Retreats

 

Dove Retreats 2013

 

The National Team will be hosting retreats in the North and South Islands again this year.

The Theme for the Retreats is "Love like Mary"

Speaker Bev McDonald

Wellington 9 -11 August

Auckland 13-15 September - to register for Auckland Retreat

Christchurch 4-6 October - to register for Christchurch Retreat  

For further information or to register on-line for the -

Wellington Retreat click here

Auckland Retreat click here

Christchurch Retreat click here

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Days of Refreshment held in 2011

Instead of the usual annual weekend retreats, the National Team hosted a Day of Refreshment for each of the Dove Fellowships in their region.   

Come to the Father's Heart

God loved the world so much He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him may not be lost, but have eternal life. John 3:16

See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His chidren, and that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Many beautiful testimonies received from our Days of Refreshment - read more below. 

 

South Auckland Click here to read a testimony

Hawkes Bay Click here to read a testimony

Hibiscus Coast Click here to read testimonies

Kerikeri Click here to read a testimony

Wellington Click here to read testimonies

Rotorua Click here to read testimonies

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2010 Retreats in Wellington, Auckland & Nelson

Terry said that we have been bought up under a misconception and need to know that Jesus is all loving; all smiling and all joyful.  Joy is a very normal part of a God-centred life. Jesus Our Yoke.  Let Jesus be the stronger ox in the carrying of our burdens – let Him carry the bulk of the yoke.Read more from the report of the Wellington Silverstream retreat

Terry opened her first talk by encouraging us that “God has a gift for each of us this weekend – whether we think we deserve it or not! We are here at God’s invitation.  Not one of us is here by accident, Jesus has called us. God is not looking down at a group of ladies.  God is looking at each of us – Jesus is present to take our tears and yearnings.” – What a wonderful promise from our loving Jesus as Terry reminded us that “He is my beloved and I am His beloved”. Read more from the report from Auckland Carey Park retreat

 

After lunch my delight was to climb the mountain behind the camp to the crucifix on the hill and look down on the camp and reflect on all the restoration that had taken place in me since Friday night. The fertility of my soil had improved, I had overcome some challenges of my life, and I asked God for fruit to grow abundantly in me. Read more from the Nelson Teapot Valley Retreat report

 

 

A Testimony

I arrived at the Dove camp very self-conscious and nervous of the fact that the Holy Trinity was about to do some major healing in my life and that this would mean me opening up  my heart in the presence of people whom I was just about to meet!! This was vulnerability personified! Read more

Terry used a very powerful visual aid to deepen our understanding of each Mystery and how it connects to our life. The Joyful Mysteries were represented by a “sprout”, a tree ready to become all that it has been created to be. Each new Mystery was represented visually by the tree as it matured, bearing fruit, being pruned, the falling of its fruit to fertilize the ground and produce more trees etc. It was very powerful to visualise ourselves as the tree and helped me to accept each stage as a very necessary part of my journey with the Lord. The final Glorious Mysteries were represented by a beautiful mature tree whose blossoms, in full bloom, radiated a delicate fragrance to all. This for me was the most important message of the weekend. We too are called to be that fragrance, the fragrance of Christ throughout the world, the fullness of Jesus to all who we meet. Read more

Comments received

The teaching on the Rosary gave me a fresh and rich look at this traditional Catholic Devotion.  The truths that weave through these mysteries supply us with tools, attitudes and attributes for the fabric of our own lives.  Invigorating, revealing keys for disciples of Jesus that highlight again and again our God’s requirement for a deepening relationship with the Trinity and with Mary, mother of Jesus.  But this is not for the faint-hearted.  As Terry stated several times “Christianity is not for wimps” and in order for us to be bearers of the Good News we must keep our eyes on Jesus!!!

I experienced God’s loving presence during this amazing weekend and with this being only the second such retreat. I am learning to feel the warmth, bonding and love that goes with the fellowship of these special women.  I can't speak more highly of the whole experience. Read more

Terry Modica, our 2010 speaker, is the author of the daily Good News Reflections on the readings of Catholic Mass, ministering to over 25,000 readers each day and over 6 million people in Central Africa via Radio Maria.Terry and her husband Ralph founded "Good News Ministries" a huge website which provides digital resouces for parishes and schools. It is a Catholic evangelization and faith-building ministry which changes lives through the way they share the Good News of Jesus Christ, teaching people who they are as children of God.

 

  To receive Terry's inspiring reflections  go to Terry's Website and Subscribe by entering your email address.

 

 Terry's books are now available from St Josephs Gifts and Books Takapuna

 

CDs of Terry's Talks at Wellington, Auckland and Nelson are available from SR Sound