Tuesday, July 10

Everyone knows moving is hell.  We have been hard at it.  Eight bedrooms have been completed and we were able to move in.  On Wednesday 4 July Paul, Darren and I began to move our furniture, clothing, books, computers and what not into the new priory.  We had enough in place to be able to sleep in the new priory that night.  So the fourth of July is an historic day.

Lugging furniture and so on is very physical and tiring.  But it is also satisfying.  Personally I was not impressed by the amount of stuff I had acquired.  I promised myself to sort through it all when I had moved in.  Robert Love came for the weekend to help.  He encouraged me with an often repeated one word exhoration: "Cull".  On Saturday morning he found all the carrying and exhorting tiring so I offered him a seat outside my room.  Soon he was very relaxed and then fast asleep.  The brethren found Rob a congenial and welcome guest.


Rob Love flat out helping

 Gabriel moved in on Thursday.  Then Aloysius who had been in Perth visiting the ailing Fr Joe Kelly returned on Friday morning and began to organise the great move.  He actually moved in on Saturday.  Gerard began his move on Saturday but it was a close thing as he went off on a holiday to Lake Eyre on Sunday.  I don't think he has spent a night in the new priory as yet.  Meanwhile Shane was missing all the excitement as he was in New Zealand.  He returned on Monday night and quietly slipped into his new room.  

Paul and Aloysius with the trolley

One of the things that strikes one about the new priory is the lovely views over the property through the extensive windows. 


Fig Tree



View north



View south

On Saturday we were delighted by a gang of boisterous lorikeets frolicking in our fountain.  If you click on the photo below it will enlarge and you can actually see the birds.

Fountain with lorikeets

If the fourth of July is an important date then today, the tenth of July, is also memorable.  Tony and Andrea Ward from Bundanoon brought down the crucifix for our oratory.  Tony made the cross out of a unique piece of beautiful red cedar from northern New Soth Wales.  There were some nervous moments as Maurie and Matthew placed the crucifix.  However the results speak for themselves.  We are grateful to Tony for the skill, time and spirit which he spent on the cross.

The figure of Christ n the crucifix is personally special.  I first saw it in an antiques shop in Melbourne while with my late cousin Sr Margaret Reed, FMM.  Graham Geddes sold it to my family at a greatly reduced price.  We then donated it and other sacred art to the Box Hill community in memory of my father and other deceased family members.  It is wonderful to be able to live with it and meditate on it once more.  It is a 17th century Spanish polychrome wood carving from New Castile.

Matthew and Maurie are on the ladder while Tony is on the right

The oratory is slowly coming together.  It is our hope it will be a place of beauty and prayer at the heart of the community.