The tale of St. Mary’s Towers is incomplete without reference to the first owners of the land which the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and many others have come to consider their home. While the MSC celebrate their presence and ministry here of more than a hundred years, a significantly more ancient spirituality and culture preceeded them at this place of the meeting of the rivers for tens of thousands of years.

The original inhabitants of the Appin, Wilton, Douglas Park area were the Dharawal people. Their country spread from Botany Bay south to the Shoalhaven River and inland to Camden. The Dharawal moved freely throughout the region and shared resources with their near neighbours. Their lands were fertile, with abundant resources. The Dharawal were custodians of this rich country and offered hospitality to people from other nations when their lands were ‘sick’. The traditional protector of the Dharawal people is the Eagle and she watched over them and cared for them.

Historical records describe white encounters with the Dharawal, which began around 1795, as peaceful. Some European settlers had close associations with them. Charles Throsby of Glenfield was accompanied by Dharawal men when he explored the southern highlands area. Throsby was a persistent critic of European treatment of the Aborigines. Hamilton Hume who, in 1814 with his brother John, made the first of a number of long exploratory trips southwards, did so in company with a young Aboriginal friend named Doual. Whereas the “mountain natives” (probably Gandangara) had a reputation of being hostile in defence of their people and their land, the Dharawal were peaceful and had no history of aggression. Unfortunately few settlers could distinguish between the two groups.

As early as 1795 cattle which had strayed from the colony at Farm Cove (Sydney) in 1788 were discovered in the Menangle-Camden area. (Explorer Francis Barrallier had reported 60 cattle near what is now known as Douglas Park in 1802). Governor Hunter visited the Camden area and name it “Cowpastures”. In 1803, Lord Camden, the Colonial Secretary, ordered Governor King to grant John Macarthur more than 5,000 acres for the purpose of breeding merino sheep, giving birth to the Australian wool industry. When Europeans took up land grants, they cleared and fenced the land, irrecoverably changing the patterns of hunting and gathering that had been followed by the Dharawal people for tens of thousands of years.

Europeans admired the people of this area. Lieutenant Collins described how, at a tribal meeting 1824 ‘the men from the Cowpastures were the most remarkable. They were rather short, stocky, strong and superbly built. The painting on their bodies, resembling some kinds of coats of mail, added even more to their martial attitude…’ From archaeology and information given by other tribes of the Cumberland Plain and by their descendants, it is thought that they hunted knagaroos and possums on the grasslands and in the forests. They camped by the rivers to fish and to catch eels and water birds. They harvested seasonal fruits and vegetables, especially yams which grew in big yam beds by the rivers and creeks.

When Governor Macquarie and his wife visited the Cowpastures in 1810, they were welcomed by “two or three small parties of the Cowpastures natives” with”an extraordinary sort of dance”. In 1814, Macquarie issued an order in the Sydney Gazette, admonishing settlers in the Appin and Cowpastures area. “Any person who may be found to have treated them [natives] with inhumanity or cruelty, will be punished?.” Yet within a few short years, orders issued by Macquarie would result in the deaths of many Dharawal people including an atrocity when an Aboriginal woman and her children were murdered at Appin.

Between 1814 and 1816 relations between Aborigines and Europeans in the Appin area became hostile, perhaps exacerbated by a severe drought which further increased pressures on the scarce food supplies. In May, 1814 three members of the militia fired on Aboriginals on two farms at Appin, killing a boy. This led to retaliation by the Aborigines, followed by further violence by whites. Over the next two years hostilities escalated and came to a head in March 1816, when members of the Gundangara attacked settlers, killing some and destroying property. It was in response to these attacks that Macquarie felt compelled to ‘inflict terrible and exemplary punishments’ on the Aborigines.

