One of the most important things about our little Congregation is that it has contemplative roots, being able to trace its ancestry from Dublin to Galway and then to Prouille. Thus we are devoted to the Divine Office. When we moved to our new convent hope arose that we might be able to get choir stalls. A lovely farmer and his wife, Joe and Pamela Ryder, gave us a big load of beautiful macrocarpa wood, personally milled by Joe, but how to get it made into choir stalls. A builder friend costed out the making of choir stalls and it came out at about $2,000 for each stall, and we wanted fourteen! We had received a grant from the St Joseph Trust but only for $3,000. How to bridge the gap between $3,000 and 14 x $2,000?
We put thought and prayer into it and came up with a name! Chris Kuypers, one of the real founders of the parish and all his life a tireless worker for Tradition. Would he consider coming out of retirement for one last, ill-paid, job. Mr Kuypers did come out of retirement and he recruited his grandson, a young man who had just left school and was waiting to start a building apprenticeship.
In an amazingly short time Mr Kuypers rang up to say that he had finished the Choir-stalls. He and M. Guy Legrega, a Dominican Tertiary recently come to the parish from New Caledonia, brought them up to the Convent on two trailers. As an additional surprise M. Legrega had made metal crosses to go at the back of the stalls. He had seen crosses on the photographs of the stalls at St Dominic’s Priory in Dunedin and wanted us to have them too. Mrs Nicola Wansink, mother of our two postulants, had taken careful measurements and clear photographs of the original stalls in the Dunedin chapel and had supplied these as a pattern. (The chapel is now owned by the Dunedin Cathedral Parish.)
The stalls are substantially constructed and glow with the beauty of the wood. We are very pleased with them and we feel that they add to the dignity and solemnity of the Divine Office, and to the beauty of our Chapel.
Very lovely! Do you have seats that come up and little misericords to lean on?
Another aspect of tradition restored. Thank God for the good people who made it possible.
Indeed, Deo gratias!
I am sure Our Lord and Our Lady are well-pleased and honoured with these beautiful additions to the Convent’s Chapel!
How beautiful! God bless all the people who helped make them. I can’t wait until next year to try one!
To Lucia Rosa:
You have expressed the wonderful desire to join the Sisters and I am certain you are in all our prayers.I hope you will not be cross with me if I offer you and other girls who feel like you, just a little advice which may be helpful. I love gardening and I often think a vocation is like a very precious seed. It needs careful and tender nurture and constant nourishment.Holy Mother Church provides this nourishment. Receive the Holy Eucharist frequently, pray the Holy Rosary daily, visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament as often as you can and confess regularly. Spend time at the foot of the cross with Jesus who suffered so cruelly for our sins. Read the lives of the Saints; they will inspire you and fill you with zeal. Observe modest dress standards at all times and especially in church, remembering the teachings of Saint Paul with regard to headcovering and being silent. Avoid places where immodesty might prevail such as beach areas or city centres during weekends, or at night.If you are at school outside the home, choose your companions very carefully and stand up for your principles in discussions, always being polite and courteous to others. Attend to the duties of your state in life; work hard at your studies and do your chores diligently, following the example of Saint Therese, the Little Flower of Carmel.Your most important duty is obedience, cheerful, first time obedience to all those who are in authority over you. People such as Priests, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Parents or Guardians and of course Teachers. Remember their authority comes from Almighty God Himself. Accept correction in all forms with gratitude. It is through correction that we learn self discipline and attain wisdom…eventually. Finally and certainly, place your future in the hands of Almighty God, our Most Loving Father. He knew you before you were born and He wishes only the best for you. Trust in Him dear Lucia Rosa and he will lead you on the right path.