Each time when I ponder over how the Lord has led me in life to embrace my vocation as a Norbertine Canon, I feel drawn back to Jeremiah 29: 11 – 14.
These verses were given to me when I was at a retreat discerning my life’s direction a few years ago.
Praying over them now often leave me pondering and wondering at how true the Lord has been to His promises by leading and shaping me to be His Canon and Deacon (I was ordained on 19th March this year).
As Canons Regular of Premontre, we place the core of our identity in our community.
There are currently five in the community with one aspirant/postulant (currently we are quite international with Australians, Irish, Indians and myself a Malaysian).
“Encountering God amongst us” is concretised when we commit our lives through our vows to a particular community in which it becomes for others and us a privileged place of communal grace.
The Rule of St Augustine which we follow says that, “the first reason that we have gathered in this monastery is that we should be of one heart and one mind on the way to God.”
It invites my confreres and I to share ourselves and the traditions from which we come so that it not only enriches our communal living but makes it more interesting.
Each day, our expression of our communal life shared with our parishioners and friends is chiefly through the celebration of the sung choral office and the Eucharistic celebration.
Strengthened by the Word of God and refreshed by the Bread of Life we move on to serve others through our educational institutions like St Norbert College, St Joseph’s Primary school, through pastoral work in our Parishes of East Cannington–Queens Park and York.
With a nearly 900 year history stretching from the first community in Premontre, (in north-eastern France) set up by St Norbert, Blessed Hugh of Fosse and companions in 1120, it is in our tradition that we trace our Canonry here in Queens Park to our founding Canonry of Kilnacrott Abbey, Ireland (where our only pioneer – Fr Stephen Cooney, O. Praem hails from) and beyond to Tongerlo Abbey, Flanders, St Michael’s in Antwerp and Premontre.
What has nourished me throughout these years has been my time spent in personal prayer, sharing and listening to my spiritual director, having good encouraging friends and looking at the example of the commitment of my parents and my De LaSalle brothers and Infant Jesus Sisters educators’ commitment to their vows.
Therefore, in this Year of Grace, as a community it is our ardent hope that the “Lord of the Harvest” would touch the hearts of many young men to consider our way of life.
Young men, if you are looking at dedicating your life to a communal setting, wear a unique form of habit reflecting the Resurrection of the Lord, have great esteem for the dignified celebration of the liturgy and yet being truly Australian then you have a community waiting for you here.
We would love it if you want to drop by and want to know more. Come and have coffee with us. We are at 135, Treasure Road, Queens Park, WA 6107.
Our contact numbers are 9458 2729 / 94515586 or email me at clim@norbert.wa.edu.au or visit us in Facebook at Norbertines of Queens Park.