Previous Exhibition...
A Celebration of 175 years
of Jesuit presence in the Clare Valley

St Alloysius Church, Sevenhill

From Saturday 4th November - Sunday 3rd December

On Friday 2nd November, a special exhibition was opened at Linhay Gallery in Auburn by Father Kieran Gill, SJ., in celebration of 175 years of Jesuit presence in the Clare Valley.
Among the first settlers in the Clare Valley, Fanz Weikert brought his family and a group of 148 Catholics to South Australia escaping political and religious oppression in their European homeland of Silesia.  Included in the group were two newly ordained Jesuit priests from Austria, Fr Aloysius Kranewitter, SJ and Fr Maximillian Klinkowstrom, SJ.  Weikert’s group travelled to The Clare Valley in December 1848 on a journey that took seven days by bullock wagons from Adelaide. 
a site of spiritual and historic significance
In 1851, the Jesuits purchased 100 acres of prime fertile land to the South of Clare.  The name ‘Sevenhill’ was chosen for the property, referencing the seven hills of Rome.  Jesuit Brother Schreiner, SJ. brought vine rootlings from the Hawker family of Bungaree Station to begin planting the Sevenhill vineyard.  Subsequently, sacramental wine has continued to be produced by the Jesuit winemakers at Sevenhill cellars for Catholic parishes all over Australia.

On the same site, St Aloysius College, South Australia’s first Catholic secondary school was opened in 1856 and students came from all other Australian colonies.  The college building also housed the Jesuit community and a seminary and today  operates as a retreat centre.
The Jesuits have cared for St Aloysius’ Church, sincd before the building was completed in 1875.   It is the only parish church in Australia with a crypt that is the burial place for 42 Jesuit priests and brothers. 

A selection of vestments from St Aloysius’ Church is being exhibited at Linhay Gallery during November.  Members of the church and local community attended the opening event
"I am privileged to exhibit such an important collection.  This is not only a valuable part of Jesuit history in our community, but also a tribute to the women who worked countless hours to produce such exquisite embroidery as we see adorning these vestments."
On opening the exhibition, Father Kieran thanked parishioners and volunteers from the Sevenhill and Clare Alter Societies for their support and stewardship of the St Aloysius Church and reflected on the legacy of the Weikert family, the Austrian Jesuits and their companions and benefactors. “The vestments were made by women in Austria in the 19th Century. Their faith and dedication are expressed in the beauty of the vestments and continues to inspire us today.” Fr Kieran said.

Visitors to the gallery will have a rare opportunity to see close-up the detailed work involved in the construction and decoration of the vestments.
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For more information about Jesuit history see  www.jesuit.org.au

Opening Hours

10am - 4pm Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.

PLEASE NOTE: The gallery is now closed for Christmas and Summer holidays. Reopening in February.

Location

13 Main North Road
Auburn, South Australia, 5451

​We are on the corner of Port Road (B84) and Main North Road (Horrocks Highway, B82) opposite the Shell Service Station. 
90 minutes drive north of Adelaide, Auburn is the historic gateway to the Clare Valley.