By Anthony Barich
Pope Benedict XVI will be spend his three-day holiday prior to World Youth Day in a tranquil Opus Dei-run centre surrounded by wombats, frilled-neck lizards and euchalyptus trees.
The pontiff and his entourage arrive on July 13 at the Kenthurst Study Centre, a facility that houses up to 30 people north-west of Sydney run by Opus Dei, where he will have 25 acres to enjoy a daily schedule of Mass, prayer and rest.
On July 16 he will leave the centre and for the remainder of his trip will stay at Cathedral House with Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, adjacent to St Mary’s Cathedral in the heart of Sydney.
The centre, operated since 1991, has a baby grand piano where he can indulge his love of playing the piano; there are walking trails and a shrine to Our Lady of the Family.
Richard Vella, communications director at Opus Dei’s information office, said the pope will be surrounded by bush, with many distinct Australian fauna including frilled-neck lizards, wombats, rosellas and flora such as iconic euchalyptus trees, bottlebrush and wattle.
“It’s peaceful, calm and very quiet, well away from the city of Sydney – it’s an ideal way to prepare for World Youth Day, which will be very big week for the pope,” Vella said.
“For Opus Dei in Australia, and for us at the centre, it’s a real privilege; and a way that the staff can conserve him and pray more closely for him.
“We’re happy to serve the Holy Father in this small way, and we’ll pray for the fruit of the trip to Australia,” he told The Record.
