Installed and Blessed in the Prayer Room at St Clement’s Monastery Galong Feast of Christ the King 2003. The idea for this window began during a conversation between Sue Murtagh and Fr. Pat Corbett at Easter 2002. Its inspiration is the Book of Genesis, Chapter 1 and the land and people of Galong. Fr. Corbett provided Sue with material relating to the vision and works of Hildegarde of Bingen, a medieval nun who was an artist, composer and visionary.

Panel 1 Dry Land Appears (Top Left Hand Corner)

To Hildegarde, the moon is the symbol of the Church. Here the Church is represented by a Celtic cross, modelled on one of the crosses in the churchyard of the early Christian monastery at Glendalough in County Wicklow. The cross is on one hand a recognition of the Irish influence on the Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers in Australia. It also shows the structure of the church, and its strength and endurance over two millennia.

Panel 2 Creation of the Sun (Top Right Hand Corner)

In Hildegarde’s vision, the sun is the sign of God. Here the light of the creator shines over all that He has made. Elsewhere in the window, the hand of the Creator is shown in the sets of three, representing the Trinity.

Panel 3 (Bottom Left Hand Corner)

The lower circle is the “Big Bang” – the start of Creation, while above it is the separation of the sea and sky. Then the dry land appears in the top circle. The landscape reflects the rolling hills around Galong. In all the panels, the background of blue and sparking glass symbolises water, the giver of life. As the window was conceived and built during one of the worst droughts of our history, water assumed an even greater importance to the community at Galong.

Panel 4 (Bottom Right Hand Corner)

Top circle And God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation, every kind of plant that bears seed …” The Banksia flowers shows its beauty even in the most arduous of conditions. It reflects the endurance and courage of the rural community of Galong, which has persevered and prospered through good times and bad.

Second circle “Let the earth bring forth all kind of living creatures …” The platypus represents all of these creatures – those which live on the land and which live in the water; those which lay eggs and those which suckle their young; those with fur and those with webbed feet.

Third Circle God created man in His image. Here the three people of different colour set out on their life’s journey together. They give a message of Peace, Community and Reconciliation.