Sunday, 23 October

Pouring the last slab

I have received some encouraging comments from those who have enjoyed following the progress of our build through this blog.  It has also been a welcome means of contact with ex-novices.  One correspondent suggested we should have a webcam so that daily progress could be followed.  Now that would be commitment.
Anyway I am back home and today will update you on the past week.  On Friday I caught the pouring of the cement for the last of the foundations for the building.  The long corridor linking the different rooms is now in place. 

The connecting corridor and courtyard takes shape

This morning I walked with Fr Johny around the site pointing out what rooms were where.  He wanted to know whether we had a tap near the garage so we could clean the cars!  I wasn't sure.  But only our Indian friars- himself, Gabriel and Shemil, are keen car washers.  Johny also wanted to know where the vegetable garden was!  I made a suggestion.  We'll see what happens.  In the photo below you can see the corridor going from outside the library up to the friars' part of the new priory.  Just behind the pile of dirt in the foreground is the courtyard.

Sunday morning: the cement has dried

The foundations now being complete (except for the balconies and verandahs).  The structural steel is now on site and has begun to be erected.  You can see the outline of the oratory roof in the photo below.

Steel for the oratory roof is in place

This week I hope to see the steel below rising so that we can have an outline of the priory roof.

More steel for the roof

When all the steel is in place the next stage will be the roof.  Only then will work on the masonry walls begin in mid-November.  The walls will be of a new product called Timbercrete, invented by Peter Collier who lives at Bilpin in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.  Here is a link to the Timbercrete site       http://www.timbercrete.com.au/

Saturday 15 October, Feast of St Teresa

I know, I know!  It has been too long since I have have posted.  I have been preoccupied with a number of week long retreats.  These have been enjoyable but have not given me the time or energy on my return to post.  Sorry.

Well, while I was away the well organised work on the priory has continued.  All the slabs have now been poured.  So you can see the length of the building and make out most of the rooms.  Here is a snap of the final slabs on the right are four bedrooms, in the centre formations facilities, laundry and offices and beyond that the garages.

Slabs for garages, formation resources and bedrooms.

Yesterday our nice Muslim concrete workers poured the corridor/walkway which will link the various slabs into a coherent building.

Concrete being poured for the corridor

You can also see the form work for the courtyard taking shape to the right of this photo.

The corridor is poured and form work put in place

The winding corridor takes shape

While I was at St Celement's Redempotorist Retreat Centre in Galong, near Hardon, NSW, I missed a unique opportunity back home.  On Tuesday 4 October contestants from the Miss Earth Australia Competition came to Mount Carmel and planted trees.  Paul Maunder, Johny Arattukulam and Gabriel Maliakkal welcomed the contestants, their chaparones, their entourage and the paparazzi gave them all wonderful Carmelite hospitality.  In fact the brethren, in their chivalry and Carmelite devotion to manual labour,  also wielded picks and shovels and planted the trees.  On my return I took a photo of their efforts.

Trees planted by Miss Earth Australia contestants

The Miss Earth Australia contestants will return to plant more trees on 2 November.  I shall be home then and am looking forward to some manual labour, myself.  Plus I hope to take a few commemorative photos.  At the same time we will have the Carmelite nuns with us for the General Assembly of their Association.  Perhaps one of the girls will be interested in the contemplative life? 

While having lunch on Friday we had a surprise visit from Jude Nagle or Jude de Angulo as he now is.  Jude was a postulant with us in Brisbane in 1982 and a novice here in 1983.  It was great to meet up with him again.  He was both fleeing the Rugby World Cup  in New Zealand and attending a wedding at nearby Mount Annan.  Meanwhile, I leave tomorrow for another retreat.  This time for clergy from Parramatta Diocese. 

The blessings of St Teresa be with you and all those you love.

Saturday 17 September

We have had the Sydney OCDS Secular Carmelite community with us this week on retreat.  Going on retreat surrounded by building activity can be a distracting.  However they seemed to have the gift of tranquility in the midst of the activity around them.  Can you pray int he midst of a building site?  Well, of course!

Joyce Mitchelmore, OCDS serenely reading

During the week we also were blessed to have Presentation Sister Zita Power with us from Queensland.  Zita is the sister of the late John Power, OCD who was prior here from 1972-5 and then a missionary in the Philippines for 15 years.  John died in 1994 and is buried in our cemetery beside the chapel here.

