A spirit of reflection, renewal, and commitment to Vincentian servant leadership animated the 2025 State Council Retreat held at Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney, from Friday 4 July to Sunday 6 July.
The State Council Retreat followed a State Council meeting earlier on the Friday, and on Saturday they were joined by members of the NSW Board and the Executive Leadership Team. Members of the National Council of Fiji, with which the Society in NSW has an international twinning relationship, were also welcomed to the retreat for the Saturday.
Leo Tucker, Executive Director of Mission and Formation and State Council Spiritual Adviser, began the journey with a reflection on the washing of the feet of the Last Supper narratives of the Gospel of John on the Friday evening. This set the scene for Craig Farmer from Transform Leaders who facilitated sessions on the practice of Servant Leadership, sharing a wealth of insights from his experience working with the Society.
The sessions were grounded in the National Council’s framework on the Vincentian Way, especially regarding Vincentian Leadership and Effective Stewardship embracing our Catholic Social Principles, with connections to the Society’s Leadership Framework.
Craig’s sessions invited participants to reflect on their personal leadership through five key questions:
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Sense of Purpose – Why do I lead others?
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Core Values – What values shape my decisions and interactions?
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Leadership Qualities – What traits do I admire in those who have led me?
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Defining Success – What does success look like in my leadership?
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Expectations – What should others expect from me, and vice versa?
Small group sessions shared these reflections, encouraging connection and mutual learning.
The model of Servant Leadership, based on humility and empowerment, was explored through the scriptures, Catholic tradition and current leadership theory, with inspiration drawn from Pope Gregory the Great, Stephen Covey, Simon Sinek and others.
"The true shepherd is not concerned with exalting himself
but in serving others with the love of Christ."
- Pope Gregory the Great,
Liber Regular Pastoralis, Book I, Chapter I
The retreat also highlighted the Society’s commitment to the twinning relationship between the Society in NSW and the Society in Fiji. Members of the Fijian National Council were warmly welcomed to sessions on the Saturday via an online link, as part of strengthening the ongoing relationship between Vincentians internationally.
“The day’s program was very informative, and I did not realise the impact - to differentiate my role as a Good Leader and a Servant,” Mr Semesa Vilise reflected, as Acting President of the National Council of Fiji. “Thank you for including Fiji in your Retreat program. It meant a lot for me.”
Leo Tucker and Corinne Lindsell, from the Society’s Mission & Formation team, organised the retreat and facilitated sessions on Pastoral Care Formation and Training. Vincentian Pastoral Care is animated by hope, trust, accompaniment and dignity.
Participants reflected on Vincentian Pastoral Care’s grounding in empathy and inclusion, underlining the sacredness of member work and the Vincentian call to ‘serve in hope’.
The Saturday night dinner included a much-enjoyed trivia session where banter and a competitive spirit shone.
Sunday Mass, joining the parish community at Mary MacKillop parish, concluded the State Council retreat, with participants renewed in their Vincentian spirit, leadership and service.
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