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Mt Carmel Retreat Centre Varroville February 2004

Before we have time to become accustomed to it the year is up and running and we are caught up in a lively variety of things.

We began February at Mount Carmel with an in-service on affective maturity lead by Br Ronnie Fogarty, FMS. It was attended by those in formation, those who have responsibility for formation in the region and members of the Mount Carmel community. Ronnie’s presentation of the ideas of C. G. Jung and their application to our lives were greatly appreciated. While with us Ronnie banged out old favourites on our piano which has since been pensioned off and replaced by an almost new piano.

On Saturday, February 14, our novice Bernard Hancock professed his first vows in a simple but moving liturgy in our chapel. Bernard has now joined the community in Box Hill, Victoria where he is undertaking studies in preparation for ministry in the Church. We miss Bernard and with his going we now have a community of eight. With the arrival of Bernard and postulant Raymond De Bono there are now seven in the Box Hill community.


The retreat centre has now come alive with people joining us for day, weekend and longer personal and group retreats. We have become decidedly cosmopolitan with retreatants from as far as Rabaul, Papua New Guinea and Florence, Wisconsin. We have had retreats on Père Jacques Bunel, Br Lawrence of the Resurrection’s classic The Practice of the Presence of God and a well attended Lenten retreat directed by Fr Peter Dowd. The building works have progressed. The work on our new septic system is almost complete while the work on the cottage is almost at the stage where it is ready for the painting.

We have had significant celebrations in March. On 16 March Fr Hilary celebrated his 93rd birthday with great style. The community enjoyed a meal with him at the local Campbelltown Catholic Club. St Patrick’s Day is a celebration for all the Irish and for all of us too as we are members of the Anglo-Irish province of the Order. The friars came to Ireland in 1625 and set up in the home of Mrs Browne the mother of Fr Paul, the first prior. In 1638 they were formed into a Province which is still going strong with houses in Ireland, England, Australia and Nigeria. On 19 March we celebrate the feast of St Joseph the Patron of the Order. On 20 March our Fr Anthony Kelliher celebrates his 88th birthday. Fr Anthony has been in ill health and has recently undergone a serious operation in Brisbane where he now lives. We ask you to join us in prayer for his recovery.



After all these celebration it is almost a relief to get back to Lent. Of course, though, our Lent is no mere end in itself but preparation for the celebration of Paschal joy at Easter. Until then, every blessing, Greg Burke, OCD
2004: [January] 2003: [December]