Sr Zita Power

More Sydney OCDS came last night when I welcomed them and spoke about the building of the priory and sought their feedback on the refurbishment of the retreat centre.  They were particularly keen to examine the model that Peter Coad built of the project.  Incidentally we would love to hear from anyone their hopes and dreams for a refurbished retreat centre.  What would you really like to see here in our retreat centre?  You can contact me gregburke2002@yahoo.com.au if you like?

Our new water supply

The builders have been busy this week in a number of areas.  The long trench, over 600 metres, all the way down to the parish church was dug and the new pipes laid and the trench then filled in.  They worked fast and efficiently.  As we don't have any decent maps of the underground services to the property the digging resulted in the water being twice cut off for a short time.  The retaining walls have been finished and the outline of the house oratory is now clear.

Looking over the cemetery to the site, retaining wall to left

On Friday another two slabs were poured.  These were the floors for four bedrooms and the dining room, kitchen, pantry and guest room. 

New slabs are covered in black plastic

On Friday it was good to have Alex Coutts, our architect, back on site.  Alex has been visiting family in the United Kingdom.  He had inspected the site and was very happy with the progress.  We discussed a number of issues regarding the refurbishment of the retreat centre which is really phase two of our project.

Two rooms with a view

Next week the builder will prepare to pour the big slab for the front of the building.  One thing when the slab are poured is that one has a much more accurate sense of the size of rooms, their orientation and the view.

I shall miss any excitement next week as I will be away leading a retreat with the Sisters Disciples of the Divine Master.  I return on Sunday 25 September.

Monday 12 September

Since I last wrote Spring has come to Varroville.  The trees and shrubs are in blossom.  The smell of their perfume is in the air.   The sun comes up earleir and sets later.  These longer, sunnier days have been wonderful.

During the week a group of us with retreatants John Collins and Kathleen visited the site.

Frs Shemil, Greg Burke, Paul Maunder with John Collins and Kathleen Bashford

Waffle pods in place

We were interested in seeing waffle pods about which we hadn't previously  heard.  Waffle pods are polystyrene panels which are part of the formwork for the slab.  They also help insulate the floor of the building.

On Friday we had not just Spring showers but genuine rain.  The site was a mudbath but still they managed to pour our first three slabs.  the building progresses.  It is amazing really how much time and work goes into the ground under the building itself.

The first slabs in place

Life here is always interesting.  This morning after mass there were three steers wandering around the grounds.  So off we went to see what was up.  They were not our farmer's.  Shane said he saw them walking down the road and herded them into to our place.  We rounded up two and got the other back where he belonged across the road.  I missed the rest as I had to leave to take a retreatant to Campbelltown for her journey home to Wagga Wagga. 

I have just finished a retreat on Henri Nouwen which was well received.  I have another retreat beginning on Sunday which will take me away for a week.

Sunday 28 August

Life is more than building.  Since last Sunday the Carmelites from our three Australian houses (Varroville, N.S.W., Morley, W.A. and St Ives in North Sydney) came together for a week-long chapter meeting.  This involved sustained reflection on our life in Australia, and our hopes in the face of difficulties and challenges.


It was also a time to renew the bonds of Christian dedication and friendship that bind us.  It was especially good to have, Fr Jim Noonan, the Irish Provincial with us.  His relaxed presence and his sharing of the experience of our brothers in Ireland, England and Nigeria brought helpful insights.

Fr Jim Noonan, the Irish Carmelite Provincial

We voted in a new leadership team leaded by Fr Aloyius Rego with Frs Greg Homeming and Paul Maunder as councillors.  We agreed on a concluding statement which listed our hopes, affirmed what we had begun and made a number of propositions for our future.  We met and listened to our sisters from the Australia/Oceania Association of Carmelite nuns and the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in Australia/Samoa and New Zealand.

Attentive listening by Jim, Jennifer, Aloysius and Greg Homeming

In the photo we are from left to right: Sunny Peackal, Gerard Moran, Tadgh Tierney, Sr Marie Therese, Br Graham Neist FMS (facilitator), Greg Homeming, Sr Jennifer, Paul Maunder, Peter Dowd, Greg Chee, Jim Noonan, Aloysius Rego, Mary Clancy, Des Williamson, Mary Heffernan, Greg Burke, Lorraine Murphy, Gabriel Maliakkal, Shane Kelleher and Johny Arattukulam.

On Wednesday Sr Jennifer from the Varroville Carmel, Lorraine Murphy, the Australian/Samoa OCDS President, Mary Heffernan OCDS President New Zealand, Shane Kelleher, Sr Marie Therese President of the Association of Carmelite nuns and Mary Clancy, OCDS who with Lorraine and the local OCDS group has responsibility for the Carmelite Priory Bookshop visited the site.


