2015-01-02

Adelaide Retreat

Twenty Brothers gathered at Sacred Heart College, Somerton Park, for the traditional Adelaide Retreat between Christmas and New Year. As usual, some were accommodated in the Boys Boarding House, and main meals were in the Boarders Dining Room. Our 4th oldest Brother in the Province, Brother Ken Preston, (92 years old), came each day from Flora Mc Donald Lodge (Nursing Home) to participate fully in the sessions and set the example. Br Peter Carroll also travelled the distance with us and we thank him for his presence.

Fr Greg Homeming OCD, a Discalced Carmelite priest, led us in the Retreat reflections and the Eucharists. He is softly spoken but gave us some mighty insights into the Spiritual Life. He helped us better understand the Gospels and Jesus’ teachings, by helping us understand the person of Jesus better to ask the question “What was it like to be Jesus”. What was he thinking? How was he relating to his Father?

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How was he relating to people? There were many references to the writings of St Teresa and St John of the Cross, the founders of the Carmelites.

Last Tuesday evening, the Brothers divided into two groups to make the traditional visit to the two cemeteries in Adelaide where the Marist Brothers are buried 12 in West Terrace and 12 in Centennial Park. Stories of these men were told and the Rosary prayed. The two Brothers who died in Adelaide this year, Leo McVeigh and David Blay, were fondly remembered.

And last night, a group of us wandered down to the Somerton Park beach to watch the New Year Eve’s Fireworks display from Glenelg and Brighton Jetties. Though not on the same scale as the Sydney Harbour Fireworks, it was big enough to draw large crowds of families to watch it.

Today we celebrated the final Mass, took the Group Photo, enjoyed in the final lunch and thanked the Adelaide Community for hosting us and the people who made the Retreat happen, especially Br Ambrose Reilly who did much of the organising. We were blessed with mild weather and some showery days.

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Matthew Clarke

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