In Memoriam - Marist Sisters in Asia-Pacific

Sr Kathleen Daly sm

Sr Kathleen Daly sm was called to eternal life Saturday 28th January 2017.

Eternal Rest Grant to her O Lord.
May perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.Amen

At her funeral on Thursday 2nd February eulogies were delivered by Sr Julie Brand on behalf of the Marist Sisters and her cousin Jenny Menzies on behalf of Kathleen’s family.

Eulogy on behalf of the Marist Sisters:
Kathleen was always focussed on the goal ahead. She was purposeful and knew her own mind. And so it was that last Friday (27^th January) she walked into the Office at St. Joseph’s and said she wished to go to Hospital, asking when the paramedics would arrive to take her. This surprised us all, as Kathleen did not relish Hospital visits. Only minutes after being placed in the Ambulance, Kathleen began to slip away. Less than twenty four hours later, she had surrendered quietly and peacefully to our God, whom she had loved and served so faithfully throughout her life.

Kathleen was born in Sydney on 10^th August 1926. She was the third of five children born to Michael and Kathleen Daly – Gerald and Nola being the eldest, and Marie and Monica the youngest. After the death of her parents, Kathleen and her siblings went to live with her aunt, uncle and five cousins. The bonds they formed as a large family unit remained very strong and Kathleen would always delight in family gatherings and celebrations. Kathleen attended St. Thomas’s Primary School, Lewisham, and Bethlehem College, Ashfield, before undertaking a Commercial course at St. Patrick’s Business College. She then worked as a stenographer in a Government Department in Macquarie Street, Sydney. Kathleen was actively involved in Parish life and when she was 19 years old she thought of becoming a Religious Sister. It was while in the Confessional at St. Patrick’s, Church Hill, that a Marist Priest encouraged her, saying “What are you waiting for?” He suggested that she meet the Marist Sisters at Merrylands. Kathleen said later, “I knew the day I went to Merrylands to ask to join the Marist Sisters, even though I had never known or met a Marist Sister, that I was led there by Divine Providence for Mary’s intention”. Read more…

Eulogy on behalf of the Family:
Sr. Kathleen,
Sr. Gonzaga,
Dickie, named by her father ‘his little dickie bird’.
Dickie was the name that came to be affectionally known and used by all her family.

Dickie was born 10th August, 1926 in Tempe. She was the third in line in her family. She had an older brother, Gerald, who has passed away, and three sisters, who are still alive today – her older sister Noelene (Nola) and two younger sisters, Marie and Monica. Dickie’s parents were Michael & Kathleen Daly. Michael was born in County Clare, Ireland, and Kathleen was born in Australia. After they married they lived in Tempe and later moved to Summer Hill.

When Dickie was a young teenager her life and that of her siblings was to change dramatically when sadly her father died and a couple of years later their mother also passed away. However, out of sadness came that unique Irish Catholic spirit of generosity. Her mother’s sister, Alice, and her husband, Uncle Jack Connell, were about to offer an extraordinary gift of love. Aunty Alice and Uncle Jack also had 5 children – Kathleen, Molly (who became a nursing sister with the Little Company of Mary), Eileen, Kevin and Jack. Kevin & Eileen are still with us today.

So with this large family already in place, Aunty Alice and Uncle Jack took the five Daly children into their small Dulwich Hill home. What a magnificent charitable act, suddenly raising 10 children! The stories I’ve heard over the years are of a house full of laughter, joy, love. In one small kitchen on any weekend Uncle Jack loved listening to the races on the radio, Aunty Alice always cooking something in the oven and 8 wonderful women chatting and laughing in the kitchen, and many long hours playing hopscotch or rounders with the boys. Read more…

Sr Dorothea White sm

Sr Dorothea White sm
Sr Dorothea was called to eternal life on the evening of Friday 12th August. At her funeral on Thursday 18th August Sr Julie Brand delivered the following eulogy.

It was said of our Foundress, Jeanne-Marie Chavoin, in her early years: Each day brought out more clearly her sound judgement, a remarkable aptitude for business and a rare gift for organising, combined with a sincere and practical piety……….She seemed made for self-forgetfulness and sacrifice and was irresistibly drawn to spend herself for the glory of God and the good of others. (RMJ 279:7) How like our Foundress was Sr Dorothea – a valiant woman of unwavering faith, totally committed to living the Gospel in the spirit of Mary and spending herself, like Jeanne-Marie Chavoin, for the glory of God and the good of others.

Dorothea, whom we affectionately called Dot or Dotty, was born in Mascot on 2^nd July 1924, the eldest child of Laurence and Amy White. She was baptised Amy Agnes, and known by her family as Ness. In the early 1930’s the White family moved from Sydney to Katoomba, where Amy completed primary education and attended secondary school before enrolling in the Metropolitan Business College. After completing a Business course, she assisted at the College for a short while as a staff member.

On 15^th August 1945 Amy entered the Marist Sisters at Merrylands. The following year she was received as a novice and given the name Dorothea. Dot would often recall her period of formation, remembering the poverty and hardship of these years and the Sisters’ reliance on Divine Providence. Though tempted to return home, the inspiration of women such as Mother Mary of Victories, gave her strength and courage. Dot continued her journey in response to God’s call, celebrating her First Profession on 8^th September 1947. Thus began her many years of selfless Marist ministry. Dot was first appointed to Woolwich and then to Mittagong and Bowral where she taught infant and primary aged children. However, it was not until 1952 that Dot had the opportunity to attend Teachers’ College at Mount Street, North Sydney, where she honed her teaching skills before being missioned to New Zealand in 1953. She ministered as an Infant and Primary teacher there for seven years, returning to Sydney in 1960 to continue teaching at St. Margaret Mary’s Primary School, Merrylands.

At the beginning of 1967 Dot was asked to leave teaching and take up a new work as Bursar for the Merrylands community. Sisters recall that Dot loved teaching and felt this move greatly. However, in typical fashion she took up this new role with unwavering energy, surrendering as always to God’s Will. She was a practical woman, who was tireless in attending to the needs of a large community, and the maintenance of the buildings and grounds. One of my early memories of Dot is seeing her up on a ladder checking the guttering above the kitchen. Following in Dot’s footsteps was indeed rather daunting. Sr Gemma recalls that, when Dot was handing over the role of Bursar at Merrylands before moving to Woolwich, she showed Gemma a huge black cape that hung behind the door. “This”, she said, “is for after a storm when you need to climb up onto the roof to check on the tiles”! Gemma tells us that she never did use the cape, but learnt from Dot a lesson in poverty of spirit and total commitment. During her years as Bursar in Merrylands Dot undertook a Catering course and many of us remember the festive celebrations when Dot went to no end of trouble to ensure that the food looked as good as it tasted. Dot loved to cook and I’m sure many have enjoyed meals and treats lovingly prepared by her. She also loved to tend the garden, not simply pruning and watering, but working hard to clear the ground, fertilise the soil, keep the weeds at bay and nurture the young plants. There were no half-measures with Dot! She delighted in nature, enjoying the beauty of the sea and the mountains, the birds and the animals.

