Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre

Kincumber South, NSW Central Coast

The Gurdjieff Society of Newport invites those interested in the practical study of G. I. Gurdjieff’s teaching to join us for a residential Study Week on the NSW Central Coast.

Over six days, participants will have the opportunity to explore Gurdjieff’s ideas and methods through contemplative exercises, the Movements, music, readings and practical activities.

Living and working together provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the teaching through direct experience, away from the usual demands and distractions of everyday life.

Living and Working Together

Gurdjieff recognised the importance of providing opportunities for people to live and work together in circumstances that support their inner development.

J. G. Bennett recalled Gurdjieff’s plans for a centre dedicated to his Work, and his conviction that without a place where people could live and work together, his method could never achieve its best results (J. G. Bennett, Witness, p. 216)

The Study Week provides an opportunity to enter more deeply into this shared work, away from the usual demands and distractions of everyday life.

The Programme

Throughout the week, participants will engage in a programme incorporating:

• Contemplative exercises
• Gurdjieff’s Movements
• The music associated with the Work
• Readings from Gurdjieff and his pupils
• Practical tasks intended to support self-remembering during daily activities

The emphasis is on the application of Gurdjieff’s ideas and methods through direct experience.

The programme is intensive but includes free time each afternoon, allowing opportunities for rest, reflection and recreation.

A Place for Study and Reflection

The Study Week will be held at the Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, situated on the MacKillop Peninsula at Kincumber South, on the NSW Central Coast.

Surrounded on two sides by the Kincumber Broadwater, the Centre offers a peaceful and distinctive environment for this work.

The property has a rich history. Formerly a boys’ home and orphanage conducted by the Sisters of St Joseph, it provided generations of young people with opportunities for education and practical work. An historic sandstone church, built in 1842, stands nearby.

The Centre’s buildings and grounds provide an atmosphere particularly suited to contemplative work.

The Gurdjieff Society of Newport held its first residential gathering at this venue in July 2026. Participants found the experience especially fruitful, with the opportunity to devote themselves fully to the Work while living, studying and sharing meals together.

The Society is returning in January 2027, building upon what was learned during that gathering.

Accommodation and Facilities

All accommodation and activities will be provided within the Centre.

Single and double rooms are available, each with an ensuite bathroom. Kitchen facilities, including kettles and refrigerators, are conveniently located.

The Centre also provides a separate hall for Movements, a conference room for meetings and contemplation, and dining and recreation facilities.

The event will be fully catered, including breakfast, lunch, supper, morning tea and afternoon tea.

There will be opportunities for walks along the shores of the Kincumber Broadwater or simply enjoying the peaceful surroundings.

Dates, Costs and Bookings

Dates: Monday 18 January – Saturday 23 January 2027
Commencement: Monday at 10:00 am
Conclusion: Saturday at 2:00 pm, following lunch and a final meeting
Venue: Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre
8 Humphreys Road, Kincumber South, NSW
Cost: $1,800 per person, all inclusive
Bookings: Ideally finalised by 1 December 2026.

Participants are asked to arrange their travel so that they can remain until the conclusion of the Study Week on Saturday afternoon.

The Centre is approximately 21 kilometres from Gosford Railway Station. Those travelling from further afield may be able to arrange additional accommodation before or after the Study Week at a reasonable cost.

For further information about the venue, visit the Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre website.

Further Information and Bookings

For further information about the Study Week, including booking arrangements and contact details, please download the information flyer below.

[Download the Study Week Information Flyer (PDF)]

The Gurdjieff Society of Newport was founded by George and Helen Adie and continues Gurdjieff’s Work.