Shalom was called into life in response to a prayerful insight received in October 1974 by Neville Bowers who, with his wife Helen, is co-founder.
This discernment reveals the lived out vision of the House of Prayer: "Go to Carcoar, re-open the old convent, and make it a place where people can come and establish or renew their relationship with God".

The "old convent" was Mount St. Joseph, later known as St. Mary's Academy, built in 1874 and staffed by the Sisters of Mercy - providing ongoing education until its closure in 1969.

Six years later, on January 18th 1975, Neville, Helen and their family established Shalom, the Bathurst Catholic Diocesan House of Prayer, under the authority of the Bishop of Bathurst.

For many years, people came to discover the charisms of peace, acceptance, hospitality and the felt presence of the God of love.

With the passage of years, the Community became smaller in number, the buildings grew old and the time came to discern the best way ahead.

In 2011, Bishop McKenna commissioned a survey of the condition of the buildings and appointed a working party to make recommendations on future needs and what resources might be available to meet them.

Now, renovations at Shalom are now complete and thanks goes to all who helped either financially, or by participation in one of the working bees, or by prayer. You have all assisted in starting the rebirth of Shalom as a House of Prayer once again.