In 1981 Dot began another new chapter in her life when she accepted appointment to Gladstone, Queensland, to undertake Parish pastoral ministry. I had the privilege of living with Dot for the first four years of her time in Gladstone. I witnessed first-hand her total dedication and generous service, and her ability to inspire, empower and organise. In fact, Dot’s organisation of tasks, and people too, could leave one feeling rather overwhelmed! One of the most demanding aspects of Dot’s work at this time was calling forth people to serve as catechists in the numerous schools of Gladstone and the Calliope Shire. Dot trained and supported them in their ministry, co-ordinating the work of over sixty catechists. She had a great love for the children at the Special School and for the sick and the aged. She showed particular concern for the people in isolated country areas, visiting them as often as she could. Dot Dot drew many people to deepen their faith, identifying those who were struggling to believe or belong and offering them support and encouragement. She was highly regarded by the Gladstone Council of Clergy, who valued her opinions and insights. Indeed, Dot had an exceptional ecumenical spirit. She was inclusive, big-hearted and broad-minded. In 1988 – the Bicentennial Year – Dot was awarded the Gladstone Australia Day Citizens’ Award. Fr. Tom Fulcher wrote the citation on that occasion and it reflected the high esteem in which Dot was held, not only by himself, the Marist Fathers and parishioners, but also by so many people of the district.

After leaving Queensland Dot took up appointments in Victoria, continuing Parish pastoral ministry in the Burwood area and then in Laverton. She was actively involved in all aspects of parish life, particularly the RCIA and Sacramental programmes, and visitation of the sick, lonely and isolated. She was thoughtful and practical. Sr Cath recalls with deep gratitude the care Dot took of her father on the day of her mother’s sudden death. Dot was there to organise and assist. She was always ready to reach out to those in need, especially the poor and struggling, despite the fact that she herself suffered her own health setbacks, particularly while in Laverton. Dot was very committed to social justice, and women’s issues. She was a Marist woman who moved with the times, keen to read and embrace new ideas. She was constantly updating herself through participation in courses, seminars and e-conferences.

From her early days in the Congregation Dot had always shown special care for our sick and frail Sisters. In 2005 she generously accepted appointment as Community Leader of Marian House, where for two years she cared for each member of the community with selfless energy. After moving to Haberfield and then to Blacktown, Dot continued to visit Sisters in residential Aged Care facilities, often travelling significant distances by public transport when unwell herself. When the time came for Dot to receive special care, the staff at Minnamurra were delighted to welcome her, as she had been a regular visitor there when Sr. Norma was in residence, and they knew her as a loving woman who took pleasure in sharing stories and bringing joy to others. Indeed Dot was a great story teller, who had a sense of humour and enjoyed a laugh. She was also a prolific writer, corresponding with many people and keeping detailed personal journals.

Dot’s two great ‘loves’ were her family and her Congregation. She was always actively involved with her family, showing care and concern for all her relatives. Her love for the Congregation was unquestionable and she strove in all ways possible to promote vocations and encourage younger Sisters. Though strong and determined, Dot was accepting of decisions made by those in authority and always embraced God’s Will in her life.

Dot was a woman of deep faith and prayer, who, like our Foundress, loved to sit before the Lord in the Tabernacle. She had known suffering throughout her life and the Cross was at times a heavy one to bear, particularly in these latter years. However, Dot’s trust in God was unwavering. In the midst of suffering she had known deep spiritual joys through God’s revelation to her in unique ways. One way in which God had revealed His love for her was through her encounter with the brolgas. This happened while she was struggling through a dark period when on Retreat in Yeppoon, Queensland. In recent times she would often say, with an ecstatic smile, “I saw the brolgas dancing!” On the night of 12^th August Dot breathed forth her spirit in union with Jesus in the presence of four of us, her Sisters. Now you have experienced the fullness of God’s revelation, Dot, and are surely dancing with the brolgas in Heaven. Remember us before the Lord. May you rest in peace.

Eternal Rest Grant to her O Lord.
May perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.Amen

Sr Gabriel Forster sm

Sr Gabriel Forster sm was born into eternal life on Friday 1st July 2016. At her funeral held on Thursday 7th July Sr Carmel Murray delivered the following eulogy.

On the 23^rd July, this year, we will be celebrating the 200^th Anniversary of “The Promise of Fourvière”, made by twelve young French seminarians who dreamed of a new society in the Church, The Society of Mary. It seems so fitting that today, in this Fourvière month, we are gathered to farewell one of our own, Sr. Gabriel Forster, baptized Mary, a sister who entered Marist Life back in 1942 and lived seventy four years following her dream to follow Christ in Mary’s way.

Sr Gabriel, affectionately known as “Gabe”, was born in 1923 to Eileen and Joseph Forster in Bendigo, Victoria. She was the only girl in the family, having four brothers, all now deceased. Her family must have been a faith-filled one for from it came one priest, a Marist brother, a Marist sister and a married man whose wife, Connie, and daughter, Michelle, are here in spirit with us today. Gabriel always had a deep love for her family and was always keen to have news of them as they lived so far from her. In her later years, she loved to pour over photos of the family, especially Michelle and her two children and to tell us of their exploits. Connie’s sister, Betty, was another cherished friend of Gabriel’s.

At age 19, Mary decided to enter the Marist Sisters. To do so, she had to leave Victoria and journey to Sydney, New South Wales, where she was received into the Novitiate at Mittagong, a country town south west of Sydney. Here the Sisters from Woolwich had moved the Woolwich School and Novitiate for safety as the War in the Pacific was getting closer. Life in Mittagong was far from easy, but Gabriel’s desire to be a Marist was strong and in 1943 she was professed as a Marist Sister, the first Victorian to do so.

After Profession, Gabriel began her ministry in Education, first teaching at Mittagong and then moving to Karori, New Zealand. She was to spend about five years in New Zealand as a teacher. Later she received Teachers’ Training in Sydney and taught in both primary and secondary schools until the early seventies. During those teaching years, she spent time in Fiji and there became a local superior and also bursar. Australia was to see her again in the sixties and she was delighted to spend some years in her native Victoria at Burwood.

