Saturday, 18 February

The first part of the building is now nearing lock-up.  The kitchen, dining room and guest room section is ready for its roof.  The landscapers, the twins Wes and Beau, have been in preparing the ground and planting the bank between the library and the cemetery as well as out front.

The building takes shape- kitchen dining and guest room to the left

The ceiling in the chapel is now in place and we can begin to imagine the chapel space as it will be.

Chapel- with curved ceiling

There are three large windows which face north and which will have a lovely view over the property.

Chapel windows

The first of the bedrooms (number 4) of the brethren now almost has its walls complete.  It is now possible to get the feeling of the room.

Bedroom 4- looking north

The bank outside the library has now been landscaped.  Closer to the house a number of grevilleas have been planted. We asked for native plants that would attract birds.  As we already have many birds it could be said we asked for plants that will attract more and different native birds.  One of the new delights of the property is the sound of bell birds. 

Newly landscaped bank

The car park is now taking shape.  The heavy machinery is very noisy.  This is not that helpful to those on retreat.   This week we had the seminarians from Good Shepherd Seminary, Homebush on silent retreat.  They were admirably silent.  Unfortunately our site wasn't.  Well at least from 7.00am to 3.00pm.  St Teresa's hermitage is very close to the car park.  We will make sure it is private by the use of landscaping.

Car park

Saturday, 11 February

Now what was I saying about the weather?  Well this week we again had more than our share of rain but this afternoon we had the mother of all storms.  It was dark, the noise was intense, there were lightning strikes around us and a huge fall of rain along with some hail.  We had to rush around closing windows. 

Our creeks in the rain.

Paul and I watched from the top balcony and neither of us could remember seeing so much water on the property.  Given that I first came here as a postulant 43 years ago today this is quite something.  The water flowed in rivers.  When the storm passed it became a brilliantly clear afternoon full of light and peace.  Paul said it was like the Judgement Day.  This is using the storm as an allegory.

The first dam is full to overflowing

When the sun came out Aloysius also appeared and remarked there had not been much rain! 

Aloysius had written earlier today to the OCD friars, nuns and OCDS telling us of Fr Peter Dowd's decision to seek leave from the friars to join the diocesan clergy of Broken Bay diocese.  Aloysius wrote: "We will surely be surprised and saddened by Peter's decision, but we respect it and support Peter with our prayers."

After the storm- peace and beauty

After the storm- an allegory?

The driveway to the priory

We had rain during the week as well but a lot of work was completed.  Here you can see the driveway leading to the entry to the new priory.  If you click on the photo you can make out the timbercrete wall in front of the chapel.  It borders the new walkway to the chapel and retreat centre.

 

New roofs

The oratory- note the curved line of the ceiling

Looking to the entry to the oratory

The blockwork in the oratory is now more or less complete.  It is an impressive room.  The brickies have moved on to putting up the walls of the guest room and the kitchen. 

Looking to the oratory

Below is the view across the property from the common room which now has a roof as well.

View from the common room

Suunday, 5 February

The weather was not kind to us this week.  We had rain on Thursday when the verandahs were poured.  This explains the extraordinary means in the absence of downpipes to keep the water from the roof off the new concrete.  It rained heavily on Friday as well.  A complete washout of a day.

We now have verandahs

Now that we have the verandahs around the entry of the building, the meeting room and the library we can move ahead with the external works and landscaping which will include the driveway and walkway to the retreat centre.

The oratory this week

The oratory has been slowed for the brickies as the did not have the blocks they needed to finish the windows.  It is also detailed time consuming work.  However the special blocks arrived on Friday and it will be a busy week this week.  If, that is, it doesn't rain us out again.

The roof line takes shape

The Courtyard

The courtyard is now taking shape as well.  This week the brickies have start on the first accommodation block to the left of the picture above.  It should be easier going than the entry block.

During the week the Carmelites from around Australia gathered for our bi-annual assembly.  This was worthwhile in a number of ways.  We discussed the completion of the priory and the refurbishment of the retreat centre.  When these are complete it will be something of a new beginning for our life and ministry here in Varroville.  We also discussed our life together and how to improve it.  It was a full two days and we were glad to have finish by Wednesday evening.

During the meeting we also celebrated the silver jubilee of profession of Frs Greg Homeming and Shane Kelleher.  As well, Fr Gabriel will celebrate his 70th birthday in February and in March his 50th anniversary of profession while Fr Johny will celebrate his 40th anniversary of profession and 60th birthday (100 years of Johny) in March.  We celebrated the jubilarians with special Eucharists and at a festive meal.  At this meal we also asked God's blessing on Greg Chee as he takes time out from the community.  Here are some snaps from the festive meal.  There are no action shots of our discussion.

