"After the death of his father, 11 year-old Steve Hyndes became ensnared by the powerful fundamentalist doctrines of the Catholic Church of the 1950s. Trapped in that mind-set, at the age of 17 Steve entered a seminary in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1962.

"Disillusioned by the intransigent attitudes of the Church and finding the celibate lifestyle unbearable, Steve turned his back on that world in 1976. He was in his late thirties, lacking life experience, penniless and equipped with few transferrable skills that would enable him to make a living. 

"Steve and Paula, a former nun, began the slow painful process of rebuilding their lives, establishing a family and cleansing their minds and spirits of the toxic thinking that had controlled them for so long."

Steve has now written an account of his journey, "A Safe Distance: surviving religious trauma" to be launched later this month. 

When: 2.30pm on Sunday 26 Feb 2023

Where: 184 Glenroy Rd, Glenroy

More info: check Steve's website here