Members, volunteers and friends of the Order of Malta Australia gathered in Darwin over the weekend for a regional retreat led by Bishop Charles Gauci. Centred on the theme “Disciples on Mission,” the retreat offered participants an opportunity to deepen their relationship with Christ, reflect on their vocation, and renew their commitment to serving the sick and the poor.

Throughout the retreat, Bishop Charles invited participants to consider their personal journey of faith and the unique mission entrusted to each of them as members of the Order of Malta. He reminded retreatants that our service is never simply an activity or obligation, but a response to Christ, whom we encounter in every person we are called to serve.

The spiritual heart of the retreat was found in the celebration of the Eucharist and periods of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. These moments of prayer and silence provided space to lay down life’s burdens, encounter the Lord more deeply, and return to the source of our vocation. Participants were reminded that every authentic mission begins in prayer and flows from communion with Christ.

Bishop Charles’ reflections drew on Saint Paul’s teaching on faith, hope and charity, Psalm 139, and the spirituality of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

Reflecting on Saint Paul’s words, participants were encouraged to embrace the virtues that sustain Christian discipleship: faith, which enables us to entrust our lives to God; hope, which strengthens us in times of difficulty; and charity, which gives visible expression to God’s love. Bishop Charles highlighted that while faith, hope and love remain, “the greatest of these is love”—a reminder that every work of the Order must ultimately be rooted in love of God and neighbour, expressed through humble and generous service.

Psalm 139 invited retreatants into a deeper awareness of God’s intimate knowledge and abiding presence. It reminded participants that no part of their lives is hidden from Him and that His love reaches into every joy and every sorrow. Bishop Charles encouraged those present to pray the psalm as a prayer of surrender, asking God to search their hearts, reveal what requires healing, and lead them ever closer to Him.

A recurring theme throughout the retreat was the importance of balance in Christian life. Bishop Charles reflected on the need to hold together prayer and service, silence and action, responsibility and rest, and generosity towards others alongside attentive care for our own spiritual and human wellbeing. Without this balance, even the best works can become burdensome and lose their deeper purpose.

He also offered thoughtful reflections on discernment in the Ignatian tradition, encouraging participants to listen attentively to the movements of their hearts and to recognise the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit. True discernment, he explained, is not about following every emotion or impulse, but about prayerfully recognising what leads to peace, freedom, humility and greater love, while learning to reject those movements that produce confusion, fear, pride or restlessness.

Within this Ignatian framework, retreatants were invited to become more attentive to the ways God speaks through everyday experiences, relationships and the deepest desires of the heart. Discernment, Bishop Charles reminded us, is ultimately about recognising the voice of Christ and having the courage to follow wherever He leads.

By the conclusion of the weekend, participants had been renewed in their understanding of what it means to be disciples on mission. Before we can serve others, we must first allow ourselves to be loved by Christ. Before we can bring hope to those in need, we must continually return to the source of our own hope. Before we can recognise Christ in the poor and the sick, we must first learn to remain with Him in prayer.

The retreat was a deeply enriching experience, strengthening faith, renewing hope, and reaffirming that charity must remain at the heart of everything we do. Participants returned to their communities refreshed in spirit and encouraged to continue their mission with renewed purpose and joy.

Annual Retreats for Members

The Order of Malta’s Constitutional Charter and Code calls members to participate in an annual retreat as part of their ongoing spiritual formation. To support members in fulfilling this commitment and to deepen their engagement in the Order’s mission to serve the sick and the poor, Order of Malta Australia conducts retreats in major capital cities throughout the year.

The next national retreat will be held in Sydney from 28–31 August 2026, and members are warmly encouraged to participate in this important opportunity for prayer, renewal and spiritual growth.