BEEN TO CROYDON MONASTERY LATELY?  MANY TRANSFORMATIONS

The feast of the Sacred Heart brings back memories of where many of us (older rather than younger) absorbed Heart Spirituality (despite the cold).

Opened in 1939, sold to the archdiocese of Melbourne in 1991, and becoming the parish centre, opening the local parish primary school, then the village for retirees, Mingarra. Many will have seen the extension of the chapel to make the parish church.

Our new students recently visited Croydon recently to experience some continuity with the tradition. We offer some photo records.

Some discoveries:

• Rooms 1 to 6 now converted to a unit for visitors to stay.
• The laundry is now a café staffed by volunteers.

• The recreation room has had the stage removed and transformed into a chapel for special groups and occasions.

But, the mainrooms are continually worked on (and for heating), the library the same, the old tables and chairs in use in the dining room.

• Extensive primary school at the back of what was the classroom and brothers’ area (with 400 students)

• A large hall built with funds available at the time of the GFC
• Mingarra larger.

But, the cemetery and the MSC graves carefully tended.

Vistors, MSC visitors are welcome – but, for security reasons, many doors have to be locked, so phone ahead and someone from the parish staff will show you around.

In a moment of lightheartedness (perhaps lightheadedness), Dean, Thieu and Dan broke from the serious traditions in the courtyard.