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"As a professed Brother (in)..

Community Life with Redemptorists Priests and Brothers...

..I have found them....

'always available in my spiritual and material needs' "Br Clement Holz

I was born on 3rd June 1928 in Singleton NSW. I was baptised on the 8th June and given the name of John Bede Holz. I was the eldest of one brother and three sisters. My parents were Catholic and Sunday Mass was the high point of the week. I grew up on a dairy farm. I made my First Communion in 1935 and Confirmation 1938. My education was in a small Public Primary School.

After leaving school I worked on my parent's dairy farm. I was also growing vegetables and cutting firewood commercially. Later on I worked as a casual farm worker on various farms. When I was 16 years old I went to a Layman's Weekend Retreat at the Redemptorist Monastery at Mayfield, Newcastle NSW. I went annually to this Retreat for 6 years. During this time I was attracted to the life of the Redemptorist Brother. Brother Daniel C.Ss.R., later Fr Joe Desmond, C.Ss.R. encouraged me in my reading matter etc. I noticed the brothers were doing cooking, house work,, gardening etc. The Mass and prayer were very important in their daily lives.

I was 221/2 years old when I joined the Redemptorists as a postulant on the 31st December, 1950. I was a postulant at the Mayfield Monastery NSW with the brother novices for 8 months. On the 15th August 1951 I entered the novitiate for 1 year. I made my vows on the August 1951. I went to St Clements Galong NSW for 51/2 years. I was doing dairy farm work there most of the time. On 15 February 1958 I entered the novitiate at Mayfield NSW for 6 months before Final Profession on the 15th August 1958. I returned to Galong NSW until 15th February 1966.Then I went to Redemptorist Monastery Wendouree, Ballarat Victoria for 18 months.I worked on the small dairy farm, also doing poultry and vegetable garden work. On the 15 August 1967 I returned to Galong. I have been here since that day.

During the 47 years as a professed brother I have lived community life with Redemptorists Priests and Brothers and I have found them always available in my spiritual and material needs. My early life on a dairy farm was very helpful for the dairy farm work I did at Galong for from 22 June 1952 to the closing of the dairy in 1978. For several years after the dairy closed we had beef cattle and prime lambs. Brother Clement C.Ss.R.

Today we have crossbred ewes and prime lambs. Also share cropping for several years. Since the late 1970's we have had an increasing numbers of Retreats and Seminars for all denominations at the Galong Retreat Centre. I have been involved in transporting retreatants to and from trains and buses. Also buying supplies and attending to soile and clean linen to and from Young NSW.

Brother Clement C.Ss.R.- Cheerfully doing God's Work

Having Mass and Communion each day with time for prayer and work, is always the Will of God for me. Visiting the sick and disabled in Nursing Homes and Hostels when the time and opportunity come along, is always great satisfaction for me.

Br Clement Holz C.Ss.R.