About Sabbaticals
QCPPA encourages principals to access their professional renewal entitlements to grow in knowledge, skills and leadership capabilities, as well as attend to their spiritual formation as a leader of a Catholic school community.
Each diocese has its own process for accessing this fund and time, and we encourage principals to enquire.
Hear from some of our principals about their professional renewal leave experiences.
Title: A “Do It Yourself” Guide Following the Path of Ignatian Spirituality.
We constructed this DIY Sabbatical in 2016. It was approved at the time by BCEC and its content still holds true today. It is based around following the development of St Ignatius of Loyola and his subsequent interaction with Jesuit Spirituality. Much it was reflecting on and visiting sites that were influential on St Ignatius and his life.
Accommodation and travel expenses were organised privately as opposed to using a provider, but this worked out well and gave us flexibility as we moved to different venues. This movement was not in chronological order based on Ignatius’ activities, but was based on travel expediency. This did not affect what we saw and did.
The experience had three main sectors:
- The first was based around Barcelona in Spain. From there we took local trains to Montserrat (pictured) and Manresa. The spectacular Cathedral at the Monastery of Santa Maria de Monserrat was where Ignatius laid his sword on the altar and vowed to give up his former life. It and the caces where he lived in Manresa are easily accessed from Barcelona.
- We then moved into Basque country and based ourselves in the beautiful seaside city of San Sebastian (Donostia) . From here by driver, hire car or local transport you can visit
– The San Ignatio de Loyola Monument in Pamplona which celebrates
where Ignatius journey to a new spirituality began.
– The Sanctuary of Loyola which is focussed on his birthplace.
While in San Sebastian we also took the opportunity to use their
splendid, serene cathedrals (especially the Basilica of Santa Maria) to read and reflect on (and practice) some of the aspects of Ignatian spiriuality. Try “Just Call Me Lopez” by Margaret Silf (Loyola Press: Chicago: 2012) - For the final stop, we moved to Lisbon and visited the Church and Museum of Sao Roque. Promoting instruments in Jesuit formation, the museum is excellent and the spectacular cathedral has six separate chapels including The Chapel of St John the Baptist and one honouring St Francis Xavier. A fitting end to the program…
All in all, a very worthwhile experience.
The Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat
Presented by Trevor Doyle – Former Area Supervisor & Senior Leader (Brisbane Catholic Education).
Camino and Saints Tour of Italy – Gavin Rick 2023
My wife and I wanted to experience being a pilgrim, as the early Christians did. We therefore embarked on one of the many routes of the Camino de Santiago, Spain.
Our pilgrimage was organised by Glenyce of Wandering the World. To find out more click here Wandering the World – Spain.
We chose to walk from Sarria to Santiago, some 127km over 6 days. With a day backpack and our private accommodation booked, we took our time walking at our own pace each day. Our luggage was taken to our accommodation each night.
The encounters with other pilgrims and the spectacular ancient paths and countryside made for a healing and soul-refreshing wander. The walk is dotted with cafes and towns to refresh along the way.
The entry into Santiago, and the arrival in front of St James’s Cathedral was a moment I will remember and cherish forever. Attending the pilgrim’s mass with the iconic ritual of swinging the famous botafumeiro of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral topped it off for us.
Italy is full of Catholic heritage and history as well as a place of splendid beauty. For this reason, we embarked on a Saints Tour of Italy. We visited Florence and the Tuscan countryside, Rome and the Amalfi Coast. We based our tour on one developed by the Tasmanian principals, led by their Bishop.
Mercy Centre Pilgrimage: Dublin Ireland
The following is submitted by Nathaniel Rice – Principal of St John’s Catholic Primary School at Walkerston in Rockhampton.
Mercy Leadership Pilgrimage – 2018
Sister Mary Catherine McAuley
“The pilgrimage took participants through an immersion of the life of Catherine McAuley, the Sisters of Mercy, and life at Mercy International in Baggot St Ireland. Participants had a variety of in-house and visits to local sites of significance (George’s Hill, tour of historical locations, Coolock House) that led us through the life of Catherine and her journey towards founding the Sisters of Mercy. Presenters brought to life the work of Catherine and the early Sisters as well as how the work of the Sisters of Mercy is seen around the world today.”
The Mercy Centre is a house of hospitality and history. It was built 1884/87 using an inheritance left to Catherine McAuley by a wealthy family she cared for. It was originally intended as a centre for the poor, sick, needy and uneducated – particularly women and children.
The Centre was restored in 1994. It is also now used as a house of pilgrimage and renewal.
Contact through info@mercyinternational.ie or phone +353 1 661 8061
Sabbatical Israel and Italy Paul Mitchell
The following is written by Paul Mitchell, Principal at St Catherine’s Primary School, Wishart, Brisbane.
