritual tradition, you’ll emerge equipped to withstand temptation and live in the freedom Christ intends.

PRESENTERS: Christopher Laundy

Christopher Laundy is a clinical psychologist and the founder of Mind Project, a small group practice in Sydney. A cradle Catholic, he has practised his faith in earnest since a life-changing encounter with Jesus in his teens. He has volunteered with the YMT, various DOJ projects, and several overseas mission trips. Christopher is happily married to the love of his life, and together they run like headless chooks after their four delightful, energetic children. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, sport, and writing. He is currently working on “The Catholic Mental Health Toolkit”, a forthcoming book bridging psychology and Catholic spirituality.

LETTERS OF SAINT PAUL

This lecture series introduces you to the letters which St Paul wrote to early Christian communities. You will learn the context of the letters in Paul’s missionary journeys and  discover the gospel message that Paul preached in them. You will examine his letters to the Galatians, Corinthians, Philippians, and Romans, and others, which contain the fundamental proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. You will see what Paul was intending to say in each letter; why he wrote it and the fundamental message he was conveying. You will find a way into the letters which you can follow up later in your own times of reflection.

PRESENTERS: Fr Ken Barker MGL

Fr. Ken has been involved in youth ministry for many years. He loves to help young people open their lives to a new infilling of the Holy Spirit. He is the founder of the Missionaries of God's Love and has written numerous books helping lay people grow in their spiritual lives.

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER SURPRISES: DISCOVER NEW WAYS TO ENCOUNTER THE GOD WHO LOVES YOU

Have you ever heard the saying, “Pray as you can, not as you can’t”? Sometimes our prayer lives need refreshing, widening, or awakening—and that’s exactly what this lecture series is all about. Contemplative Prayer Surprises invites you to explore a variety of prayer forms that open us to God in fresh and unexpected ways. Together, we’ll experience practices such as the labyrinth prayer, scripture breath prayer, lectio divina, visio divina, creation meditation, and the examen—each offering its own unique pathway into stillness, presence, and intimacy with God.

If you’re longing to mix up your prayer rhythm, deepen your spiritual life, or rediscover the beauty of silence and reflection, this series is for you. Each session will include a gentle overview of a contemplative practice, followed by guided time to enter into that form of prayer—encountering the God who delights in meeting you right where you are. Come with curiosity. Leave with new ways to pray.

PRESENTER: Christy Honeysett

Christy Honeysett grew up in Wollongong, where she now happily lives with her husband of nearly 20 years and their three wonderful children. With more than a decade of experience in Catholic education and another ten years in Catholic youth ministry, Christy brings a rich blend of pastoral heart, creative insight, and theological depth to her work.

She holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts), a Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary), and a Master of Theology. A long-standing member of the Disciples of Jesus Community for over 20 years, Christy is an active participant in her local parish and is passionate about helping others encounter God in meaningful, authentic ways. Christy is currently undertaking studies in Spiritual Direction—and loving every moment—which continues to shape and inspire her commitment to contemplative prayer and spiritual formation.

UNBOUND: FREEDOM IN CHRIST

Do you feel free? Ever wondered what true spiritual and emotional freedom is like? Do you find yourself confessing the same sin repeatedly or feel stuck in a destructive pattern of behaviour or thought? Perhaps you feel bound by fear, anxiety, worry, guilt, shame, hopelessness, or other negative feelings. You are not alone! We all struggle with patterns of thinking and behaving that we just cannot break out of. We experience this, not because Confession is ineffective, or because we just need to try harder, but because we do not know how to tap into the Freedom of Christ. Come along to this series to find out how. Freedom in Christ is based on the Unbound Deliverance Prayer model. Matt & Sulyn have been involved in this since 2016.

PRESENTER: Matt & Sulyn Leslie

Matthew and Sulyn Leslie have been married for 13 years. They have been involved in Christian ministry for over 25 years and more specifically Unbound Deliverance ministry for almost 10 years. They have recently been appointed as the Unbound Regional Coordinators for Australia.  Matt is the leader of DOJ Sydney North, and has qualifications in Counselling, Theology, and Philosophy. Sulyn is an Actuary, and has a certificate in Floristry. They both work in Insurance when they are not doing Christian ministry.

STRENGTH THROUGH SUFFERING: FINDING MEANING IN THE QUESTION OF ‘WHY'?’

Suffering is unavoidable. No one escapes it, no matter their faith, goodness, or effort. This talk does not try to soften that reality or offer quick explanations. Instead, it faces suffering honestly and asks the deeper question: What does it mean—and where is God—when pain is part of every human life?

This session explores why suffering exists, how it shapes the heart, and how God meets us within it. We speak directly to moments when God feels silent or distant, when prayer seems empty, and when faith feels fragile rather than strong. There will be space for personal reflection, allowing participants to listen and recognise God’s presence within their own story through a new lens. This is not a talk that sugar-coats suffering. It is an invitation to understand it more deeply— and discover how faith grows, not despite suffering, but through it. Participants will need to bring their own journal and a pen to each session.

PRESENTER: Emily Crossland

Emily lives in Wollongong and has been attending Summer Schools since 2017, she has 12 years of ministry experience as well as working and volunteering in the mental health sector. Currently, Emily serves as the Manager at Carmel House and also enjoys traveling to conferences across Australia talking on suffering, identity and the importance of cultivating a faith that captures attention and challenges action for change. Emily enjoys spending quality time with friends—over dinner, movies, or simple conversations—finding joy in connection and community as she continues learning and walking in faith alongside others.