Sunday, 4 December

When I was young there was nothing more fun than mud and playing in it.  Of course I have grown out of this.  When it rains our clay soul turns into the stickiest mud imaginable.  With each step one's boots become heavier and more clogged.  It is demoralising.  We have had our share of rain and mud recently which has slowed our build.  "Patience obtains all things" as St Teresa's bookmark tells us.

Thankfully the roofers have been working away and now we have a roof to keep out the rain and the hot summer sun when it shines.  Now you can see the shape of the building.

Looking to the entry and the clerestory

When you walk into the foyer the height of the clerestory gives a wonderful impression.  However the exterior of the building is not overwhelming.  It is really a humble building.  The roof of the chapel is much higher than the roof over the entry foyer and the cross on the tower stills commands the site. 

From the left, the roof of the oratory, the library and foyer

There are different roofs for the oratory, the library, the foyer and the meeting room.

Brother Andrew sees the new priory

We have had two Marist Brothers with us on retreat.  Brother Andrew from the Solomon Islands and Brother Marcel from Vanuatu.  I showed Andrew around the site on Friday.  My friend Gordon said hello.  He has had a more interesting life than I imagined.  He told us he was in Bougainville during the civil war as a lieutenant to the independence leader, the late Francis Ono.  Andrew said with some respect: 'He is a rebel'.  Indeed.  I think I need to treat Gordon with more respect.

The brickies will arrive this week and will start to lay the Timbercrete blocks so that we will soon have the walls for our priory.