On 14 March 2023, 26 leaders from across Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE), accompanied by Fr Anthony Mellor, embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Assisi, and Rome. Fr Anthony helped each pilgrim connect the external physical journey with the interior faith journey by providing opportunities for spiritual guidance, scripture, prayer, and reflection. It was a daily highlight to be guided by Fr Anthony’s faith leadership during celebrations.
This pilgrimage provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist, pray, and experience the sites where Christ began his ministry in the Holy Land.
The Gospels came alive as we set out on this true pilgrimage of faith to retrace the stages of the life of Jesus. I am deeply thankful for the moments of spiritual awakening I encountered. In Jerusalem, visiting the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock provided profound spiritual insights. Walking the Via Dolorosa, reflecting on the path Jesus took to his crucifixion, was a deeply moving experience. In Bethlehem, exploring the Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, filled me with a sense of reverence and wonder.
In Nazareth, visiting the Basilica of the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary, was a moment of deep spiritual connection. At the Sea of Galilee, spending time at the sites of Jesus’ ministry, including Capernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes, enriched my understanding of his teachings and their impact.
We travelled on to Assisi, where St Francis tended the poor and sick and founded the Franciscan Order. The final leg was a Christian Roman pilgrimage, incorporating key Christian sites and a Papal event at St Peter’s Square.
The pilgrimage was facilitated and guided by Harvest Journeys (https://www.harvestjourneys.com/). Every group is accompanied by a guide, and we were privileged to have informative guides in Israel and Italy who helped bring rich learning to our trip.
I am profoundly grateful for this sabbatical. It was a journey of spiritual enrichment, cultural immersion, and personal reflection. I highly recommend Harvest and the Holy Land Pilgrimage.
Title: A “Do It Yourself” Guide Following the Path of Ignatian Spirituality.
We constructed this DIY Sabbatical in 2016. It was approved at the time by BCEC and its content still holds true today. It is based around following the development of St Ignatius of Loyola and his subsequent interaction with Jesuit Spirituality. Much it was reflecting on and visiting sites that were influential on St Ignatius and his life.
Accommodation and travel expenses were organised privately as opposed to using a provider, but this worked out well and gave us flexibility as we moved to different venues. This movement was not in chronological order based on Ignatius’ activities, but was based on travel expediency. This did not affect what we saw and did.
Camino and Saints Tour of Italy – Gavin Rick 2023
My wife and I wanted to experience being a pilgrim, as the early Christians did. We therefore embarked on one of the many routes of the Camino de Santiago, Spain.
Our pilgrimage was organised by Glenyce of Wandering the World. To find out more click here Wandering the World - Spain.
We chose to walk from Sarria to Santiago, some 127km over 6 days. With a day backpack and our private accommodation booked, we took our time walking at our own pace each day. Our luggage was taken to our accommodation each night.
The encounters with other pilgrims and the spectacular ancient paths and countryside made for a healing and soul-refreshing wander. The walk is dotted with cafes and towns to refresh along the way.
The entry into Santiago, and the arrival in front of St James’s Cathedral was a moment I will remember and cherish forever. Attending the pilgrim's mass with the iconic ritual of swinging the famous botafumeiro of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral topped it off for us.
Italy is full of Catholic heritage and history as well as a place of splendid beauty. For this reason, we embarked on a Saints Tour of Italy. We visited Florence and the Tuscan countryside, Rome and the Amalfi Coast. We based our tour on one developed by the Tasmanian principals, led by their Bishop.
The experience had three main sectors:
- The first was based around Barcelona in Spain. From there we took local trains to Montserrat (pictured) and Manresa. The spectacular Cathedral at the Monastery of Santa Maria de Monserrat was where Ignatius laid his sword on the altar and vowed to give up his former life. It and the caces where he lived in Manresa are easily accessed from Barcelona.
- We then moved into Basque country and based ourselves in the beautiful seaside city of San Sebastian (Donostia) . From here by driver, hire car or local transport you can visit
– The San Ignatio de Loyola Monument in Pamplona which celebrates
where Ignatius journey to a new spirituality began.
– The Sanctuary of Loyola which is focussed on his birthplace.
While in San Sebastian we also took the opportunity to use their
splendid, serene cathedrals (especially the Basilica of Santa Maria) to read and reflect on (and practice) some of the aspects of Ignatian spiriuality. Try “Just Call Me Lopez” by Margaret Silf (Loyola Press: Chicago: 2012) - For the final stop, we moved to Lisbon and visited the Church and Museum of Sao Roque. Promoting instruments in Jesuit formation, the museum is excellent and the spectacular cathedral has six separate chapels including The Chapel of St John the Baptist and one honouring St Francis Xavier. A fitting end to the program…
All in all, a very worthwhile experience.
The Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat