Monday, July 16, Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Happy Feastday!  Today all Carmelites celebrate our patronal feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  It was a beautiful day here and we were blessed with the presence of our Fr John Landy, from Mount Carmel in Israel.  He and Tony Vaughan came to the grand parish celebrations yesterday and today John preached at the Eucharist with the Carmelite nuns up the hill.  We then had a very enjoyable lunch before John and Tony set off back to Gerroa via Mittagong.

While we are still moving into the new priory work has not stopped on the priory.  The last four bedrooms and the offices and varius rooms are now being completed.  The roof is up and the walls are rising.

A view from the outdoor sitting area to the last four bedrooms

The walls of the bathroom take shape

As the building is being completed it is becoming longer and therefore the views change.  In the photo below you can see the gate through which we mostly access the property.  In the distance you might be able to glimpse St Gregory's Marist Brothers Agricultural College.

View south from the new section

As the builders are still hard at it the issue of privacy for those in the south facing rooms needed to be addressed.  This is especially so as we do not have any curtains yet.  So Maurie had a privacy screen set up.  Curtains meanwhile are on the way.

South facing rooms with screen

As well as preaching at the nuns' feastday Eucharist today John Landy gave great service in helping to get our new dining room into order.  Darren Mackie and I teamed up with Pat Cullan to bring a lounge setting to the new priory.  John and Tony helped move our dining setting into place and had helpful suggestions as to where to place things. 

John, Paul and Tony in the new dining room

John, Paul and Tony try out the new lounge chairs

View of the room over the dining table

We brought a few things from our refectory in the old building and will bring more over the new few days.  The priory is feeling more and more like our home.  It is certainly a privilege to live in it.

Crucifix catches the afternoon sun

John with the kitchen behind

I will be out of action for a week or so due to a medical procedure this Wednesday.  I hope to continue this blog sooner rather than later depending on my recovery.