Around the table: Greg Chee, Sunny, Paul, Greg Homeming, Gabriel

Shane and Greg Burke

Aloysius, Tadgh and Bernard

Gerard, Des and Peter

Greg Homeming, Gabriel, Johny

Tadgh, Bernard, Darren, Greg Chee, Sunny

Bernard has an empty glass, Darren is amused

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.

Sunday, 22 January

The work on site has continued this week.  It has been another mild week in a very mild summer.  I expect that this coming week the brickies will complete their work on the public area of the priory and begin to move up the hill working on the first of the accommodation modules.

The brickwork has reached the foyer clerestory

On Saturday I showed our old friend Robert Love around the building.  One of the things he enthused about was the aspect of the building and the placing of windows to give a rich variety of views over our property.  He thought the building would nurture our spirits and our spirit.

Below is a photo from the entrance looking down over the first dam.  This area will be landscaped.  It will be a plaza- pleasant area to sit and look over the view.

Water glimpsed through the trees with hermitage to the right

Accommodation module with cows on the hill

In the photo above you can see the timber being placed to frame to the roof.  The carpenters will be working this week on that project.  If you click on the photo you will see the cows on the hills behind.

The brickwork in the entry foyer is now almost complete.  Here you can see how it reached up to the windows below the high ceiling.

Entry foyer takes shape

One of the things I am pleased we have done is to protect the Hoop Pine outside the house oratory.  You can see it in the photo below.

Looking across the courtyard to the oratory and library with the Hoop Pine beyond

Celebrating Des's birthday with a joyous feast

Today the Varroville community went to the St Ives Carmelite community where we celebrated Fr Des Williamson's birthday.  They had expected that perhaps one or to of us might turn up.  But we all wanted to go.  We enjoyed the warm welcome, wonderful food and and lively conversation.

Des, Peter, Gerard and Aloysius

Johny, Bernard, Paul and Shane

Admiring the new garden

We examined the bananas planted by Frs Peter and Johny and the impressive vegetable garden that Des and Johny made.  As well we looked at the huge development next door besides which our new priory seems small.

In regard to community celebrations the standard has been set.  We look forward to the next birthday or jubilee.  There are a number this year.

Fr Johny has sent me proof of his post-Christmas expedition to the back of Bourke.  While there he travelled around with a local priest and the Uniting Church minister.  He was proud to have visited what he called my ancestral home.  This is not quite accurate but the sentiment is fine.

Johny back o'Bourke

Sunday, 15 January

It has been a while since I blogged and the New Year is getting older.  I was away in Toowoomba with the clergy on their annual retreat.  It was a wonderful experience for me.  I was deeply impressed by the priests, their welcome, dedication and openness to the retreat.  Recent events in the diocese have affected them deeply.  It was uplifting to meet Bishops Bill Morris and Brian Finnegan and to see their pastoral care for the priests.  I had known Bill in my time in Brisbane but had not met Brian previously.

After the retreat I visited the OCD nuns in Ormiston and met with the Brisbane OCDS community.  Of course it was not a holiday for me.  Nonetheless, before I left, Paul prayed at morning prayer for me and all going on holidays!  The thought was appreciated.

Gabriel, Paul, Shemil and Gerard watching tawny frogmouths

Just before I left I was sitting on the porch of St Teresa's hermitage when I became aware of a family of tawny frogmouths in the she oak opposite me.  They do a great imitation of wooden branches and so are hard to see or photograph.  When they became aware of my presence they stretched out to appear even more branch like.  The brethren came and were impressed as you can see above.

The building takes shape

The steel framework is almost complete

In my absence the brickies came back to work early in the New Year.  Then last week they were joined by lots of tradies.  The pace of work was fast.  The steel frame is almost completed.  The electricians are continuing steadily,  the plasterers are putting up ceilings.  And more.. no doubt.

Framework to the north of the common room

The common room faces south with a lovely view over the property  all the way to St Gregory's College on the hill in the distance.  Across the corridor is a covered area looking north.  This will be a very pleasant area.  The framework for this area has now gone up and can be seen in the photo above and the one below.

Looking over the community courtyard

One of the big differences now is that the oratory has taken shape.  In the photo below you can see the three big windows.

Looking towards the oratory

The tabernacle for reservation of the Blessed Sacrament will be in a special place in the centre of this alcove.

Blessed Sacrament alcove

Here is the view from the library over the community cemetery.

From the library looking over the cemetery to the chapel

This is a time of change for us as a community.  Shemil is now in Mandurah, Western Australia where he will be part of the new Carmelite community working in that parish.  He won many friends in his time with us.  Gabriel is also away supplying in the parish of Bowen, Far North Queensland.  He will return for our annual gathering at the end of the month.


On a sadder note: Greg Chee has announced that after 6 years as the zealous parish priest of Varroville he is seeking time away from religious life while continuing ministry as a priest.  He has sought and received a period of 'exclaustration' from the Carmelite superior general.  We feel his departure and will certainly miss his presence in community.