The traditional Carmel of Elijah monastery (Mathoura, New South Wales, Australia) celebrated on January 10 and 11, 2026, the start of construction for the first phase of its monastic residence and an outdoor Solemn Pontifical Mass, with Cardinal Mykola Bychok—Ukrainian cardinal of the Eastern rite—and who is also the youngest in the College of Cardinals, presiding from the throne, and Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green celebrating as the local ordinary.
Start of construction with about 750 attendees and presence of several bishops
The community explains that on Saturday, January 10, the «groundbreaking» ceremony took place to mark the beginning of construction for the first stage of the monastery residence. They estimate that about 750 people attended, some from various parts of the country, in addition to local authorities, members of the project technical team, representatives of local Christian communities, and visitors from several regions of Australia.
The first shovelful was taken by Cardinal Bychok, Bishop Macbeth-Green, Colleen Jreissati (representing Elias Jreissati, the main benefactor of the future chapel), and the local council mayor. After the speeches, the monastery’s chronicle highlights the gesture of many faithful who knelt in the red dust to receive the cardinal’s blessing.
A “pontifical” Mass in the field: faldstool, throne, and three tents
The next day, Sunday, January 11, Bishop Columba celebrated a Solemn Pontifical Mass at the faldstool—outside the chair—with Cardinal Bychok presiding from the throne. According to the monastery, about 450 people attended, and the liturgy was held in the paddock where the chapel will be built, under three large tents, at the exact spot of the future altar.
The chronicle itself interprets the atmosphere with explicit biblical references: “Lord, it is good for us to be here” (Mt 17:4) and the psalm “How lovely are your dwellings!” (Ps 84), applied to the setting of tents and shelters in the field.
Gregorian, Greek, and Slavonic chant: encounter of Eastern and Western rites
One of the most singular elements of the weekend was the liturgical convergence between Eastern and Western traditions. The monastery explains that, although the main parts of the Mass were prayed in Latin and Gregorian chant was used, the choir also performed pieces in Greek and Slavonic, and the cardinal intervened in Ukrainian, culminating with the solemn blessing according to his rite, using the dikirion and trikirion and from the ritual carpet known as the “Eagle Rug”.
The music was provided by a schola and organist from the Maternal Heart of Mary parish (Lewisham). Among the pieces, a original polyphonic composition by Nathan Culshaw stood out, based on Exodus 3:5 (“Take off your sandals…”), which—according to the chronicle—took on special symbolic force when the ground was broken.
An uncommon gesture: the cardinal enters the enclosure
The Carmelites highlight another exceptional detail: cardinals have the privilege of entering the enclosure, and therefore they were able to receive Cardinal Bychok and his entourage inside the contemplative living area. For the community, it was a “great consolation” and a sign of support for their hidden vocation.
The chronicle concludes by interpreting what was experienced as the fruit of a “spiritual edification” sustained by daily prayer since their arrival seven years ago, and thanks the work of around 100 volunteers, the support of the Christus Rex Pilgrimage Committee, the loan of a sanctuary tent by the Archdiocese of Sydney, and the photographs by Patrick Giam.