Updated 29 March 2008

TOURS

Individual and Group guided tours of Sacred Spaces are very popular including historical commentary, adapted to group.
Allow at least an hour and a quarter. The tour takes in the church, museum, convent, chapel and gardens.
There is also the Sisters’ historic cemetery close by.

The tours include a good amount of walking, but it is all flat, with many places to sit along the way, and few steps to negotiate. There is disabled access. Wheelchairs can be provided, if notice is given ahead.

Refreshments can be served in the old Sisters’ Refectory or visitors can bring their own and enjoy picnic facilities.

Small Group/Individual Tours
Guided tours commence at 2.00pm each Saturday and Sunday from 1 March to 30 November. No booking is required.
Please note that no tours are conducted on Easter weekend or on days when concerts or other major funtions occur.

Large Group Guided Tours
Day/time tours are negotiable by appointment.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be no LARGE GROUP TOURS OF SACRED SPACES DURING 2008 while Sacred Spaces is undergoing essential alterations. LARGE GROUP TOURS WILL RE-COMMENCE IN 2009

Refer to BOOKING INFORMATION for costs and details

CONCERTS

Sacred Spaces offers an annual programme of fine music in the Convent Reception Room, the Chapel or the grounds.
The Reception Room and Chapel have excellent acoustics and atmosphere. The Reception Room has a baby grand piano and the Chapel has a recently restored chamber pipe organ (1854) and an upright piano.

Examples to date: Music by the Fireside, Music on the Move, Musica Viva Concerts, Sydney Male Choir, A Cappella Festival.

Refer to PROGRAMME OF EVENTS for costs and details.

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SEMINARS/MEETINGS

The Convent Refectory (40ft x 20 ft with 20ft extension) is available for different kinds of group meetings.
Facilities include overhead projectors, tables, white boards etc. There are some other special rooms available on request (Reception Room and Community Room).

There is no overnight accommodation at the Convent. However, accommodation can be arranged nearby in Singleton if required.

Examples to date: Rural Health Task Force, HACC Training Days , Embroiderers’ Guild seminars.

Refer to BOOKING INFORMATION for costs and details.

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GARDEN PHOTOS

The Convent garden, with its background of beautiful buildings, offers a variety of wonderful settings for individual and group photos. It is particularly suitable for wedding photography.

Refer to BOOKING INFORMATION for costs and details

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QUIET REFLECTION

Sacred Spaces is suitable for quiet reflection. Some school staffs or Parish groups take advantage of the peace and quiet of Sacred Spaces and the opportunities offered.

A programme can be arranged if requested.

Examples to date: Staff of St Kevin’s School, Cardiff; Mater Hospital volunteers, St Paul's Booragul Year 11.

Refer to BOOKING INFORMATION for costs and details.

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FOOD SERVICE

Sacred Spaces can offer the visitor morning and afternoon tea, continuous tea/coffee, or a catered lunch according to requirements.
Visitors may bring their own food and eat indoors or picnic outdoors, using the grounds, the verandas or cloisters.
Volunteers provide an invaluable service in offering hospitality and helping with the serving of food in Sacred Spaces.

Refer to BOOKING INFORMATION for costs and details.

Sacred Spaces LIBRARY

Sacred Spaces houses an historic library of approximately 7,500 items including books, periodicals, manuscripts, and records decomenting the life of a religious community of women over more than 130 years. The Meagher Library is the bequest of Monsignor Peter Meagher to the Sisters in 1924. Books are accessible on request. The catalogue can be consulted on: http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/msm/singleton/
There are tasks associated with care and cataloguing of the library that volunteers would be most welcome to assist with.

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VOLUNTEERS

The Sisters of Mercy rely on the assistance of a group of generous and dedicated volunteers to maintain the activities of Sacred Spaces.

Volunteer Tour Guides are on duty at weekends, and assist with coach tours during the week.

Volunteers also assist with with hospitality to our visitors, food service, ticket sales, the small memorabilia shop, the museum the library etc.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer there is sure to be a niche for you in Sacred Spaces. Contact us through the numbers given on BOOKING INFORMATION .

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MUSEUM
Behind the museum display in the small museum building is a large collection of heritage items that must be housed, catalogued and cared for.
Volunteers are much needed and most welcome to join Sr Mary Kleinschafer and Sr Monica Sinclair - seen here in the store room ironing an object from the Sisters' chapel.

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The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, Singleton is a member of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia