Sr Judith O’Donnell sm died in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday 26th April 2014. As a Primary School teacher Sr. Judith ministered for ten years in Fiji (Vatukoula and Lautoka) and five in Australia (Merrylands), as well as many years in her homeland of Aotearoa-New Zealand. Her years of suffering have now ended and we are confident that she is celebrating the fullness of life with St Peter Chanel and all our Marist Saints. May she rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are also with all Marist Sisters in New Zealand as they celebrate Judith’s life and entrust her to God’s eternal embrace. Read the eulogy delivered at Sr Judith’s funeral here.
Category: In Memoriam
Sr Cora Bergin sm
Sr Cora Bergin sm died peacefully at St Anne’s Nursing Home in Hunters Hill, NSW, on 28th September 2013. The following is the eulogy prepared and given by Sr Fidelis at her funeral Mass on 3rd October.
The woman whose life we are celebrating today was most aptly named – ‘Cora’ being derived from ‘heart’. Cora Bergin, known for a considerable part of her life as Sister Julian Eymard, might have been small in stature, but she was large in life. There is an expression that really is quite profound, even though it has suffered from overuse in recent times. It is an expression that embodies three defining qualities of hers. Cora did, indeed, make a difference.
Cora made a difference as Marist.
At the age of 20, in 1944, she was professed as a Marist Sister at Carrick-on-Shannon in County Leitrim, Ireland. Her home base was Dublin, where the Bergin family lived. They were very much part of the cultural life of Dublin. As well as music being part of this experience, Cora was introduced also to the theatre at a significant time in modern Irish literature, enabling her to meet poets, writers and playwrights. One of these luminaries was James Joyce, who became a family friend. These experiences engendered her love of the arts. Mr Bergin also had a sports equipment business- but this seemed not to have had the same impact on his daughter.
Cora was ever mindful – maybe even proudly so- that the city of her birth had been a British city for five hundred years. For Cora, the almost mythical wooden fence around county Dublin, was her way of defining her understanding of the island of Ireland: anything ‘beyond the pale’ had to work hard to earn her respect.
As well as Cora’s contributions in Marist ministries, and her work within the structure of the Congregation, a standout difference that Cora made as Marist was her significant contribution in community, and this has been commented on in recent days.
As a community leader, her idea was to establish family. She is remembered for her vitality, her acumen, and her wit. She had a wicked sense of teasing, but what gave her away was the twinkle in her eye. Her sense of wonderment allowed her rarely to be less than optimistic. Undoubtedly, this optimism and her life of prayer were intertwined and perhaps she reaped the benefit of this in her lovely peaceful death.
Colleagues of Cora remembered the warmth they felt when she hosted them for meals, or a coffee to be enjoyed between meetings. They appreciated the interest she showed towards their families. They enjoyed chatting with her, and many a vibrant discussion was about the relative merits of English and Australian – or ‘colonial’- writers.
Cora made a difference in mission
Her ministry spanned 60 years and it was lived globally: Ireland, Fiji, Africa . Australia and Germany. Very much part of Cora’s ministry was set in the missions, thus fulfilling a long held belief that this was her calling. Part of her entering the Marists was the possibility that she would be sent to the missions. At the time of her coming here, Australia itself was a mission field.
In Senegal , she taught secondary school students. In Germany her focus was involvement in the parish, elsewhere it was in education, and it stretched across the spectrum from secondary school teacher to teacher education. However, Cora’s longest and most intense work in the missions was in Fiji.
The third dimension in which Cora made a difference was as an educator
Mid twentieth century saw Cora and Sister Mary of the Presentation sail for Oceania with a stopover in Sydney: Sister Mary was off to New Zealand, and Cora to Fiji, where she worked at Nadi. Later, with Sr Doreen ( then Sister Felician) Sr Julian Eymard opened a high school for Fijian girls on the island of Ovalau. Later still, Bishop Foley established a Teachers’ Training School in Suva, and Sister Julian Eymard was asked to be on the teaching staff. Here she worked with Father Bambrick , SM, and Sister Patricia Fitzgerald, SMSM.
