The Year of Grace commences Pentecost 27 May 2012, Seeking the Face of Christ

This icon of Christ Pantocrator - Constantinople, 6th century. Monastery of St Catherine, Sinai.

 

 

This Pentecost Sunday in Canberra the parishes have distribuated a bookmark with this Icon the Christ "Pantocrator". 

This is the oldest know icon, it dates from the 6th or 7th century. The two differnt facial expressions on either side are said to emphasise Christ's dual nature as fully God and fully human. This is the web site where you are able to download this beautiful bookmark for this Year of Grace -  http://www.dbb.org.au/Pages/YearofGrace.aspx

 

 

Pantocrator - Icon by Sue Orchison Canberra ACT 2006

We are called to seek the face of Christ during this Year of Grace.

Each of us has a different relationship with Christ. 

On any day my relationship with Christ can change - 

I can see Christ as the Loving Shepherd, the Bridegroom, The Lover of My Soul, 

My Redeemer, My Healer, The Lamb of God

Christ the Fisherman - the Laughing Jesus - Copy by Sue 2009

and Friend.

Iandra Castle

Iandra - the Castle

Antoher great find - Iandra Castle near Grenfell NSW.
Beautiful rambling gardens, marvelous thick walls, numberous bedrooms, bathrooms, formal dining room, sitting room, billard room and the list goes on of the places to explore in this huge Castle.
The Castle has Open Days about four times a year. It is well worth the visit. I am sure you will be able to find the dates for open days on their website - http://iandracastle.com.au/
Take a picnic and sit in the gardens, you can get a good coffee from a vendor there. There are a few craft stalls there also - which are fun.
Do go and support this wonderful piece of our Australian Heritage - we did and had a great day.

Crisp Gallery Bowning NSW

The Crisp Gallery has a remarkable avenue of hybrid New Zealand Willows, walking under the Canopy is wonderfully peaceful.

The Crisp Gallery, on the Hume Highway near Bowning, is a fantastic find. We went to view the Icon exhibition by Lucy Antiloff and Joy MacDonald and found this treasure chest.  The surrounds are beautiful. Peter Crisp is an amazing artist. He was commissioned to create a gift for Prince Charles and Camilla and also Prince Fredrick and Princess Mary.

Do browse Peter's website - http://www.petercrisp.com.au/index.htm

It is a wonderful day outing from Canberra. It takes about an hour to  drive to the Galley from Canberra and is well worth the effort. The Gallery and Gardens are beautiful. They also serve Devonshire teas, have a gift shop and a fascinating array of geraniums for sale.

Harden/Murrumburrah Gold Trail 2012

Folk at the Harden/Murrumburrah Gold Trail show off their historical outfits

April 14th and 15th showcases the history of Harden/Murrumburrah each year highlighting a different aspect of story of the District. Last year we watched a re-enactment of the charge of the Light horse Brigade. This year one of the attractions was the shooting of the Assistant Gold Commissioner and the stage coach robbery attempt.
There are many food and local craft stalls and entertainment which included poetry, bands and vocalist singing ballards.
Put it on your calander for 2013!!

Blessed John Henry NEWMAN - Prayer for Canonisation

God our Father, you granted to your servant Blessed John Henry Newman wonderful gifts of nature and of grace, that he should be a spiritual light in the darkness of this world, an eloquent herald of the Gospel, and a devoted servant of the one Church of Christ.

With confidence in his heavenly intercession, we make the following petition:  

that  INSERT THE NAME YOU ARE PRAYING FOR 

 be restored to full health.

For his insight into the mysteries of the kingdom, his zealous defence of the teachings of the Church, and his priestly love for each of your children, we pray that he may soon be numbered among the Saints.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus I Trust In You

The Divine Mercy, image by Sue, at St Thomas the Apostle KAMBAH ACT

The second Sunday of Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday - 15 April 2012.

This devotion has been important in my life since I was introduced to the devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus since about 1988, that was the year in which I painted this image.

The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is a precious gift we can use daily and the devotion is heightened on the Feast day - Divine Mercy Sunday.

The Chaplet is recited as follows, using rosary beads -

First say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and the I believe in God.

1) Then once recite - 

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of  Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

2) then the following prayer ten times on the decade beads-

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Repeat steps 1 and 2 for all five decades

in conclusion three times repeat the following prayer-

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Our Lord said to Sister Faustina: At three o'clock implore My mercy especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world... In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion.

The Chaplet is a powerful prayer for the dying.  To say the Chaplet at the beside of a dying person is the greatest gift you can give them.

Jesus I Trust in You

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm#ixzz1roev37eg

Australia Day at Wombat NSW - at the Tractor Pull

Well as you know Australia Day is the 26th January. There are lots of events that celebrate Australia as a wonderful nation with an awesome people.
This year we chose to experience a really basic Australian Event - we went to Wombat NSW (just down the road from our little 'farm'  to the 'Tractor Pull' at Wombat NSW.


Australia Day at Wombat NSW - at the Tractor Pull - what a great line up of tractors  



The tractors take it in turns to pull a load and the one that pulls it the furtherest is the winner in their section. There and a number of sections - catering for the oldest models to the newest. Great fun.

There was also a display of old machiney and vintage cars and of course the craft stalls.

This is a CORN SPLITTER - you wind the handle and the corn cob moves down a conveyer belt and the corn is removed from the husk - how good is that!!! I loved it.