Janssen Spirituality Centre‏

The Janssen Spirituality Centre is happy to host the website of the Melbourne Chapter of the Australian Thomas Merton Society (ATMS Melbourne Australia). 

The Goals of the Melbourne Chapter of the ATMS are:

* to encourage research, study and reading of the writings of Thomas Merton;

* to assist members in exploring the unique spiritual journey of Thomas Merton through provision and maintenance of a lending library of books, videos and DVDs;

* to promote the recognition of Thomas Merton as a spiritual theologian, a social critic, a catalyst for inter-religious dialogue and cross-cultural relations by hosting workshops, book clubs, seminars and conferences;

* to promote the 'Thomas Merton Spiritual Development Program' by providing leadership and training for religious education teachers and spiritual directors;

* to promote the spirituality of Thomas Merton via the 'Thomas Merton Bridges to Contemplative Living Program';

* to promote retreats and days of contemplative prayer based on Thomas Merton's writings;

* to encourage and assist in the formation of local and regional chapters of the ITMS in Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

The Melbourne Chapter of the ATMS is pleased to promote a greater knowledge of the life and writings of Thomas Merton, one of the most influential religious figures of the 20th Century.

For a brief summary of Merton's life:  READ MORE>>

Meetings of the 'Thomas Merton Bridges to Contemplative Living Groups'.   The Centre also hosts the 'Thomas Merton Bridges to Contemplative Living Programme' and offers retreats, seminars, workshops and Days of Reflection and Prayer on the life and writings of Thomas Merton.  To contact the Co-ordinator of the Merton Bridges Programme, please send an email to:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  READ MORE>>

Thomas Merton 2012 Retreat Weekend   The Janssen Centre will host a Thomas Merton Retreat Weekend in November 2012 (dates to be determined.  For more information send an email message to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

TO CONTACT the ITMS Melbourne Chapter:  write to or telephone - Dr Stewart Sharlow,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,  Tel: 03 9762 7388 or Mobile: 04 3338 9802

Other Merton Links:

International Thomas Merton Society exists to promote the life and works of Thomas Merton:  http://www.merton.org/ITMS/index.asp

The Merton Institute for Contemplative Living, located in Louisville Kentucky, exists to awaken interest in contemplative living through the works of Thomas Merton in order to promote Merton's vision of a just and peaceful world:  http://www.mertoninstitute.org 

The Thomas Merton Centre is located at Bellarmine University in Louisville Kentucky, USA.  In 1967, one year before his death, Merton established the Merton Legacy Trust, naming Bellarmine College as the repository of his manuscripts, letters, journals, tapes, drawings, photographs, and memorabilia. Two years later, in October 1969, the College established the Thomas Merton Center, with the Collection as its focal point. The Center serves as a regional, national, and international resource for scholarship and inquiry on Merton and his works and also on the ideas he promoted: contemplative life, spirituality, ecumenism, East-West relations, personal and corporate inner work, peace, and social justice. For more information about the Thomas Merton Collection, visit:   http://www.merton.org/collection.htm 

The Merton Centre in Melbourne, Australia, located at St Peter's Anglican Church in East Melbourne, offers courses, seminars, classes and retreats concerned with personal and social formation, education, celebration and transformation.  These include classes on the life and work of Thomas Merton. For further information contact Robert Whalley, at 0438-069-258 or Email to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Vosot: http://www.themertoncentre.org

Abbey of Gethsemani is the Cistercian Abbey where Thomas Merton lived: http://www.monks.org/thomasmerton.html

Tarawarra Abbey in Australia:   http://www.cistercian.org.au/       Tarrawarra Abbey is a community of Cistercian monks in the heart of the Yarra Valley, 60 kilometres north-east of the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1954 by Mount St Joseph Abbey, Roscrea in Ireland, the monks of Tarrawarra belong to the worldwide Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (OCSO), popularly known as the "Trappists".