On Saturday 15 November, thirty women, as part of the Women of Jerusalem group, gathered at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Wauchope, for a gentle and grace-filled prayer and reflection day facilitated by Sr Dedith Moralde. The day offered silence, community, scripture, and profound moments of encounter with God’s love.
Sr Dedith centred her reflection on the theme of God’s unchanging love and the gift of spiritual poverty. Drawing from Pope Francis’ encyclical Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us) and Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical Dilexi Te (I Have Loved You), she invited the women to reflect on the many “faces of poverty,” both in the world and within our own hearts. She reminded the group that recognising our own poverty – loneliness, disconnection, fear, or spiritual emptiness is often the very place where God meets us with tenderness, mercy, and healing love.
The women also explored spiritual poverty as a doorway into deeper healing. Sr Dedith highlighted that healing begins not in perfection but in honesty, allowing God to see our wounds and gently transform them. Like the Risen Jesus who kept the marks of His wounds, our own hurts can become places where God’s mercy shines most brightly.
During the day, Leanne Hyland shared a personal reflection on her own experience of spiritual poverty, reminding those present that it is not a sign of failure, but a place where God restores us, strengthens us, and draws us back into communion.
The women’s group were grateful for the hospitality provided by Parish Priest, Fr Anselm Okeke.
How the group began
The Women of Jerusalem Group was founded after the first Women’s Silent Retreat in January 2025, facilitated by Bishop Greg Homeming OCD, Sr Dedith Moralde CM, and Sr Ninfa Timbal CM. That retreat nurtured a deep sense of sisterhood, prayerfulness, and spiritual nourishment.
What began as a small gathering quickly grew as many women were seeking ongoing opportunities for prayer, reflection, and shared spiritual journeying. In response, the group was opened up to all women who wish to deepen their faith, find encouragement, and walk together in Christ.
Upcoming women’s prayer and reflection days
Facilitated Sr Dedith Moralde CM, Sr Ninfa Timbal CM, and Leanne Hyland
- 7 March 2026 – Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Wauchope
- 8 August 2026 – Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Wauchope
Upcoming men’s prayer and reflection day
Facilitated by Fr Anselm Okeke and Deacon Shane Hyland
- 21 February 2026 – Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Wauchope
To register for these retreats and more visit livingspirituality.com.au
