pathways, OCTOBER 2007
The Benedictine Monastery at Jamberoo has opened its doors in a way that has exposed its very heart and soul to an outside, inquisitive, wondering and skeptical world.
Eight women - five guests , a camerawoman, a sound recordist and the director - spent 33 days earlier this year with the 32 Sisters of this enclosed community on a journey quite unlike that of most visitors to this lush, rural retreat about two hours south of Sydney.
Australia will be invited to experience something of that journey when The Abbey screens on ABC Television as a Compass presentation over three Sunday nights from October 14.
Without giving too much away, Sr Magdalene told pathways that it was a very enriching experience for the community.
"We have been very affirmed in our vocation and touched by the reverence of the experience," she said.
"We have been energised and strengthened in our faith.
"By the end, we were tired, but we had smiles on our faces."
One thousand women applied when ABC Television offered this once-in-a-lifetime experience to give up hectic life-styles and modern conveniences and comforts to live by a 1500-year-old Rule for more than a month.
On entering the Abbey, 23-year-old Tusa wondered how she'd cope without alcohol and chocolate. Robyn wondered if she could do without her hairdryer, and Tammy gave up several "new age" safety blankets such as her self-help books, tarot cards and incense. Lyn didn't know what to expect and Meg just seemed content to have found some peace and quiet away from her hectic life as a full-time mother, not to mention full-time carer of a special needs child.
Regardless of their diverse life experiences, expectations and degrees of faith, each was required to live the monastic life - from the early rising and going to bed, to the prayer life, work, study and silence ...
They rose about 4am each day and joined the Sisters at 4.30am for the first of seven prayers of the Divine Office. The last was at 7pm. Each woman was given a place in the choir stalls in the Abbey church.
Between prayer, they ate and worked with the Sisters and learnt from them - with hour-long teachings each day on topics such as Lectio Divina and meditation, Benedictine monastic values, prayer and scripture.
As the community supports itself through the work of the Sisters, the women joined them in gardening and farming and in making liturgical crafts such as candles.
The women also had to come to terms with the silence.
Sr Magdalene explained that while the Sisters observe the grand silence from 7.30pm until 9am and the "overall ambience is of silence and prayer", there were times and places for speaking such as at recreation during the evening meal and at appropriate times during the day's work. While meals held in the refectory were silent, this very Australian community managed to enjoy a barbecue with the guests.
Sr Magdalene said the women gave 100 per to the experience - an "open ear", in the words of St Benedict. There was "hunger for God" and openness and willingness to walk the journey.
The Sisters are used to welcoming visitors - the monastery has retreat cottages on the property and several Sisters are involved with giving retreats and spiritual direction. And hospitality is a Benedictine charism. However, they are wondering what the impact on their lives might be following the screening of the programme.
An office has been built and a telephone line installed. A special website is also likely to be in place. Sr Hilda who features prominently in the programme will have the responsibility of handling enquiries.
The fruits of this modern faith adventure will still be being picked long after the television series finds its way to archive heaven, but maybe a taste can be found in Sr Magdalene's words: "To see a person find meaning and touch meaning in her life is quite awesome."
The first episode of The Abbey will screen on the ABC at 9.25pm on Sunday, October 14, with subsequent episodes on October 21 and 28.
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