Join us at the CAS Women’s Lenten Retreat – a full day of prayer and reflection led by the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia and hosted by the Catholic Women’s Network and Sydney Catholic Schools.

To accommodate the growing interest in this beautiful retreat day we are offering the same retreat on 2 days.

Saturday 28th February 2026 OR Saturday 14th March 2026

St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney
9am – 4pm

Breakout Sessions:

You will have an opportunity to attend 2 breakout sessions on the day. Please choose your preferences during registration.

The Power of Surrender – Vivian Mourani

What if the thing you fear most is exactly where God wants to meet you?
In this testimony, Vivian shares how her fear, brokenness, and doubt encountered God’s overwhelming love through the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit. This session invites women to release control, step out in courage, and trust that God can transform even the most painful parts of their stories into grace.

Keeping the Faith Through Hard Times – Tinah DeLuca-Tohi
Tinah is a teacher and mother of twelve children who knows first-hand how hard it is to ‘keep the faith’ during difficult times. In 2012 she was told that her perfectly healthy fifteen-year-old son Emmanuel had an incurable brain disease and for the next eighteen months, had to watch his slow decline. Her son Emmanuel inspired others as he leaned on his faith and trust in God to battle his illness. She has an amazing story to tell that will touch your heart and inspire your faith.

Everyday Evangelisation: Sharing Your Faith With Those You Love – Sr Anastasia, OP
Many of us want our family and friends to know the joy of deep Christian faith but we are unsure what to do or say to them. However, we don’t have to be experts in the Scriptures or theology to be everyday evangelisers. This workshop will provide principles and practical tools to more confidently share our own experience of Christ with those we love. Suitable for all ages and stages of life.

Praying with Scripture – Sr Susanna, OP
The Word of God is nourishment for our journey of discipleship, but can sometimes seem confusing, contradictory or beyond our grasp. This workshop will explore three tools for praying with Scripture to help you go deeper in the Liturgy of the Word at Mass and in your own personal times of prayer.

Eucharistic Adoration/Sacrament of Reconciliation/Catholic Expo
Use this time as you need for Adoration in the crypt, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and visit the expo in the library.