Macquarie ordered three military detachments to deal with the ‘Natives’ by ‘punishing and clearing the country of them entirely, and driving them across the mountains’. Captain Schaw was to lead a punitive expedition against the “hostile natives” in the Nepean River region. Lieutenant Charles Dawe was ordered to do the same proceeding to the Cowpastures. Captain John Wallis had similar orders and was to march from Liverpool to the Districts of Airds and Appin. Wallis’s guides were John Warby and two Dharawal men, Budbury and Bundle. Warby had explored the Cowpastures, the Burragorang Valley and Bargo area, establishing a close working relationship with the Dharawal.

All Aborigines encountered by the military were to be made prisoners. In the event of their refusing, they were to be fired up and any “native” men killed were to be hanged on trees in conspicuous parts of the country where they fell. Budbury and Bundle were both unwilling guides, and Warby likewise showed his distaste for the military operation by saying he would take no responsibility for the Dharawal men. The following night Warby “winked at the escape of Bundle and Budbury”. “I was exceedingly annoyed” wrote Captain Wallis.

The next day (April 12) a number of Aborigines came forward unarmed, but the names of two (Yallaman and Battagalie) were found to be on the wanted list. Settlers named Kennedy and Hume quickly reassured Captain Wallis that Yallaman and Battagalie were harmless and innocent. Hume even lied, claiming he had seen the Governor erase their names from the “wanted” list. On April 13 Warby disappeared. Suspicion lingers that he may in fact have set off to warn the Dharawal. Warby reappeared the following day, but was still uncooperative.

Wallis then travelled to William Redfern’s property, chasing rumoured sightings of Aborigines there, only to find that there was no-ne at the property. He spent several days searching the George’s River in Minto and Ingleburn before receiving word that seven outlawed Aborigines were camped at William Broughton’s farm, Lachlan Vale near Appin. He marched his soldiers through the night of April 16th only to find a deserted campsite. Hearing a child’s cry and a barking dog in the bush, Wallis lined up his soldiers to search for the fugitives. In the moonlight they could see figures jumping across the rocky landscape. Some of the Aborigines were shot and others driven off the cliffs into a steep gorge. By the daylight of the 17th of April at least fourteen were killed and the only survivors were two women and three children. Among those killed were the mountain chief Conibigal, an old man Balyin, a Dharawal man called Dunell, along with several women and children. Heads of two of the Aboriginal men were removed and sent overseas. The skulls have recently been repatriated back to Australia.

There is evidence that civilians continued killing Aborigines after the military forces returned to Sydney. How many might have died that night will never be known. Local elders say the number was much higher than reported and that the dead were mainly women, children and the elderly, as the men had separated to protect them.

Five prisoners were taken. One was Hume’s friend, Doual. In August 1816, Macquarie banished Doual to Van Diemen’s Land “in remittance of the death sentence imposed upon him”. Macquarie had started out as a sympathetic friend to the Aborigines. In the end, more than fourteen (including women and children) met violent deaths as a result of his orders.

The massacre annihilated the Dharawal people destroying their way of life and social structure. Their numbers had already been decimated by disease and hostilities since European occupation but after the massacres of 17th April, 1816 it is estimated that there were less than 30 remaining. The site of the massacre near Broughton Pass, over the Cataract River, on the road to Appin (William Broughton’s Farm was on the Appin side of the River) is only about 5 km from St. Mary’s Towers.

Twenty six years had passed when in 1842 Sir Thomas Mitchell laid the foundation stone for his country residence, “Parkhall“. He did however know local aboriginal men, who are recorded as assisting him as guides in some of his expeditions. Mitchell’s country residence “Parkhall” was built on Dharwal land at a place near the meeting of the Nepean and Cataract Rivers. In Allen’s Creek to the south of Parkhall is a Dharawal rock paintintg gallery and several other sacred sites. Present day Dharawal Elders speak of the land in that vicinity as being “sanctuary”, where great inter-tribal meetings were held, sustaining thousands of Aboriginal people from the Eastern coast of Australia, who had come for ceremonial purposes, arranging marriages, and the resolution of inter-tribal disputes.

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart enjoy good relations with the present day Elders of the Dharwal Nation. May we walk gently on this land and honour the Dharawal people, their ancestors and their culture.

