The 8th of December 2024 was a special celebratory 50th Anniversary for Shalom House of Prayer at Carcoar. The day began with a Welcome to Country and Mass presided over by Bishop Michael McKenna with several diocesan priests and seminarians also present. 

Although the weather was perfect for the events of the day, the previous days of excessive rain caused a lot of water underfoot, with the result that our planned picnic in our renovated gardens was impossible which was a pity. However, plan B for lunch down at the School of Arts, with adjacent shady parkland leading down to the sparkling, flowing Belubula river worked well. It was a lovely atmosphere where old friendships were revitalised and new ones made, where picnic food was shared and Mr Geoff Wills’s famous gourmet hot dogs were in plentiful supply. Gentle background music by Limoncello – a unique duo of female voices, accompanied by cello and ukulele – played a blend of soft country rock that added to the success of the day. 

This event marked the vision that Neville and Helen Bowers (from Orange) had for Shalom, 50 years ago, based upon a calling that came to Neville in prayer when he distinctly heard the words: “Go to Carcoar, reopen the old convent and make it a place where my people can find or renew their relationship with Me”.

Since then, countless numbers of people have found their way to Shalom House of Prayer, with its contemplative atmosphere of stillness and silence that invites, in many ways, of the soul’s surrender to the Great Spirit of the Universe, whom we Christians name as God.

The Welcome to Country by Elder Dale Carr, Wiradjuri Cultural leader and caretaker from Orange began the celebrations. Dale met and welcomed the 130 plus guests with words in language embracing and acknowledging the home of Shalom House of Prayer. As representative from the First Nations People, Uncle Dale spoke of his people’s spirituality, deeply connected to the Creation Histories intrinsically experienced by these First Nations peoples through earth, seas, skies, land, water, fire, wind, animals and the universe. 

His words were a beautiful blessing and a heartfelt invitation with which to begin our important day. Those who listened recognised how God has been working with people on this place for many thousands of years.

We thank God’s calling to Neville that day, 50 years ago and for Neville’s response to do what God was calling him to do.

In the celebratory mass that followed Uncle Dale’s ‘Welcome to Country’, Bishop Michael McKenna challenged the congregation in his homily: “If you think God may be calling you to Shalom, then maybe you should check it out”.

Of the many thousands who have come to Shalom over the past 50 years, there has been quite a succession of people who have felt that calling. It is a feeling of wanting to serve in this particular place, of feeling that you have something to give – a feeling that God is prompting you to come, even if you are ‘not sure’. It is a feeling that often won’t go away, that gently surfaces at times, with growing strength and that won’t be satisfied until you surrender to it and ‘check it out’.

If you feel that God is calling you to Shalom, please contact us at (02) 6367 3058 and come to the Shalom Open Day on the 8th of February, 2025. You can see more about the Open Day on the Shalom House of Prayer website. Check it out!

 

Fran Hanson