Aspiring and published writers are invited to participate in an in-person workshop, which has the theme, The Word Made Fresh: being Inspired, making Connections, building Community.
The Keynote Presenter is American author, poet and Benedictine oblate Judith Valente. Judith has an extensive background in journalism, including as a staff writer for The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She was twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in journalism.
The Good Oil 2026 Writers’ Workshop on Wednesday 11 November is hosted by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan in partnership with Garratt Publishing. The purpose is to encourage creative discovery and inspiration, and to help participants develop their writing skills.
The Good Oil monthly e-journal is a ministry of the Good Samaritan Sisters, and was first published in 2008. Its mission is to publish news, feature and opinion articles, and reflective content which aims to nourish the spirit, stimulate thinking, and encourage reflection and dialogue about current issues from a Christian, Catholic, Good Samaritan perspective.
Workshop Facilitator Ann Rennie. Image supplied and used with permission.
The Workshop Facilitator is Ann Rennie, a Melbourne writer who focuses on things of the spirit and the small wonders of daily life. Ann writes for connection and community and loves the soul joy of finding the right word at the right time. She is the author of several books and has a regular column in Australian Catholics. Her articles have been published in The Age, The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald. Her latest book is The Daily Mystic.
Keynote Presenter Judith Valente is a lay associate of the Benedictine monastery Mount St Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas, which is the subject of her award-winning 2013 memoir, Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence, a Spiritual Home and a Living Faith. The book was chosen by the Religion Newswriters’ Association as one of the three best spirituality books of the year.
Keynote Presenter Judith Valente. Image supplied and used with permission.
Her book How to Be: A Monk & a Journalist Reflect on Living & Dying, Purpose & Prayer, Forgiveness & Friendship is a dialogue between two spiritual seekers exploring life’s complex questions. Her co-author is Brother Paul Quenon, a Trappist monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani who was a novice under Thomas Merton.
Judith’s latest book is The Italian Soul, which offers practical guidance on how we can transport a taste of the Italian ‘good life’ into our own homes. Additionally, it explores the contemplative practices and attitudes that seem to come naturally to a people who have made an art of living and working joyfully.
To download the flyer, click on the image above.
When: Wednesday 11 November 2026, from 9.00am to 4.00pm. Light lunch, morning and afternoon tea are included. To download the flyer, click here.
Location: The Sisters of the Good Samaritan Congregational Centre, 2 Avenue Road, Glebe, Sydney.
Cost: There is no cost to participate in The Good Oil Writers’ Workshop, however, places are strictly limited. Participants must be aged over 18.
Registrations will close at 5.00pm AEDT on Friday 30 October 2026. To register, click here.
Inquiries: communications@goodsams.org.au
This workshop is hosted by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan in partnership with Garratt Publishing.