On 7 December 1904, Brother Robert South MSC received the keys of Nepean Towers near Wilton, the mansion Sir Thomas Mitchell had built and named Parkhall in 1842. A few days later Bishop Alain de Boismenu MSC of Papua New Guinea said the first Catholic Mass in the beautiful old Anglican chapel built by Dr Jenkins. Fifty years after our foundation in France and twenty after our arrival in Sydney to care for the Pacific missions entrusted to us, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) took possession of this rural property. It would be at various times a training centre for our Australian members through school, novitiate and seminary, a farm, parish centre, and retreat centre and renewal centre.

In 2004 the Towers celebrated over one hundred years of MSC life and the prior history of St Mary’s Towers as Parkhall and Nepean Towers. St Mary’s Towers holds a myriad of memories for a myriad of people. For most Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, it has been their birthplace into the Society, it has been their place of renewal throughout their life and it is also the burial place of most of our members. But it has not been a place just for Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Many religious, clergy and lay people have been inspired by their time here at St Mary’s Towers and they have gone out to live their lives to help change the world. St Mary’s Towers stands as a great example of a place in which Mission is encouraged so that people might move out to minister to the people of God.

We are thankful for all the works and the blessings of those who over the course of one hundred years have brought us here. We also pray for the future of this place, that it may continue its important role in the world for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and for all who are touched by it.

Many years ago, Blanche Mitchell, the daughter of Sir Thomas Mitchell, wrote that “it was a delightful place and it has the air of sacredness and respect”. Now, in our day, we pray that it will continue to be a place that is a sign of hope, of joy, of hospitality, of true MSC spirit.

Want to book the Retreat Centre for your group ?

We welcome requests for booking by external groups. However, commitments to our own annual program always take precedence. Enquiries can be made with the Retreat Centre Administrator as to spaces in the annual programme when the Centre is available.

Please note there are no special tariff deductions for group bookings.

Or want someone to give Retreats at your place ?

We welcome requests for members of our Retreat Team to give retreats in places other than St. Mary’s Towers Retreat Centre. They may even be able to recommend other retreat givers who can assist you.

Commitments to our own annual program always take precedence. Please ensure all arrangements with Team members are cleared with the Retreat House Director.

Tariffs are negotiable with the Retreat House Director.

Spiritual accompaniment, traditionally known as Spiritual direction, is a way of sharing your faith journey with a companion who listens with you to the true ‘director’, God in your life. In the company of a skilled and trained companion, you learn to discern better the movements of God in your prayer and daily life.

During retreat time, a member of the Retreat Team is available to accompany you, if you so wish. Spiritual accompaniment can also be of benefit when discerning a new direction in life, or dealing with life’s challenges. One of the greatest values of having sharing with a spiritual companion is the opportunity that prayer companionship provides for you to articulate your inner experience to another human being, who, in their attentiveness, provides a mirror for you to see with greater insight and deeper awareness.

While retreats have been cancelled for the time being, members of the Retreat Team remain available for individual spiritual direction by phone or Skype etc.

An integral part of the prayer companion’s ministry is to pray for those who come on retreat and those in direction. The Retreat Team does this daily during retreats and now during this time of change, the Team is praying each day at 12pm for all your intentions.

Only got one day ?

Wanting a day of quiet rest and prayer?

We all need space and quiet in our lives, but often we can’t afford a whole week, because of commitments. Give yourself the time now, before things get more serious – God will help bring rest to your heart.

Meals are available for day bookings, just have a chat with our administrator. Arrangements can also be made for you to speak with one of our Spiritual Directors if you need.

Give your soul the space it needs to heal you from within.

Open the doors of hurt and let the goodness of God’s light shed new warmth upon your pain.

The Healing Heart

Life’s Healing Journey is a silent retreat, which draws on the Spirituality of the Heart of Jesus. Any hurtful life experience, loss, or painful memory can be healed and transformed through the grace and power of God. There is no hurtful or limiting experience of ours which Jesus has not shared.