A big change came for Gabriel in 1973, when she was accepted into the Geriatric Nursing Training Programme at Lidcombe. There she excelled in her studies and moved into training for General Nursing at Sydney Hospital. Gabriel was highly intelligent and won the State Medal for Nursing. She truly loved nursing and having an enquiring mind, she delved into all aspects of it. Her knowledge of nursing procedures was secondary to none and maybe this accounted for her rather meticulous demands when, in later years, she herself needed nursing care. When the Gilroy Village at Merrylands built a Nursing Home, Gabriel became the first Matron. Later she became a volunteer for the New South Wales Council for the Ageing and also cared for our own sisters in Marian House. When health issues prevented her from active nursing, she engaged in pastoral work, volunteering at Westmead Hospital and at the St. Vincent De Paul Society at Lewisham.

Innovation was part of Gabriel’s make-up, and she was always seeking new ways to handle situations, whether it be teaching, nursing, pastoral work or living skills. This desire to be one step ahead, often led her into some unusual manoeuvres. Many of us who lived with Gabe at Merrylands, remember her love of driving the car and her delight in shopping, especially during the ‘Sales’. One unforgettable day, Gabriel set out for Parramatta to buy a pair of sandals. She left at 9 a.m. and should have returned within an hour or so. Not our Gabriel. Not finding what she wanted, off she drove to Warringah Mall, Brookvale, then to the City, then south west to Miranda Mall before finally arriving home about 6 p.m., still seeking that ‘elusive sale’.

A favourite haunt of Gabriel’s was ‘Spotlight’, a haberdashery/craft shop. She was gifted artistically, in drawing, painting (oils and water colour) and in craft and sold much of her work to help Marist Missions. Always on the lookout for something different, she accumulated boxes and boxes of ribbons, cottons, laces, cushion fillings, paints, brushes and art and craft books. Needless to say, if we could, we would try to hide the ‘Spotlight Sales’ advertisements from Gabriel’s prying eyes. However, Gabriel was up to our tricks, and when, every week, she was taken for an outing by her carer at Marian House, she used to go on ‘Mystery Trips’, and would only tell the carer the location after they had left the house.

In the early 2000’s, the cross became very much a permanent feature of Gabriel’s life. Her eyesight was rapidly deteriorating, as was her hearing and blood circulation in her legs. She finally had to have one leg amputated and so for the next sixteen or more years, this very active sister was called to a ministry of suffering and continual frustration. Possessing a strong, indomitable spirit, she determined to still participate as much as she could. The telephone became her life-line and in spite of her deafness, she conversed easily. Card- making became a favourite hobby in which she involved many of her friends and carers (not always an easy task for them), especially as her sight was failing. Communicating via her cards became a priority and Christmas and birthdays saw her diligently cutting out, pasting and printing her cards. Always family, sisters and friends had to receive ones made specially for them.

Gardening and listening to the radio were always high on Gabriel’s list of activities. She developed quite expert knowledge of the garden and often rang Gardening programmes on the radio for advice (as she often did, too, about health issues). At Marian House, from her wheelchair, she would guide our gardener as to the layout of the garden and remind him when it was time to prune or mulch. Nothing deterred her and often we would see her holding onto the terraced-garden handrail, taking herself down very dangerous, steep steps to water a plant or do some weeding.

Visits from sisters and friends became very important to Gabriel. I must mention here how much she valued her friends, Fr. Bernard Maxwell, O.P., Br. Frank Richardson, fms., Peter(RIP) and Rita Duggan, whom she met through her Marist brother, Br. Sevard, Robyn Smith, from her time in Mt. Wilga Rehabilitation and the many carers and volunteers from Marian House days who were so attentive to her even after she left there.

When it came time for Gabriel to go into residential care at St. Joseph Aged Care, a real struggle raged within; she who was so independent now had to allow others to direct her. Jesus’s words to St. Peter at the end of St. John’s Gospel became very real to her:

“I tell you most solemnly, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go. (Jn: 21:18).

This was a real learning curve for Gabriel, but very gradually the Lord’s peace entered her heart and in her last months, all was well. She valued so much any spiritual nourishment she could get, and loved to listen to tapes about the Scriptures or Marist Living. Rosary beads were a life-line for her and many was the time a hunt was on to find a lost pair. When her condition worsened and she moved to St. Anne’s Nursing Home, she was unable to use her radio or tapes and the suffering she endured, not being able to see, hear or walk, was intense.

The Lord came suddenly for her last Friday, 1^st July. Fr. Ron Nissen, s.m. anointed her that afternoon. She was still able to express her gratitude to him. Sr. Julie tells us that the last words Gabriel said to her were, “Thank you”. I’m sure that these words of gratitude were also meant for Chris Mackenzie, our Care Coordinator, Sr Maureen, her special carer and all those who cared for her at Marian House, St Joseph’s and St. Anne’s. A special thank you to Anne Romanous who always took that extra mile for Gabriel.

Now all her sufferings are over. She no longer has to worry about not being able to see, hear or walk. Now she is seeing the face of her loving Father, the God she wished to serve from her first steps into Marist Life all those 74 years ago. May Mary, our Good Mother, accompany her now into the wonders of the Father’s all-embracing life and love.

Good-bye, dear Gabriel. May that beautiful smile of yours that lit up your face so radiantly here on earth, now be beaming continuously as all those things hidden from you here on earth are now revealed.

Sr Norma Wood sm

Sr Norma Wood sm died peacefully at St Anne’s Nursing home on Thursday 31st December 2015. At her funeral held on Friday 8th January 2016 eulogies were delivered by Norma’s niece, Mrs Penny Noonan, and Sr Julie Brand sm.

Norma Alice Wood was born at home at 165 Westgarth Street, Northcote, Melbourne, on the 22^nd August, 1920. She was the third daughter of John Walter Wood and his wife Catherine, who had been a Fitzgerald before her marriage. Norma (who very early in her life somehow was given the nickname of “Daudy” by her father) had two older sisters: Kathleen Alma who was 4½ and Evelyn May who was 2½ when she was born. The family was completed with the birth of John Fitzgerald who was born when Norma was 3.

All the siblings spoke of a happy childhood which was filled with the ups and downs of family life. All of them, with the possible exception of Ev, were blessed with a strong sense of humour and a good sense of the ridiculous which created a home full of fun and a lot of laughter.

John Walter, who was always known by his second name, Walter, had started his working life in the Commonwealth Department of Treasury and transferred to the Commonwealth Bank when it was set up in c1912. As a bank officer he was transferred to Sydney sometime in the mid-twenties to work in Head Office in Martin Place.