Our concluding document the draft of which was crafted by our facilitator Br Graham Neist, FMS was titled "Unless the Lord build the house".   The scriptural quote came from the ceremony of blessing of the new priory which took place during the chapter.  The scenes and intense activity of the work on the foundations was seen as a fitting image for the context of the Australian Carmelite Vicariate at this time in our history.

"We desire to put into place solid and suitable foundations for the future development of Carmelite life in this part of the world.  Like the actual priory building it is difficult to see the final result from simply looking at the foundations, but with commitment and determination we believe we will see our dream come to life."

On Thursday Aloysius leads the procession to building site

We gather, listen to scripture and pray

Aloysius is assisted by Pete in the blessing

During all our meeting the workers on the site worked away smoothly and efficiently.  The work of drilling the piers has continued.  The deepest was over 4 metres deep.  Though most are just over 1 metre deep.

First you drill, then you place in the reinforced steel

Then you fill them with concrete

The plumbing is now making an appearance

So it was an eventful week in our life together.  There will be changes that will come as a result and the new priorities and direction it has set.

Today is Sunday, a day of rest and in the day the Church asks us to reflect on the spiritual and moral issues involving Migrants and Refugees.  Bishop Peter Ingham will celebrate mass this afternoon in the parish church for the people of many the nationalities and cultures that make up our Church and nation.  It will be followed by a very inclusive celebration.

Peace and Blessings on all.

Sunday 21 August

Today is Sunday and the day before our chapter begins and so a quiet day.  However, the Manummel Province today celebrates their Province day as it is the feast of their patron, Pope St Pius X whose saved their existence was threatened when they were a Third Order Regular OCD Congregation.  So happy feast to all Manjummel OCD.  

In a mood of mild celebration Shemil and I walked up to the site.  On the way we passed one of the great characters in our community- the goose.  The goose hisses at anyone coming or going, friend or foe alike.  Whatever about his welcome he is the sole survivor of a flock.  It is odd that he is nameless but he is not so much a pet as a watchgoose.

The goose guards our ute and all vehicles

The underground water tank now has a lid

We walked up to see the underground water tank with its new lid.  Because of the rain there was a lot more water on the building site than in the tank.  If you are wondering how we got such a nice aerial photo of the tank then see the image below.  The photos were taken from the top left pile.

The cottage roof tiles have been recycled

Looking over the entry of the new priory to the old novitiate

Coils of reinforced steel for the piers lie between us and the chapel

Thursday 18 August

It has been a busy few days with some showers and lots of mud. 

Tidying the drenched site

Looking over the site from under the fig tree towards the chapel

Yesterday,Peter Coad, the architect in association with Alex Coutts, came in the morning and we checked where the fire hydrants are to go.

Formwork for the rain water tank

Putting in the form work for the lid of the water tank

The first construction on the site took place yesterday.  The big hole for the underground water tank was formed into a tank.  The workers put in the reinforcing and then dropped in a mould in sections which was then filled with more reinforcing and then concrete.  I was entranced watching how the did this after lunch yesterday when I turned to leave and tripped over a branch and fell head long into the mud.  It all happened in slow motion and I was not even aware of what was happening.  There was no lasting damage done but I was a bit bruised.  The workmen were concerned.  One told me my missus would not be happy.

Nothing daunted at 3.00pm Aloysius, Gerard, Johny and I gathered with other members of the Scenic Hills Association for a meeting cum photo shoot on the road opposite our place.  We gave interviews to the reporter from the Macarthur Chronicle to highlight our concerns about Coal Seam Gas extraction in the our locality.

Next week we have our regional chapter at which we elect new officials and set our our priorities for the next three years.  To give thanks for the past three years we had a meal together at the Catholic Club.  As happens we met people we knew there who we had married or who were parishioners.  Sadly no photos were taken.

Today  they are finishing off the tank by putting on the lid.  Johny and I were there this morning saw the formwork go on as well as the concrete supports of the lid.  Johny took the photos.  He is famous for his photos.

Maurie's office- drilling piers on the muddy site

The builders have been drilling the piers and then placing the steel reinforcement before pouring concrete into them.  They have done three sections of the building.  The site was very boggy this morning.  Shoes pick up a weight of muddy clay.

A line of piers

Maurie's muddy boots

Sculptural installation- future drains and sewer covers