Mary Magdalene Retreat

A day retreat in four parts

This retreat is for those willing to think outside the box and consider challenging conclusions that arise from seeing the Fourth Gospel from a non-traditional perspective.

The retreat will focus on Mary Magdalene who is the Apostle to the Apostle and as will be explained, is a probable author of part of the Fourth Gospel.

Mary’s story in thirteen scenes

The extraordinary life journey of Mary Magdalene, recorded in the traditional Gospels, her own Gospel which was banned around the fourth century, and the Gospel of the Beloved Companion, together with legends that place her time in Alexandria and Southern France. This is a summary of the book to be launched, "Magdalene: A life remembered."

The Johannine Layer Cake

The Fourth Gospel is like a three-tiered layer cake, with the base tier the writing of Mary Magdalene, the second tier, the extension of the Alexandrian community which had the largest library in the world at that time. The top tier is the Johannine redactions and additions to take Mary’s story of Jesus in a completely different direction and write her out of the picture, giving priority to Peter.

The true Beloved Disciple

The Beloved Disciple in the Fourth Gospel is male, and unnamed, a clue to the fact that the Johannine redactor wrote Mary out of the picture. We explore why she is the true Beloved Disciple and what this means for the Fourth Gospel and for the history of Christianity.

The buried Gospel

The Gospel of Mary Magdalene was ‘out of sight, out of mind’ until it was discovered in Egypt more than a century ago. Even though half is lost, the Gospel provides an extraordinary glimpse into the nature of Mary Magdalen and the risen Jesus.

We will gather these issues together to explore what this means for our contemporary faith.

Schedule

Session 1: 10am (Mary’s story in thirteen scenes)

Q: Who is Mary Magdalene and where did she reside?

Tea Break: 11am

Session 2: 11:30am (The Johannine Layer Cake)

Q: Can the textual levels within the Fourth Gospel be ascertained?

BYO Lunch (12:30)

Session 3: 1:30pm (Mary as the Beloved Disciple)

Q: In what way does the underlying text in the Fourth Gospel, free of later edits, differ from the other Gospel accounts?

Session 4: 3pm (The Gospel of Mary Magdalene)

Q: How does this text accord with the Gospel of Mary Magdalene?

Questions & Discussion: 3:30pm

At the end of Sessions 1, 2 & 3 there will be time for reflection (15mins) – a choice between art, meditation, or discussion.

Presenter Biography

"Dr Robert Hoskin has spent a lifetime exploring spirituality beyond the boundaries of conventional church structures.

Ordained as a Minister in the Uniting Church in Australia, he later stepped away from parish life to pursue a deeper engagement with art, contemplative practice, and the cultural worlds of First Nations communities in the Kimberley.

Robert’s academic work reflects his commitment to bridging inner and outer worlds. His doctoral dissertation integrated Carl Jung’s understanding of archetypes with the Gospel of Mark, interpreting Jesus’ ministry as a heroic journey that honoured the spiritual authority of both women and men. This early work laid the foundation for his

ongoing interest in restoring voices that have been marginalised or misunderstood within Christian tradition.

For more than twenty years, Robert travelled and worked alongside families from the Aboriginal community of Mowanjum. These transcultural relationships shaped his life and scholarship, culminating in his PhD, Beyond Collaboration: Transcultural Journeys

in the Kimberley, and his co-authorship of Return to Majaddin, a work exploring an Aboriginal family’s enduring relationship with their ancestral lands.

In recent years, Robert’s contemplative practice has brought him into profound encounter with Mary Magdalene. Her presence has become a guiding force in his spiritual life, awakening in him a deep awareness of the historical injustice she has endured. Robert’s writing seeks to restore her rightful place as a leader within the early Jesus movement and to illuminate the transformative insights her voice offers—insights that, had they been honoured, might have reshaped the Christian tradition over the past two millennia.

Across all his work, Robert brings together scholarship, lived experience, and a lifelong devotion to the spiritual journey. His writing invites readers into a more expansive, inclusive, and contemplative understanding of faith."