Our grandmother found a house in Vaucluse, which was close to some of her cousins, and was keen to live there. However our Grandfather had found the house in Rosebery Street in Mosman, which was to be the family home for more than 40 years. It seems a major consideration in his choice was that he thought the trip to work by boat was very attractive and even after the Harbour Bridge was built he continued to travel by boat.

The local church, Sacred Heart, Mosman, was an important part of the family’s life. The children went to school there – the girls to the convent, which was run by the Mercy nuns, and John to Marist Brothers, Mosman. It was an era of Sodalities and the Holy Name Society. There was also an active St. Vincent de Paul Society, which was very busy during the Depression years. The Wood children grew up in a friendly neighbourhood with many friends of all faiths. On completion of her schooling at the height of the Depression, Norma was fortunate to obtain work as a book-keeper in a millinery business. Read more…

On the day of her reception as a Marist Sister, 17^th March 1947, Norma wrote in prayer: “This day that I have been longing for has now come. I aspired to wear Our Lady’s Blue and desired to give myself to You, the sweet Spouse of my soul. I know I am not worthy to wear Our Lady’s Habit but, O Jesus, since You have called me to the Religious life, will You not give me all the graces I need to be a worthy Marist, a true blue Marist, a good child of Your most Holy Mother?” We give thanks today that Norma’s prayer was answered. Called by gracious choice, she responded with the whole of her being and God did indeed give her all the graces needed to be a true blue Marist.

Norma came to know the Marist Sisters through her visits to Merrylands after her close friend, Patricia de Coek, entered the Novitiate there. Norma described Pat as a ‘real inspiration’ and said, “I couldn’t help noticing how serene and happy she was. There was an atmosphere of peace and prayer about the place. I began to feel that there were more important things than dancing and tennis and swimming etc. ……or was it that God and His love became more important to me than these other things? Somehow within my heart I knew He was the only One for me.” And so began what Norma described as her “Love Affair” with God.

For over 67 years Norma lived her Marist life in faithful love, doing all “for the great glory of God and the honour of Mary”. In her early years, known as Sr. Evangelist, she ministered in Primary Schools in Australia and New Zealand, later taking up the role of Provincial Bursar for Oceania. In this administrative role Norma gave assistance to bursars in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. She was so supportive and encouraging, initiating many of us into the complexities of accounting and bookkeeping, always with patience and ready humour. Norma was often appointed Local Superior or Local Bursar, serving the community with kindness and compassion, laughter and joy. Many stories are told of Norma delighting others with her great sense of fun, her comical acting, and ability to tell a good yarn. Norma loved engaging with people, and her gifts found ready expression in pastoral ministry, where her acceptance and understanding of others was so greatly appreciated. It was with much sadness that Norma set aside her pastoral work in 2004 when her health began to fail. She did not find it easy to move from active parish ministry in Laverton to a quieter life in Marian House. However, as with all her appointments, Norma accepted this move in a spirit of great faith. Read more…

Sr Rose Shields sm

At the funeral for Sr Rose Shields held on October 26th eulogies were delivered on behalf of Rose’s family by her niece Christine and on behalf of her Marist sisters by Sr Gail Reneker sm. Segments of these eulogies are given below. For the full text click on the link at the end of each section.

Rose was born on 9 March 1929, the youngest of six children of Catherine (nee Cannon) and Peter Shields. Peter and Catherine both grew up in Glenfin, Donegal, Ireland. They first met on board ship in 1919 while emigrating here. Their shipboard romance began when Catherine caught influenza and Peter cared for her. They married and settled in Cabarita, not far from Mortlake Gasworks where Peter worked. Their local parish was St Mary’s at Concord. The family held a strong Catholic faith.

During the Depression, Peter lost his job at the Gasworks where he was also active as a union rep. This put pressure on the family, especially during the wartime years.

The oldest 3 siblings, Joe (Tony’s father), Mary (my mother) and Peter all married and had families while the youngest 3 entered: John became a Christian Brother, Rose became a Marist nun and Tess became a Sister of the Good Shepherd. A well-balanced family. Rose is the last sibling. Many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews survive her. Two sisters-in-law will remember Rose fondly – Terry, who married Peter, and Miriam, Joe’s wife.

Terry told me recently, when Rose was thinking about becoming a nun, she chose the Marists because ‘they wore Our Lady’s blue’. And, from what Sr Carmel says now, Rose is still today wearing ‘Our Lady’s blue’.

Rose was a very calm person. She would be ready to join in the family fun but also seemed happy to sit quietly with a contented smile on her lips. Read more…

Rose & Joan Rose was one of a number of early Marist Sisters whose vocation was fostered by Fr Nolan a popular confessor at St Patrick’s Church Hill. Having discerned her vocation Rose joined the Marist Sisters in 1950, was received as a novice in July 1950 when she was given the name, Sister Stanislaus, and made her first profession on the 15^th July 1951.

Her parish priest’s reference that had accompanied Rose’s application to join the Marist Sisters reads: “Rose is a girl that one admires not only for her piety, but for her generosity and good works. She has always been a faithful Child of Mary, and an active and effective Theresian, also a member of the Altar Society, and she has done all these works with a quiet and gentle ubotrusiveness”. This could almost read as a description of our foundress Jeanne Marie Chavoin’s life in Coutouvre before her call and decision to leave home to found the Society of the Blessed Virgin. Like Jeanne- Marie, having left home and committed herself to God as a Marist, Rose lived her life given to the Congregation and its mission and available to go wherever she was called.

Her ready response to the call of the Congregation took her to communities in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland as well as to New Zealand. Rose did her teacher training at the Sisters of St Joseph’s Training College at Mount Street North Sydney and her love for children found expression in the teaching roles she had in St Margaret Mary’s Merrylands, Villa Maria Hunter’s Hill, St Scholastica’s Bennettswood, Star of the Sea Gladstone, St Therese’s Karori, Sacred Heart Herne Bay and St Augustine’s Keilor. In Burleigh Heads, Mudgeeraba, Auburn, and Blacktown Rose was provided the opportunity to serve in pastoral ministry, particularly to the sick, elderly and housebound. Within the Congregation itself Rose’s yes to God led to her being called at a relatively young age to the role of Assistant Novice Directress at the novitiate in Merrylands and to participate in the formation of future Marist Sisters. 100_1596 Further she accepted the appointment to leadership roles in communities both large and small and in several schools. She was also elected to serve a number of terms as a Provincial Councillor in Australia and under three different Provincials was appointed to assume the additional role of Assistant Provincial. Read more…

Sr Patricia de Coek sm

On the 8^th September 2015 our Sr Patricia de Coek was called home to Paradise. It was Our Lady’s Birthday and such an appropriate day for a marist sister to die. Pat would have been 92 years old this coming 5^th October, seventy of those she lived as a Marist Sister, a Woman of the Word as our recent General Chapter called us to be. Since her death, we Marists have been sharing many stories and memories of Pat and during this Eulogy I hope to incorporate some of these.

Patricia Mary de Coek was born in Hamilton, New Zealand, on 5^th October, 1923 to Rene Aubrey de Coek and Elfreda Rose Shanaghan – an interesting union from French and Irish backgrounds. Pat was the second of four girls in the family – Joan, Cecile and Nanette, all deceased. In 1927, during the Depression, Aubrey moved his family to Sydney, where they settled in Cremorne and belonged to the Sacred Heart Parish, Mosman.

Pat’s childhood was a happy, carefree one, where she experienced much love and joy and this was to influence her outlook on life, as she viewed life with a sense of delight, incredulity, awe and wonder. Although far from her many cousins in New Zealand, the family kept in close contact and it was Jacqui Driscoll, one of those cousins, who arrived on Monday night in time to say good-bye to Patty, as the family affectionately called her. Pat was always so interested in her New Zealand clan and found much happiness when Jacqui and Betty Mortimer were able to attend her 90^th Birthday Party and also Nigel, a young cousin, who brought his whole family over for the celebration. Other cousins, especially Maurice Hall and Audrey (now deceased) kept in contact by phone and so Pat felt so much loved, supported and cherished.

In Sacred Heart Parish, Mosman, Pat met her life-long friend, Norma Wood, who was also to become a Marist Sister. The two of them belonged to the Parish Youth Group and were involved in the Liturgy, Children of Mary Sodality and Choir. The Youth Group also provided them with many social activities, such as, outings, walks, picnics, rowing on the Lane Cove River. Belonging to The Legion of Mary became part of these two friends’ lives, and Pat used to say that it was here that she developed a life-long love of and relationship with Mary, Our Mother. She also acquired a sense of the missionary aspect of being Catholic and the responsibility that was hers to spread the Good News. Visitation of homes with Norma was part of their Legion ministry and Pat found it was a rewarding, fun-filled time. This prepared her for her later ministry as a Parish Pastoral Associate.

Soon Pat began to feel a niggling call to give herself to God in Religious Life. She was sent by a priest from St. Patrick’s Church Hill, to the Marists at Woolwich, and as soon as she met the sisters, she knew that she had found the right Congregation for her. Consequently in 1945, Pat became one of the first marist novices at the new, very poor novitiate in Merrylands. That the Marist Congregation was French was also significant for Pat, with her French heritage. The Novitiate was a challenging time for her but a grace-filled one, and she always looked back on those days as very happy.

After Profession Pat was sent to the Marist Sisters College at Woolwich to teach Mathematics and French. Soon she was to be sent to France to imbibe more of the Marist Spirit and to prepare for formation work. After that, it was back to Woolwich for a few years teaching and then in 1958 she was appointed to Merrylands as Superior of the Community there. In those days, the community numbered almost forty and being leader must have been very demanding for Pat.

From 1960 to 1965 Pat was Mistress of Novices at Merrylands. Some of her former novices are here with us today and others have written beautiful tributes to their former spiritual guide. Some spoke of her womanliness and her desire to help them become true marist sisters. One sister remembers Pat as unobtrusively always carrying a tiny statue of Mary in her hand. She also recalled Pat’s surprising tennis prowess and how she could put great spin on her shots.

During the sixties Pat developed a great love of the Scriptures and one sister recalls a talk Pat gave on St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians and how that stimulated a deep love in her life for that part of Scripture. As Pat’s love of Scripture grew, so did her collection of Bibles. She must have had a copy of every possible translation. The pages of her Bibles are marked with highlighters of many hues as Pat diligently underlined chosen passages and loved to compare one translation with the other.

In 1966 Pat was elected General Councillor in the Congregation and spent the next eight years in Rome, contributing much as General Secretary to the life of the Congregation in those heady days following Vatican II, with all the changes that religious life underwent. It was in Rome that Pat revealed she received a call to live her Marist Vocation at a deeper level. While making an Easter Retreat, she came to know the Holy Spirit in a new, vibrant way. She wrote once when speaking of her vocation: “The Holy Spirit burst into my spirit and released my heart into a song of praise. I became radiant with joy, noticeable even to my companions”. This joy was to stay with Pat for the rest of her life. Her sole desire was to let people know of the joy of living in the Spirit and how all-embracing that could be. This, of course, was always in the context of her Marist Vocation and her love of Mary who became more and more alive to Pat through the Scriptures.

Pat’s Marist calling was to take her to many places and ministries. One of her favourite ones was as Pastoral Associate in the parishes of Burwood and Torquay in Melbourne where she led Scripture and Prayer groups and participated fully in the life of the parish. Even when she was semi-retired in Haberfield, she still reached out to people from all walks of life and loved to share the Scriptures.

On a different level, Pat was an avid cross-word fan, even cryptic ones, and her dictionaries almost outnumbered her Bibles, not to mention her library of Joshua books which she read over and over. Another hobby was knitting and she produced jumper after jumper, as well as scarves and, in later years, brightly coloured vests. The Lane Cove River was a magnet for Pat when she lived in Marian House. She seemed to know every craft that appeared on the river and what time the different launches and cruise boats would arrive. A sea plane landing and taking off was just heaven.

The cross loomed large for Pat when she became ill a few years ago and she had to move to residential care, firstly in Ashburn House, Gladesville and then St. Anne’s, Hunters Hill. Finding strength in the Holy Spirit, Pat accepted this change and entered fully into her new life where she said she was so busy she didn’t have time to read her favourite books. Attending Mass at St Anne’s was her deepest joy, followed by bus outings which often took her to her old haunts around Mosman. I would like to mention here the happiness Pat got from telephone calls from Jacqui in New Zealand keeping her abreast of her family there and also the visits from her Mosman friends, Helen Stirling and Denise Playoust and her husband, Peter, and of course, her marist lay friend of many years, Rona Agnew.

It is fitting that Pat, this faithful Woman of the Word, whose sole desire in life was to live her Marist life in love and joy, should return to her loving Father in this year of Consecrated Life.

Pat, as you move into Paradise, may you be singing with joy that early marist hymn:

“J’irai la voir un jour
Au ciel, au ciel, au ciel.”

Sr Helen Leary sm

Sr Helen Leary was called to eternal life on Saturday 16th May. The following eulogy was delivered at her funeral by Sr Julie Brand.

“Today, in Australia, we celebrate our national patronal feast – the solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians – which is usually celebrated on 24^th May, but was deferred to 25^th this year with yesterday being Pentecost Sunday. Helen would be delighted that we have come together for her Requiem Mass on such a significant Marian Feast. She had deep love for Mary and desired that all be gathered under Mary’s mantel. In God’s graciousness He called Helen to Himself on a Saturday in the month of May (16^th) – the day of the week, and the month of the year, when we traditionally honour Mary – and only a few days after the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, to whom Helen had particular devotion.

Helen Patricia Leary was born in Gundagai, NSW, on 12^th April 1935 – the youngest of three girls born to John and Nellie Leary. Gundagai – the place of Helen’s childhood years and primary schooling – was always very special to her. She never forgot her country roots, and enjoyed spending holiday time with her sister, Margaret, and family on their rural property in her home district. Helen was very close to her two sisters, Rita and Margaret, and their families. She experienced their love and concern for her throughout her life and recognised God’s presence through their care and attentiveness. All the members of her family were very dear to Helen. They were uppermost in her prayers – for Helen was a woman of deep faith. It was her faith that sustained her when her sister, Margaret, died very unexpectedly last year, and it was faith that carried her through all the sorrows and struggles of her life.

Helen’s deep relationship with God led her to respond to His call to religious life. It was not long after completing her secondary schooling as a boarder at Santa Sabina College, Strathfield, that Helen entered the Marist Sisters. She was professed in St. Patrick’s, Church Hill, on 5^th September 1956 and for a number of years was known by the religious name of Sr. Elizabeth. After her profession Helen ministered as a Primary teacher in Woolwich. She undertook studies at Mount Street Teacher Training College, and spent a brief period in Burwood, Victoria, before returning to Woolwich where she then taught junior Secondary classes and later assisted with the boarders. Helen shared with her students her own deep faith and her loving commitment to Mary’s Congregation. During my first year at school at Woolwich I recall Helen often reminding us about the call to religious life and inviting us to pray particularly for the novices who were in formation at that time. It did not surprise us that, in 1967, she was appointed Assistant Novice Mistress in Merrylands.

Helen was always generous in her response to God’s call. This led her to set out for Fiji in 1972 where she taught in Lami for a brief period. Unfortunately ill-health prevented Helen from continuing her ministry there and she returned to Australia later that year. Soon after, Helen gained a Diploma in Librarianship and this opened up a new field of ministry, through which Helen continued to touch the lives of teachers, children and their families in Primary Schools at St. Margaret Mary’s, Merrylands, and for many years at Villa Maria, Hunters Hill.

In 1994 Helen’s focus turned to pastoral work when she was appointed to Richmond in western Sydney. It was here that Helen became very active in parish ministry. Like our early Sisters in France, it was said of Helen that she would be “found in church and in the homes of the poor and the sick” (RMJ 280:60) Helen was keen for all to taste God, and never lost opportunities to invite people to share with one another the movement of the Spirit at work in their lives. She encouraged people in prayer and was very supportive of the ecumenical movement and the RCIA programme. Helen reached out to those most in need, visiting families, the frail aged and housebound, comforting the bereaved and taking Holy Communion to those in hospital. When Helen left Richmond and moved to Marian House to give community support to our older Sisters, her active involvement in parish life continued. As a parishioner of Hunters Hill, she visited families and the elderly and sick, participated in prayer groups, attended local ecumenical meetings and delighted in the friendships she formed with the Anglican minister and his wife, with pastors and parishioners of other denominations. Helen was faithful to meetings of Marist Laity. She attended discussion groups and prayer days, always keen to be actively involved with people seeking to deepen their relationship with God.

Helen loved people and made every effort to remain connected with those whose lives had touched hers. She kept in contact with school friends from Santa Sabina, with past pupils, with former boarders at Woolwich, and parishioners from Richmond. She maintained her interest in children and, up until very recently – even though not well – gave voluntary assistance to the librarian at Villa Maria Primary School, never wanting to miss her day there.

Drawing all into deeper communion with God and with one another was Helen’s strong desire. However, being one who loved variety, she enjoyed the lighter side of life too. In her younger years Helen was a good tennis player. She always loved a game of cards and took pleasure in fun activities that drew people together.

While Helen knew the joy of life, she also knew suffering. At various times in her life, serious episodes of ill-health led Helen to spend lengthy periods in hospital. She faced these experiences with great courage, growing in ever-deeper compassion for the sick. Her apostolic zeal never waned, nor did her courage leave her when, in her latter life, her physical condition began to decline. Though it was a cause of much frustration for her that her hearing deteriorated and her energy diminished, she remained steadfast in her faith and trust in God, and this gave her strength for the journey – right up until the last week of her life when she was admitted to Greenwich Hospital and then to Ashburn House.

It was Helen’s great spirit of faith and trust in God – and her deep love of Mary – that inspired us all, enlivening hope and confidence in the God of love. In all the pain and struggle of life she joined her sufferings with Christ and remained faithful to the God who loved her into being. United with Jesus, Helen desired that all would be one – one in love, one in mind and heart. You are now free of your suffering, Helen, and completely one with the God of Love. We thank you for the inspiration you have been to us. May you rest in peace.”

Sr Mary Picone sm

Sr Mary Picone died peacefully at St Anne’s Nursing home in Hunters Hill, Sydney, on Sunday 8th February, 2015. At her funeral the following Friday this eulogy was delivered by Sr Carmel Murray.

“Quite a number of years ago, when Mary was living and ministering in Northern Queensland, she sent me a letter about a retreat she had made that made a great impression on her. The main theme of the retreat was about the power of Christ, working deep within us. It is this passage from Ephesians that we will hear today in the first reading. What Mary shared with me about her inner self and what was happening there, has never left me. And so today I want to speak a little about the woman we are farewelling today and whom we know as our Sr Mary.

Mary’s life began 87 years ago in Wagga Wagga, a country town in New South Wale s. Her parents were Italian migrants, determined to make a new life in a new country. There were four children, her beloved sisters, Nita and Milly, and brother, Bob (all now deceased). Mary was the youngest. Tragedy struck the Picone family when Mary was a baby; there was a house fire and her mother died from the effects of the fire. That tragedy was to haunt Mary all her life and led her into periods of great darkness and melancholy. Later her father married again, and two more boys were welcomed into the family John and Michael. John is here with us today; Michael died some years ago. Mary was particularly close to Michael’s wife, Shirley and daughter, Nadine, who cannot be here today as they are in Holland, Shirley’s birthplace. However, they saw Mary a few weeks ago, and how delighted Mary was to see them.

Mary spent quite a number of years with an Aunt, another Mary, whom our Mary loved deeply and who was to have a profound influence on her regarding her faith. That Mary’s niece, another Mary, is here today. She and her husband, Peter and family, have been so attentive to Mary over the years and gave her great joy in so many way, not to mention when they used to take her out for her pasta or juicy steak.

In 1949 Mary entered the Congregation of Marist Sisters in Merrylands and was professed in 1951, that same year being appointed to Woolwich to care for the school boarders there. This was quite a daunting task as there were about 100 junior and senior boarders. She was in charge of the dormitories and anyone familiar with boarding school life, knows that as well as attending to material needs, boarders need a listening ear and a motherly touch. Mary provided both although she always feared she hadn’t done enough for them.

In the late fifties Mary began her teaching career which was to last for many years and was to include study as well as teaching. Boys were her speciality and many were the funny tales she told about teaching boys. In those days, life in St Margaret Mary’s, Merrylands, was anything but easy – it was a church school and whenever there was a Mass or funeral happening, Mary and her brood of 60 plus had to retire to other pastures.

Teaching was to take Mary to Melbourne and then Gladstone and Mackay in Northern Queensland. The open spaces in Queensland spoke to her heart and she rejoiced in the people and way of life up there. She also developed a thirst for learning, with literature claiming her interest. Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poetry captured her imagination and she and I often poured over his use of words and Mary had come from a business oriented family, and her gift for financial management showed itself in the bursar work she was asked to undertake. Later she was named Provincial Bursar and spent many years at Haberfield putting our finances on a firm footing and helping to set up a fund for Aged Care long before it was needed. How grateful we have been for her foresight.

As mentioned before, Mary had to live through many times of darkness. However, this was tempered with a really quirky sense of humour and a wit that was quite brilliant. While others would be thinking about what had been said, Mary would have made some witty retort, always with an innocent, deadpan expression. So many incidents of her humour come to mind – in our concerts at Merrylands, we were often visited by Pope John XXIII, in the guise of Mary, in her black soutane, Roman hat and papal wave. One time when she fell sick with gall stones pain during the night, she couldn’t get anyone to hear, so she pinned a note on her chest for the morning: It read: “I died in agony, but I forgive you all”. Soap used to go missing from her charge in the bathrooms, so not to be outdone, Mary bored holes in the soap and tied them to the taps. Her most cherished friend, Pam, whom she met at the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Varroville, a favourite place, tells of Mary boarding public buses in the city. Mary found it very hard to climb aboard, but she always managed to get bus drivers to manoeuvre the bus close to the kerb and lower the step for her, after which she would always turn to Pam and with a wicked grin comment, “A good Catholic boy”. Even when she went to St. Anne’s and was far from well, she would greet the Manager with “Hello Boss”.

Probably Mary’s happiest years in ministry were spent in Campbelltown where she lived in public housing and was a pastoral worker with refugees and migrants. Maureen, one of the workers from the Campbelltown Migrant Centre, a place very dear to Mary’s heart, is present here today. Mary had a great gift for evoking love from all kinds of people, even though she could not see this. The women at the Refuge where she worked always wanted Mary to visit them and share their troubles. Again, I remember her on the buses in Airds, not always the most salubrious places to be, but the youngsters she knew would call out from the back of the bus, “Sr. Mary, Sr. Mary, would you like a lolly?” or passengers would always make sure she had a seat. I’ve seen her being protected from roaming dogs by groups of aborigines, with Mary in the middle of the group. She was so at home with the Campbelltown people and they with her. She was truly Jeanne-Marie, our Foundress, around the streets of Campbelltown.

Throughout her life, her deep love of Jesus and His Mother and her Marist vocation was at the heart of her journey, especially in times when life seemed so black. The many people and friends who supported her in those, and better times, she saw as coming from the hands of her Heavenly Father. She knew that the power of Christ was working deep within and that her hidden self was growing strong even when she couldn’t feel it. Now we rejoice as Mary savours the fullness of God and his Love.

So, Mary, thank you for friendship, for loyalty, wisdom, much laughter and especially for showing us a Marist sister on mission. Your memory is etched into our hearts.

P.S. Sorry we’re not there to hear your wry comments about heaven.

Sr Analulu Tanuvasa sm

Sr Analulu Tanuvasa sm died peacefully in Auckland, New Zealand, on Sunday 25th January 2015. We give thanks for the wonderful Marist woman that Ana has been. What a valiant woman – so apostolic, generous and faithful. May she enjoy the wonderful rewards of eternal life. We pray for Analulu’s family and for the Marist Sisters of the Sector of Aotearoa-New Zealand.

The following eulogy was written by Sr Gemma Wilson, Sector Leader of Aotearoa-New Zealand.

“Analulu was born in Apia, Samoa, on the 18th February 1949. She was not always a Catholic but was baptised at the age of 13 on the 17^th December 1962. Her primary schooling took place at St Joan of Arc, Apia from 1955 to 1964 and her secondary at St Mary’s SMSM College in Apia from 1968-1970. In 1979 already a Marist Sister, she completed her secondary education at Marist College, Mt Albert. She also studied at Corpus Christi in Suva, Fiji, from 1989-82

Ana made her novitiate in Australia and was professed in 1977. From then on she served in several countries: New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, The Gambia and the Philippines. Ana’s ministries were wide-ranging: she worked as a Primary School teacher in New Zealand, as Chaplain to the Samoan people in Auckland; she worked in a Night Shelter and also a Woman’s refuge in Auckland and in a soup kitchen in Wellington. She was chaplain at the Davao City Jail in The Philippines. In 2008 she did a C.P.E prior to working as a hospital chaplain in Wellington.

Ana was also active in several Congregational ministries. She worked as Vocations’ Directress in New Zealand and also in The Gambia and the Philippines. She was part of the Pastoral Planning team in NZ in 2002 and was sector assistant in New Zealand from 2008 till her death at the beginning of 2015. She was formater for our candidates in Mount Albert in 1994. She was coordinator of JPIC for the New Zealand Sector from 2008 till 2012.

These resumés of Ana’s ministries do not adequately reveal just how passionate Ana was both for the poor and marginalized and for her Congregation. She worked very hard for both right up till a few weeks before her death when her disease became a handicap. She was very sad when ill health obliged her to leave the Gambia. Several years later she volunteered again for a missionary country – this time offering to go to the Philippines. Sadly after 2 years there sickness once again obliged her to withdraw. In both these missions Ana is still remembered for the love and the energy with which she worked for the poor and at the same time for the growth of her beloved Congregation.

Ana was diagnosed with lung cancer in2005. No one could have foreseen that she would live nearly 10 years more. Though diet and exercise contributed to this it was above all through her faith in God’s power to heal her that she was able to live a remarkably full life for so long. Though her health slowly deteriorated in 2013 and 2014 she continued with her ministries and her faith in God’s healing love remained as strong as ever. She was a delegate to the Asia Pacific Regional Chapter just 3 months before her death. Finally however it became clear to her and to all of us that Ana was getting worse. She was hospitalized several times. During her last days in Auckland hospital she made a conscious decision to let go and announced that she would wait until her brother Sepu, a Presbyterian minister, arrived from the USA, before dying! Her sisters, nephews and nieces and cousins were constantly with her as well as her Marist Sisters. During these 4 days Ana prepared the liturgies for the two Masses she wanted celebrated after her death. She wrote in great detail her instructions for both Masses and said several times that she wanted a “simple Marist funeral” and didn’t want anyone wearing black! On the eve of her death many of her relations gathered in her room for a Mass celebrated by her nephew Fr. Etuale from Fiji. At midnight her brother Sepulogo arrived. Ana and Sepu talked for a little while and then he said a prayer for her to which she answered AMEN quite strongly before her breathing slowed down and she surrendered to the God who had always been the centre of her life.

Ana’s send-off was exactly as she had planned it! Father Iosefa, parish priest of Papatoetoe where she had lived and worked for several years, celebrated the Vigil Mass together with several others in a packed Church. The following day her friend Father Carl Telford SM officiated at the Requiem Mass at which 12 other priests concelebrated and later at the graveside at Panmure where she was buried with the many other Marist Sisters who are buried there. Pray for us all Ana!”

Sr Doreen McOscar sm

Doreen died peacefully at St. Anne’s on Saturday afternoon, 29^th November. She took us by surprise, surrendering to our loving God quite unexpectedly on the eve of Advent, the beginning of the Year dedicated to Consecrated Life. Earlier this year, on 25^th May, Doreen celebrated her 100^th Birthday, thoroughly enjoying the parties organised in her honour. She delighted in the occasion, and the opportunity it provided to bring people together. Doreen lived life to the full, and her love for others and interest in their welfare never wavered. We have no doubt that she is now enjoying the company of all who have gone before her, resting in the embrace of God, to whom she had given herself so completely.

Doreen Mary McOscar was born in Sydney of Irish parents – Ellen and Hugh – on 25^th May 1914. She was the second of two children and grew up in a close-knit family with her much-loved older brother, Vincent. The family settled in Daceyville where Doreen attended St. Michael’s Primary School for most of her early years before enrolling in Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Kensington, for her Secondary education. Doreen’s home suburb of Daceyville was very dear to her, and she always expressed deep appreciation for the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, who fostered her love of learning. Over the years Doreen remained close to her extended family – enjoying the visits of cousins from different generations and discovering more about her family tree.

Doreen001 In 1935 Doreen entered the Marist Sisters at Woolwich, where she had attended a number of retreats for young women. She was professed on 25^th January 1937 and was known for many years as Sr. Felician before returning to her Baptismal name of Doreen.

Throughout her long life, Doreen’s commitment to the Work of Mary never waned. She lived the Gospel in the manner of Mary, drawing others to experience the love and mercy of God. Doreen touched the lives of many through her ministry in fields such as education and pastoral work, spiritual renewal and faith formation, Congregational leadership and Marist Laity animation.

Doreen began her Marist ministry as a Primary and Secondary teacher. In 1940 she started her studies at Sydney University and was the first Australian Marist Sister to graduate from there with a Master of Arts Honours Degree. Her thesis on John Henry Newman was received with acclaim. Doreen had a great love for English literature, which she shared with her pupils. Her high regard for the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins was well known. She took delight in savouring the rich expressions of his verse. I well remember her introducing my class to poems such as The Windhover, Pied Beauty and God’s Grandeur: “The world is charged with the grandeur of God…” Her enthusiasm for poetry was infectious, but it was the depth of Doreen’s faith and spirituality that made the most lasting impression upon us.

Doreen was the founding Principal of Loreto Secondary School in Levuka, Fiji, and Cerdon College, Merrylands. She was also Principal of Marist Sisters’ College Woolwich. Doreen’s students held her in high esteem and her interest in them remained life-long. Ex-students of Loreto, Cerdon and Woolwich would often visit Doreen and many turned to her often to seek wisdom, encouragement, advice and spiritual guidance.

In 1972 Doreen began theological studies at the Marist Fathers’ Seminary, Toongabbie, followed by a course at the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila, the Philippines, and a period of study at Corpus Christi College in London. Shortly afterwards she lectured part-time at the Marist Fathers’ Seminary in Toongabbie and assisted with the teaching of catechetics. In the mid-70’s Doreen was elected General Councillor and moved to Rome to serve the Congregation in this leadership role.

On her return from Rome some years later, Doreen joined the team at the Marist Spirituality Centre, Marcellin Hall, Auckland, New Zealand. Here Doreen worked closely with other members of the Marist Family – priests, brothers, SMSM sisters and laity – with whom she formed lasting bonds.

In 1984 Doreen returned to Australia, engaging in pastoral work in Torquay (Victoria), Blacktown (western Sydney) and Gladstone (Queensland). As in her previous ministries, Doreen’s ready ability to relate with people across all faiths and cultures, and her genuine interest in young and old alike, endeared her to all whom she met. She had a breadth of vision that enabled her to dialogue with openness about issues facing the Congregation, the Church and the world. She was committed to ecumenism and all that would bring people of faith together. Her animation of Marist Laity continued throughout her years at Marian House and she never ceased to remain vitally interested in all things Marist.

Doreen moved to St. Anne’s on 25^th October 2011 and continued to reflect the presence of Mary to those around her – residents, staff and visitors too. Doreen was a most gracious lady, attentive to others and appreciative of the loving care she received. She always joined in activities at St. Anne’s and encouraged others to do the same.

Indeed, Doreen was always affirming and encouraging – helping others to believe in themselves, and to have confidence in their abilities. Through her warmth and freedom of spirit, she exuded joy that enlivened others, and many felt uplifted when they received a letter or phone call from Doreen.

She was determined and tenacious – and very particular! We all knew how difficult it was for her to make a decision about buying a new blouse, or pair of shoes. She was so petite and finding just the right fit would often prove impossible. Doreen made us smile, she made us think, she brought light to our lives, and we will miss her greatly.

Pope Francis said recently that the effectiveness of consecrated life depends upon the eloquence of lives which radiate the joy and beauty of living the Gospel and following Christ to the full. We thank you, Doreen, for the eloquence of your life and the inspiration you have been to us. You have followed Christ in the spirit of Mary, loving as God loves us. May you enjoy the rewards of eternal life. Rest in peace, Doreen.

Sr. Julie Brand SM – 5^th December 2014

Category: In Memoriam