Finding God through nature
Local
South Australia is home to many outdoor places of reflection for those looking to connect with their faith in spaces providing peace and tranquility.
THE MONASTERY
The name says it all at the beautifully manicured Sacred Garden.
The pretty plot, located on the grounds of The Monastery 10 minutes from Adelaide’s CBD, is a tranquil space inviting reflection and prayer. Gardener John Allen and a small group of volunteers work tirelessly to maintain the foliage and flower beds surrounding St Paul’s Church and conference centre.
“Our gardens offer an escape from our busy lives to reflect and reconnect with our spirituality,” says Debbie Cooper, manager of the Retreat and Conference Centre.
“They are full of beautiful statues including the Stations of the Cross and the Piata.”
The 14 Carrara marble sculptures depict the Stations of the Cross and form a moving centrepiece. They were commissioned in 1955 by the Australian Passionists for their Novitiate Monastery in Goulburn, NSW, and were made at Italy’s Ferdinando Palla Studio in Pietrasanta, Tuscany. Each station comprises a tableau of three or four half life-size figures and weighs half a tonne.
The Monastery offers tours of the Sacred Garden which is open seven days a week from 8am to 5pm. Visitors can wander through and enjoy the beautifully manicured gardens or pray the Stations of the Cross.
The Monastery, 15 Cross Rd, Urrbrae, themonastery.net.au
ST JOSEPH’S CHURCH, WILLUNGA
History whispers on the breeze at Willunga’s beautiful old stone church. Established in 1850, it was the third Catholic church in South Australia and is the oldest still in continuous use. Inside, impressive stained glass windows bathe worshippers in light.
St Joseph’s Church
“It’s a beautiful church,” says parishioner Michelle Cormack.
“Every time I visit, there’s someone sitting in here. It’s a very contemplative place to be.”
As archivist, Michelle has long kept a watchful eye over the stories permeating the grounds. Outside, a cemetery is home to many significant graves. Occasionally, Michelle leads tours through the site, providing a glimpse into life in the region during early settler days.
“There are some really sad ones like the grave of the boys who went to war in World War I,” she says. “Both sons were killed.”
Make time to seek out the monument dedicated to farmers Richard and Margaret Logan. Richard was District Road commissioner and later chairman of the Willunga Council. During the establishment of St Joseph’s Church, records say, ‘Logan was a generous benefactor who was always at the disposal of the priest and church community’.
In 1851, a wheat crop grown on the Logan’s property helped pay for the replacement of the church roof after it was blown off in a wild storm. Tragically, the couple’s five children died young. When Margaret died in 1877 and Richard died in 1883, he left their property to the support of the priest, the Willunga Catholic parish and Catholic education. It was a bequest that aided St Joseph’s parish for more than a century.
A gazebo and a garden shaped like the Sacred Heart are also highlights.
St Joseph’s Church, 12 St Judes Street, Willunga, willungaparish.org.au
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY MEMORIAL GARDEN
In 2023, Fr Fred Farrugia asked Adelaide Hills Landscaping and Gardening Design to design a memorial garden at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Stirling East.
The idea was to build stone walls on the grounds of the historic church which was built in 1881-1882.
Our Lady of the Rosary Memorial Garden
The walls contain special compartments where ashes of the dearly departed can be interred.
“The long-awaited memorial garden has been completed, and I’m delighted to report that the wall and gardens have been very well received,” said OLOR representative Debbie Somers in a 2024 edition of parish newsletter The Bridge.
“Most of the thanks must go to the design and vision of Fr Fred and his excellent delegation of works, bringing together so many talented people to work collaboratively, and much of it behind the scenes, to bring this project to fruition. I’m thinking of Mr Frazer (of Andrew Frazer Garden and Landscaping), John Leeton, Michael Pope, Des Stapleton, Paul Anderson, Daniel Kelly, Peter Sharp and the energetic volunteer gardeners and anonymous donors of plants and furniture.”
When the memorial garden opened on March 17 2024, it was blessed by Archbishop Patrick O’Regan.
The resulting hideaway includes a circular lawn and tree-framed wall and pathway, complete with benches on which to pause for a quiet moment of reflection dedicated to remembering loved ones.
Our Lady of the Rosary, 135 Old Mount Barker Road, Stirling East, adelaidehillsparish.com.au
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