Saturday 17 September

We have had the Sydney OCDS Secular Carmelite community with us this week on retreat.  Going on retreat surrounded by building activity can be a distracting.  However they seemed to have the gift of tranquility in the midst of the activity around them.  Can you pray int he midst of a building site?  Well, of course!

Joyce Mitchelmore, OCDS serenely reading

During the week we also were blessed to have Presentation Sister Zita Power with us from Queensland.  Zita is the sister of the late John Power, OCD who was prior here from 1972-5 and then a missionary in the Philippines for 15 years.  John died in 1994 and is buried in our cemetery beside the chapel here.

Sr Zita Power

More Sydney OCDS came last night when I welcomed them and spoke about the building of the priory and sought their feedback on the refurbishment of the retreat centre.  They were particularly keen to examine the model that Peter Coad built of the project.  Incidentally we would love to hear from anyone their hopes and dreams for a refurbished retreat centre.  What would you really like to see here in our retreat centre?  You can contact me gregburke2002@yahoo.com.au if you like?

Our new water supply

The builders have been busy this week in a number of areas.  The long trench, over 600 metres, all the way down to the parish church was dug and the new pipes laid and the trench then filled in.  They worked fast and efficiently.  As we don't have any decent maps of the underground services to the property the digging resulted in the water being twice cut off for a short time.  The retaining walls have been finished and the outline of the house oratory is now clear.

Looking over the cemetery to the site, retaining wall to left

On Friday another two slabs were poured.  These were the floors for four bedrooms and the dining room, kitchen, pantry and guest room. 

New slabs are covered in black plastic

On Friday it was good to have Alex Coutts, our architect, back on site.  Alex has been visiting family in the United Kingdom.  He had inspected the site and was very happy with the progress.  We discussed a number of issues regarding the refurbishment of the retreat centre which is really phase two of our project.

Two rooms with a view

Next week the builder will prepare to pour the big slab for the front of the building.  One thing when the slab are poured is that one has a much more accurate sense of the size of rooms, their orientation and the view.

I shall miss any excitement next week as I will be away leading a retreat with the Sisters Disciples of the Divine Master.  I return on Sunday 25 September.