Back to work as we start the new year - 2012

Tomorrow I am back to work after a 3 week holiday.
I am so privileged to be able to take time off from the routine of work in the city and spend it in the country - watching the sheep grazing in the adjoining paddock, the blue wren flitting back and forth through the water spray in the garden, picking the magnificent blue and white agapanthus for the vases and cooking the apples and plums from the orchard.
My beetroot were small - but cooked up into a delicious relish.
My zucchini are crunchier than the ones I buy and the tomatoes are yummy. I do not get many vegetables but I do appreciate those that grow.
The dog is digging up my pumpkin patch - I am not sure what he is after - ants, rabbits..... but it is not very good for the plants I must confess.
Farming is not my strong point - but I am enjoying trying to grow my own vegies. Any suggestions would be most grateful.

May the year ahead be filled with joy and peace for you and your loved ones.
May the world know the Wonder of His Love.
Every blessing to you during 2012.

Aboriginal Nativity

Aboriginal Nativity

I wish each of you a blessed and peaceful Christmas 2011.

This is an aboriginal nativity which I created in 2009.

I love the aboriginal form of painting and I wanted to create a nativity. 

The figures are based on the beautiful aboriginal Stations of the Cross used during World Youth Day in Sydney 2008.

The world can seem chaotic at this time of the year, 

But I feel the peace and serenity of the Holy Family in this image can speak to us of life and love. 

Christ came to the world as a helpless infant; into the arms of a young woman.

Christ was born into to the essence of creation - a place prepared by the Father, created by the Spirit - the breath of life.

 Those who live with the land know the beauty and majesty of the place of his birth. 

This place was the lowly stable - a cave in the side of a hill.

What man could build a lodging fit for the King of Kings?

The lodging our King wants is a home in our hearts. 

Many Blessings to you and your family and loved ones. 

Canberra the Bush Capital of Australia



Canberra is the Capital  of Australia. It is a beautiful city.
The National Carillon, situated on Aspen Island in central Canberra..




Canberras Captian  Cook Fountain is a spectacular feature of Lake Burleigh Griffin.



Around Canberra you can often see kangaroos grazing, you just have to know where to find them.
So when you visit Canberra ask one of the locals where to find them. These ones are on Urambi Hills, Tuggeranong.



The flowers in our Australian Capital are unusually beautiful.
Remember to visit our Botanical Gardens to see a wide variety of Australian native plants.




 

St John Marie Baptiste Vianney Patron of Parish Priests

There are several elements of the image that I feel are important to the Icon. The image on the book is the Lamb of God slain for our sins, but risen and victorious over death. This image is on a vestment of the Saint. Reconciliation was a very important element of St John Vianney's ministry.  He spent many hours daily administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The cross on the purple stole is in the pattern of the criss-cross of the confessional window; he spent many hours daily administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation and was a great blessing to those who came to receive forgiveness. The book, representing the Gospels, the image of the Lamb holding the Cross plus the purple stole say everything there is to say - the Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world. St John understood perfectly that saving souls by freeing them from the burden of sin is what the priestly ministry is all about.  The priest is another Christ.

An icon is a window into heaven.  The gold represents heaven. Gold reflects light, while all other elements absorb light. What a wonderful image of heaven - it reflects the light of Christ. It is a marvellous demonstration of Gods glory. The light does not come from the halo but balls onto the saint from above – the Holy Spirit who speaks through him.

As we are embracing the new translation of the Missal I have represented this image in the icon. St John Vianney is the Patron Saint of parish priests and the missal was very dear to his heart. He spent much time in teaching catechism classes. St John’s right hand is held in blessing and the symbolic pattern of our doctrine. The thumb and ring finger are joined symbolizing the eternal love of the Trinity, the index and middle fingers are upright symbolizing the divine and human natures of Christ and the little finger proclaims three persons in one God. The mouth of the Saint closed and his ear is open and listening to the word of God.

The preliminary stage of writing an icon. It is a journey of discovery, research, choices, many, many decisions have to be made. How shall I speak of this mighty man. What is the element of his character that is most important to me. While I wrote this Icon of St John Marie Baptiste Vianney I wondered what did he did in his life that made such a monumental difference to the world that made the Church proclaim him Saint. Who is this great man of God.
This gentle portrayal of the Saint, based on the image used in the wayside chapels around Ars, captures the essence of the man, his simplicity and his littleness.