Jesuits in Australia
Sevenhill, in the Mid North of South Australia, was where the Jesuits first settled in Australia. The first Fathers and Brothers of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in Australia were refugees, fleeing Europe to escape religious persecution, and to create a new life in the Great Southern Land. After they arrived in Adelaide, Father Aloysius Kranewitter was the pioneering Jesuit sent to the Clare Village as a chaplain. Soon after, the immigrants settled near the township of Clare and the Jesuits purchased 100 acres of land in 1851, naming it Sevenhill after the Seven Hills of Rome.
Sevenhill was first established as a Mission to the growing and expanding European settlement in the region. In time, the Mission established some 34 churches and 27 schools, alongside a ministry for day and boarding boys, operating as a novitiate and scholasticate for young men entering the Jesuit Order: The Society of Jesus.
Serving the Catholics as the population grew, the Jesuits planted the first grape vines in 1851 to locally produce Sacramental wine for faith communities to celebrate the Eucharist. Since, Sevenhill Cellars has remained as the producer of Sacramental wines for the Church, and has added a range of award-winning table wines to their portfolio.
Sevenhill Cellars, St Aloysius’ Church and the College building remain today as integral parts of the Jesuit community, with the Sevenhill property regarded as a site of spiritual and historical significance.
From their beginnings at Sevenhill, the Jesuits’ presence in Australia expanded to include the eastern colonies, with the Austrians of South Australia joined by the Irish in Melbourne and Sydney. Both groups worked industriously to expand their role in education, missions, parishes and retreat houses. In 1901, an Australian Mission was formed and this became a fully constituted Jesuit Province in 1950.
Brother John May SJ
Br John May SJ AM, the long-serving winemaker at Sevenhill Cellars in the Clare Valley, died on 18 August 2021, aged 92.
John was the seventh Jesuit Winemaker at Sevenhill, a position he held from 1972 until his retirement from full-time work in 2003.
Br John led the expansion of the Sevenhill vineyards, using the best clones of varieties suitable to the Clare Valley, and production grew from 80 tonnes to 500 tonnes per year by 1990.
Sevenhill’s Sacramental wine distribution expanded across Australia to countries throughout South-East Asia. The range of table wines was developed, and a Cellar Door established, attracting up to 40,000 visitors per year.