Welcome to St Clement’s, a contemporary, Redemptorist retreat and conference centre set on 800 acres in a tranquil, picturesque setting in rural New South Wales, Australia. The Redemptorists are a religious congregation of priests and brothers within the Catholic Church who live in community for the sake of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, especially among people on the margins of society and church.

info@stclement.com.au
www.stclement.com.au
Tel:02 6380 5222

ABOVE: Current rector Fr John Airey (left) with fellow Redemptorist Fr Leo Coffey in front of relics of St Clement in the community chapel.

Galong message goes out far and wide

While St Clement's has been buzzing with activity at the start of winter, as Fr John relates in his column on the right, our historic monastery and retreat centre has been getting more than its fair share of publicity far and wide, too.

It has featured in spreads in both the Central West Lifestyle Magazine and the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn's newspaper Catholic Voice in the past couple of months.

As rector Fr John Airey told Catholic Voice: "Whatever you come here for, this is an amazing place. The conference facilities are up-to-date, the rooms are excellent and the grounds are a big plus.

"To preserve the Redemptorist presence here is one of my main motivations for coming. The Redemptorists have put a lot of effort into this place, and continue to do so."

To read the Catholic Voice article click here.

It's encouragement to tell your friends about this amazing and valued gift to this region of NSW, the ACT and beyond.

Claim the date

Don't forget, this year the Galong Marian Procession will be held at St Clement's on Sunday, 9 October.

Over many decades, the procession has gathered tens of thousands of Catholics from across Australia. Archbishop Christopher Prowse will be main celebrant at the 11.30am Mass, with the procession to the grotto to begin at 2pm.

Upcoming retreats

There are only a few places left for the next retreat, a six-day guided retreat on 18 to 25 July led by Fr Glenn de Cruz. The August Emmaus Journey retreat with Fr Leo Coffey is booked out.

A Taize retreat, which centres on the prayer, music and tradition of the Taizé community in France, will run from 26 to 28 August. Bookings are still available.

Year of Mercy - Why Mercy, why now?

Reunions are great time to reminisce

In addition to the retreats and conferences that continue to keep St Clement’s busy, there has been much maintenance work on the grounds and buildings. The entrance driveway has been repaired and the painting and repair is almost complete for the eastern side of the main building. Out buildings have also received considerable attention. For much of this work we are indebted to our generous St Clement’s volunteers.

Since the last newsletter St Clement’s has hosted two reunions of Old Boys who have come back after many years from all parts of the nation and from overseas. These are always great occasions with much reminiscence and enjoyable fellowship.

At present we have a retreat at St Clement’s for the Redemptorist students who have come to us from Melbourne. This retreat is being conducted by Fr Michael Hardie SVD. It reminds me, and I do hope will remind others, that we have a great need to continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Our Gospel on Sunday urged us to “ask the Lord of the harvest that he send labourers into his harvest.” (Lk 10:2 ). The need today is urgent or we will see more decline in local parishes and in religious congregations.

I am sure there are many young people who will accept the invitation from Christ for a religious vocation, if only we pray that they receive this grace.

During these winter months St Clement’s continues to be a vital presence of pastoral commitment on the Southern Slopes of NSW.

John Airey CSsR
Rector
July 2016