Monday, 30 January

If you travel out from Sydney to where the M5 and M7 motorways meet near us there is a 25 metre high earth pyramid with a red metal top which is illuminated at night.

This is the Sir Roden Cutler interchange in memory of the former Governor of NSW who was awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous gallantry in Syria in 1941.  Most people wonder what on earth the pyramid is and why it is there.  Leading up to it are 45 timber poles representing the memory of the depleted native vegetation of the area.

A similar reaction of incomprehension might be understandable to our own pyramid which appeared last week.  Daniel was clearing the ground for the new car park and decided to pile the soil into a pyramid.  Because he could, I suppose.  Here you see it towering over St Antony's hermitage.

There is no need for a forest of poles on the property as we encourage the regeneration of the  native vegetation.  By the way, the pyramid will soon be relocated as soil around the priory.

The Great Pyramid of Varroville

At the same time Dean was clearing the way for the new pathway connecting the new priory to the retreat centre.  It was almost finished when it began to pour rain and the whole thing became like a flash flood in a bush creek bed.

The new walkway beside the chapel to the new priory

Here below you can see where the new walkway comes up to the level of the priory.

The walkway from the retreat centre arriving at the priory

If you look closely at the next photo you can see the blue outline of the circular drive in front of the priory entrance.

Future circular drive outlined in blue

Below you can see how the circular drive comes up to the front of the new priory.  If you look closely you can see the priory now has windows in the meeting room to the left and the office to the right of the centre entry..

Looking to the entry from the circular drive

The oratory of the new priory will be a gem.  It is now taking shape and one can make out the arch leading to the area where the tabernacle for reservation of the Blessed sacrament will be.

The arch leading the the tabernacle area

 In the photo below you can see the new windows as well as the door to the entry. The black plastic is to protect the walls when the verandas are poured.  This will be soon.

Terry contemplates the entry

Looking across the foyer you can see the entry door to the left and the windows to the meeting rook to the right.

Terry contemplating the entry more closely

Here you can see the building up to the common room where you you can make out the outline fo the roof.

Looking up the the common room

So that brings us to where the building is today.  Tonight the friars begin a meeting which will last to at least Thursday.  Spare a thought and a prayer for us at this time.