THE BROTHERS OF ST JOHN OF GOD ARRIVED IN AVALON BEACH IN THE NORTH OF SYDNEY ORIGINALLY IN SEARCH OF A HOLIDAY HOME AND A COMFORTABLE HOUSE FOR THIS PURPOSE WAS PURCHASED IN CATALINA AVENUE IN 1972. IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS A HOLIDAY HOME THE HOUSE IN AVALON ALSO BECAME THE NOVITIATE FOR THE PROVINCE BETWEEN 1979 AND 1982. DURING THIS TIME THE NOVICE BROTHERS WERE QUIETLY ACTIVE IN THE LOCAL PARISH OF AVALON. IN 1999 THE BROTHERS DEPARTED AND THE HOUSE WAS SOLD AS A PRIVATE HOME.

IN 1972 THE BROTHERS BOUGHT A LARGE COMFORTABLE BUNGALOW IN CATALINA AVENUE AVALON FOR USE AS A HOLIDAY HOUSE. AS SUCH IT NATURALLY RETAINED ITS ESSENTIAL DOMESTIC APPEARANCE GIVING PRIVACY TO THE BROTHERS WHO WERE AFTER ALL THERE ON HOLIDAYS.

IN 1979 THE FORMER PROVINCIAL NOVITIATE WAS CLOSED AND THE HOUSE IN AVALON SEEMED AN EXCELLENT PLACE FOR THE NOVICES PENDING ANY DECISION BEING MADE IN REGARD TO THE LOCATION OF A FUTURE NOVITIATE. SO THIS OTHERWISE UNPRETENTIOUS HOUSE WAS FROM 1979 TO 1982 THE HOUSE OF FORMATION FOR THE AUSTRALASIAN PROVINCE. AFTER THE NOVICES DEPARTED IN 1983 IT WAS ONCE AGAIN USED AS A HOLIDAY HOUSE. IT WAS SOLD AS A PRIVATE HOUSE IN 1999.

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INFORMATION AND SOME OF THE HISTORICAL PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE WERE TAKEN FROM THE SILVER JUBILEE EDITION OF CARITAS THE PROVINCIAL MAGAZINE KINDLY PROVIDED BY THE BROTHER PROVINCIAL. IT IS HEREWITH ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE.