The Healing of Memories Workshops were developed by Fr Michael Lapsley (pictured here) in South Africa in response to the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

These workshops are now offered in Melbourne by trained facilitators in short residential events. This provides people with an opportunity to explore their life experiences and understand the deep feelings such as pain, anger, shame, fear, hope and joy. It is one step in the choice to move forward in one’s journey toward healing.

Healing of Memories workshops:

• provide a unique opportunity for people from all walks of life to tell their story in small groups and to listen to others.

• explore emotions such as anger, hope, hatred, joy, isolation, endurance.

• consider collective responsibility.

• encourage discovery of the depths of shared humanity.

• include a celebration with poetry, dance, song, prayers.

• can enable people to take one step forward in the journey to healing.

'A refugee man who fled the war-zone of Sudan, a refugee from Burma, an Indigenous Australian who survived the abuses of the Stolen Generation, then there was me... a white Australian woman... How could my story compare? But as I shared of the pain and abuses of my past, the tears shed and the arm of comfort and apology offered by this big refugee man from Sudan, who had suffered so much, was the acknowledgement and validation I needed to begin my journey toward freedom. It was then my tears began to flow... not just for others... but for me.' – Naomi

Workshops are held in Melbourne and elsewhere.

For more information (in Australia) contact Tim McCowan at info@buildingbridges.org.au or on 0400 436 430.