Easter celebrations at New Norcia and our place

Easter at New Norcia, the Benedictine town which is situated about 120 km north of Perth in Western Australia, was as lovely as ever.

DH and I have been lucky enough to share in Easter celebrations there for the last 3 years. We went up on Thursday, and stayed in the Monastery guest house. The centre picture of the collage is the view of the courtyard garden at the guest house. Other views are of the town and its surroundings. 

We were invited to sing in the choir for the Maundy Thursday and Dawn Easter services. The music was lovely- augemented by our very talented organist/pianist, a cellist and a trumpeter.

Between services and choir rehearsals, we read books. I have a biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran pastor who was an ecumenist and a theologian in the 1930s and 40s in Germany -a man of great intellect and courage. We also bought a Richard Rohr book "A Lever and a Place to Stand" which was very inspirational. The two books go together very well and enabled us to do a lot of reflecting on life and faith.

We also walked around the town and its surroundings. Everywhere the country is waiting for the new life to begin, which can only start when the rains arrive. Nevertheless the olive trees continue to grow, and the pink and grey galahs swoop and soar. There is a beautiful display in the education centre of six panels representing the seasons as they are identified by local indigenous people of the Nyoongar nation. The picture in the top right hand corner is of the current season -which is called Makuru, if I have identified it correctly.

There were some very interesting people who gathered at New Norcia for the celebrations. We met some old friends and made some new ones.

We gave ourselves the luxury of not rushing away after the Easter dawn service-which starts at 4.30 am and goes for three hours...we have learned that it really does help to slow down, have an afternoon nap and go home the next day.

When we got home, we shared with our DD a lovely Easter cake made by my talented niece, who is setting up a cake decorating business called Jakes Cakes. It was a very delicious chocolate mud cake and the Easter Bunny, basket of eggs and flowers were all wonderfully done.

 All in all we have had a restful, inspirational and delightful weekend, thanks to the many people who shared their talents to make it so.

I hope you had a wonderful Easter too, and that the joy of Easter can go with you.