This week we’re providing an update about St Clement’s Retreat and Conference Centre, housed in the old St Clement’s Monastery in Galong. The Monastery is truly a jewel in our Hilltops Region and an unmissable destination, but before we begin, here’s a little history.
The property was first settled in the 1830s by Edward ‘Ned’ Ryan. Ned was a former Irish convict who came to the area with his cousin, Roger Corcoran, at his side, and his ticket of leave tucked away in a leather pouch in his pocket. A survey in 1840 showed Ned as a squatter in Galong cultivating 355 acres and running 49 horses, 990 cattle, and 8,822 sheep. Hard work had brought this man success and by the 1850s Ned had replaced his bark hut with a more substantial house, colloquially known as ‘Galong Castle’ because of a tower feature sporting crenellation. This new home must have been influenced by Ned’s wife, Ellen, who, with their children John and Anastacia, arrived in Australia in 1847. Sadly Ellen didn’t have long to enjoy the family’s new-found prosperity, as she died in 1856.
Ned died in 1871, and the property passed to his son, John. John enabled his sister Anastacia to remain at the property while he spent most of his time at ‘Ballyryan’ near Boorowa. John died in 1887 and it was then that Anastacia added a chapel wing and a priest’s room at Galong Castle. Anastacia passed away in 1900 and the property was bequeathed to the Cistercian Order of Mount Melleray, County Waterford in Ireland. The Cistercians declined the offer and so the property was made available to the Redemptorist Order, which is known for a strong commitment to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, especially among people on the margins of society and church. The Redemptorists visited the property and felt it would make an ideal location for a ‘juvenate’, a boy’s school for aspirants who might one day join the order as a brother or a priest.
The foundation stone for the Monastery was laid in 1917 and by 1918 a grand official opening was held. The next building to emerge was the classroom wing, which opened in 1923. It was built by the juvenate boys themselves (and children today whine about home chores!). By the mid-1970s some 900 boys had gone through the juvenate at St Clements, and at this time it ceased for of a range of reasons, including a decline in applicants for the order.
It was then that the decision was made to offer spiritual retreats led by members of the order. Over time this has expanded to include sewing and craft retreats amongst others. Recent developments include upgrades to guest accommodation and the development of a well-equipped conference centre. Old Galong Castle has also been updated and part of the house is now a Museum dedicated to the Ryans and the history of the Redemptorists at Galong.
COVID-19 has had a massive impact on the Retreat and Conference Centre. Social distancing safety measures have meant a reduction in the number of guests at any one time. Meal arrangements have also changed, as guests are now served personally rather than the former smorgasbord arrangements. Under the strong, supportive leadership of Sue Rolfe, the team administering the retreats and conferences have met this challenge with flying colours, and are to be commended for ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of guests.
A visit to the Galong Monastery would not be complete without visiting the local Galong Cemetery. There you will see modest graves harking back to the 1850s as well as the splendid marble graves of the Ryan family.
For information about upcoming retreats and conferences please visit the following website: St Clement’s Retreat & Conference Centre – Redemptorists of Oceania (cssr.org.au)
