Peaches in her bed.
The community has a new pet kunekune pig called Peaches. She is quite a character and sleeps on a bean bag on the deck! She spends her day doing the rounds visiting communty members.
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On the 13th of November 2013 the community celebrated its 20th Birthday. Friends joined the community on the 30th of November to celebrate this milestone. Mass was celebrated by Monsignor John Carde in our Chapel and we were blessed to have several Priests to concelebrate Mass with him. We all then gathered in Bethlehem for a very enjoyable afternoon tea.  Mass in the chapel.
 Community music group with Mons Carde.
 Brendan Gilmour cutting the Anniversary cake.
 People enjoying afternoon tea. We were blessed to have the Discipleship College students and staff staying with the Community in late August
 Discipleship College, Community members and pets  Students and staff with their adopted pets
We have been blessed with many wonderful groups who have stayed in Nazareth and Bethlehem over the last year. The common theme with all these groups has been the peace that they have found at Cross Creek. We as a Community have enjoyed the presence of these groups with us and look forward to hosting many more.  People enjoying a meal in the Bethlehem dining room  Lunch being served at Bethlehem  Community members having a well deserved break after preparing lunch.  Dishes time! Bethlehem has a lovely new wooden fence that has taken quite a bit of work. It is a lovely feature as you drive into the retreat complex.
We have had a very successful lambing season. We have also looked after a few orphan lambs that have been bottle-fed. These little creatures have brought a lot of joy to the Community and our visitors. 
The community base has finally got a new garage that will be completed in the next few weeks. There will finally be somewhere to store the motor-mowers and farm equipment.  The new garage incorporates an animal pen and woodbox  The inside of the garage nearly completed.
 The structure going up.  The concrete floor being poured. The new Community building will be completed by Christmas. This is a space where the Community can gather to share and recreate. It has been a long and slow process but we are finally at the stage of painting and adding the finishing touches.  Craig painting the inside of the community room.
At the end of April the community was blessed to be led in a community retreat by Fr David Kennerley SM. The retreat built on an earlier retreat which he had given to us and challenged us to contemplate how we could deepen our own lives with God and be a source of life to others.  Community retreat with Fr David  Community
 Reflection time |
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