The Life’s Healing Journey Retreat is a blend of: daily input session; daily meeting with Prayer Companion; daily Celebration of Eucharist; Celebration of Reconciliation; Celebration of Anointing.

The Life’s Healing Journey retreat begins with the 6.00pm meal on the evening of the first date, followed by a brief introduction and Eucharist. It usually concludes after 2.00pm Eucharist on the last date shown.

Accompanied and Presented by the Retreat Team.

•   pdf Click here to download the Life's Healing Journey Application Form (9 Day Retreats) (255 KB)

as a month-long retreat

A month of renewal and healing for your life’s journey, opening and building a deeper intimacy with your God.

A Program of Renewal

1. 8 Day Guided Retreat – this retreat draws on particular themes opening the retreatant to the action of grace over the coming weeks.

2. Life’s Healing Journey – drawing on the spirituality of the Heart of Jesus. Any hurtful life experience, or loss, is within the scope of this retreat.
3. Contemplative Directed Retreat – deepening my covenant relationship with God.
As a sabbatical the format of the first two stages is; daily input session; group prayer; daily meeting with Prayer Companion; daily Celebration of Eucharist; Celebration of Reconciliation; Celebration of Anointing (Healing Retreat).
The format for the third stage is; daily meeting with Prayer Companion; and Celebration of Sacraments.

Accompanied by the Retreat Team

Applications close one month before starting date

• pdf Click here to download the Life's Journey Experience Application Form (30 Day Retreats) (193 KB)

Month-long (32 days) Retreat of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Ignatius and his followers knew that anyone seeking God was not meant to wait for visions, but had only to seek God in an intelligent and humble way and then with God’s grace could “find God in all things”. His method involved Spiritual Exercises of the mind, memory, will and imagination. Analogous to physical exercises to improve the body, these exercises would enable one to find the divine will and to conform one’s will to the will of God.

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola begin with one day of preparation (disposition). The Exercises are personally directed by your spiritual director over the duration of the entire 32 days. The Exercises are made in an atmosphere of complete silence. A day for appropriation concludes this powerful experience.

St. Mary’s Towers is an ideal place for those wishing to make the full Spiritual Exercises. The silence of this sacred space is at the service of a serious commitment to a spirit of prayer. In this context the Retreatant is led to meditate upon God’s love for them and their relationship with God.

The retreat commences with the evening meal at 6pm, and ends after the appropriation time.

Applications close one month before starting date

• pdf Click here to download the Extended Retreat Application Form (193 KB)

In the 30 days with a Mystic retreat you can choose a mystic that you find engages you. You enter the text through praying with a lectio divina way of reading the words on the page, meditating, pondering and taking the insights deeper into the heart, engaging the heart and resting in contemplation. As this deepening of wisdom unfolds you engage with the meaning and relate it to your prayer and personal experience.

During the retreat you meet every day for up to an hour with your spiritual director to share and enter more deeply the experience of prayer.

Examples of texts that would nourish and support the retreat are: Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich, The Cloud of Unknowing, the poetry of John of the Cross, the Letters of Clare of Assisi, The Spiritual Exercises of Gertrude of Helfta, and the spiritual writings of Teilhard de Chardin.”

• pdf Click here to download the Extended Retreat Application Form (193 KB)

Jesus invites you to come aside and rest with Him for the weekend. To take quiet time with God in the midst of your busy life. It is a time of guided prayer, which may be focused on themes like; prayer; relationship with God, with self, and with others; spirituality; Liturgical Seasons of the Year; or the mystics. Themes are provided to support the retreat not dictate the retreat; retreatants are always encouraged to follow God’s lead. .

Guided Retreats begin with the 6.00pm meal on the evening of the Friday, followed by a brief introduction and Eucharist. They usually conclude after 2.00pm Eucharist on the Sunday.

The usual daily program follows this format: meditation; morning input session; opportunity for spiritual accompaniment (encouraged); celebration of Eucharist; sacrament of Reconciliation is also available by arrangement with one of the Team.