As well as what Cora contributed to the day-to-day learning of students at the schools, in the region and in training teachers, she is remembered on three further grounds. First, along with the other Sisters, she had the Nadi students sit for the New Zealand education accreditations. Secondly, Cora encouraged Sisters who were trained as teachers, to become Civil Servants. Her idea was that their salaries would become financial support for the mission.
And finally, at the time of Fiji’s independence, Cora was awarded a special Independence medal by the Government of Fiji for her contribution to education in that country. This was a significant award, and was seen as recognition of the monumental achievement she made in the lives of so many young people, some of whom are here today.
While her roles were different in subsequent ministries , Cora brought to them that same passion for learning. She modelled that passion herself. She loved literature and she loved language, and in her Master of Arts studies at the University of Dublin back in 1948, she specialised in languages. Cora developed quite a repertoire including French, Hindi, Russian and German. She also was proficient in Gaelic, but this achievement tended to be whispered about! Then, when she was on staff at Marist Sisters’ College, the need arose for a teacher of Japanese, and Cora took that on with the same passion, so that classes could be held.
As well as remembering the difference that Cora made as Marist, as a missionary and as an educator, we remember warmly the little imperfections that made her perfect for community. Contrary to her self belief, Cora was not the world’s best driver. Let’s go back to Fiji . One day she was driving Tulip, the convent car, when somehow she managed to knock over a young man. She immediately went to his aid, and offered to drive him to the hospital. Not surprisingly, he declined the offer. He had, after all, been walking on the footpath. We are also told that eventually he would not go out on his bicycle when he could see Tulip on the road.
As well as having a passion for learning, Cora loved her swimming, enjoyed her music, took art lessons, was obsessed with the music of Beethoven, and her opinion of the Jesuits is legend. Indeed, had there been Jesuettes, I am sure Cora would have been a founding member. Heaven for Cora will not be heaven unless the mansion prepared for her has a swimming pool, has the music of Beethoven piped throughout, has a library filled with the classics as defined by her, and is run by the Jesuits.
To share the things Cora did not like is simple: it was all and everything but the above.
Today at Cora’s parting, we acknowledge the love she had for her family and the love and care she enjoyed from them. She often shared stories of her parents, William and Agnes, her sister Joan and her beloved brother Bill and his wife Maureen, and she was proud of their achievement.
So as we farewell Cora,
thankful for having known her,
impressed by her achievements,
appreciative of her legacy and
with the warmth of our love, we are reminded of these words from The Dubliners by James Joyce:
‘Better pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion,
than fade and wither dismally with age.’
Sr Makareta Gilbert sm
Sister Makareta Gilbert sm, formerly known as Sr Basil, died suddenly in Whangarei, New Zealand, on September 9th, 2013, while visiting her sister, Amelia Kanara. Makareta was one of three Maori sisters who joined the Marist Sisters after a congregation founded by the late Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Liston, had been disbanded. Of the three Sisters who became Marists, Kare has already passed away and Sister Rose Harris is now the only remaining Sister of the original group. Makareta was preparing to celebrate 60 years as a Marist Sister in January.
Makareta was born and baptised in Waihou, Hokianga on July 4th 1932. Her primary education was at St Joseph’s school in Panguru. As she had to help look after her younger siblings, her secondary education had to be through the correspondence school. After her profession in 1954 she spent most of her life as a teacher in New Zealand and Australia. She taught in Putaruru, Karori, Mt Albert, Waitaruke (Northland) Herne Bay, Merrylands, (NSW) and Burwood (Vic). After her return to NZ she took up a position in Rawene State School and taught there for 4 years. Some of her first pupils, now in their sixties, say that they will never forget her classes or herself! Later Makareta moved into pastoral work in Kaikohe and Matata. Her last appointment was to Tawa and the little church of Te Ngakau Tapu on the hill, where she made a valuable contribution to the life of the Maori community as she had in so many other places. She was an expert in Maori spirituality and by sharing her knowledge and love of this spirituality has enriched many of her own people as well as many pakehas over the years.
Makareta was farewelled in a Vigil Mass in Mount Albert, Auckland, and in a special way by her Marist sisters as she lay in their chapel there. The Sisters shared many memories of her: her generosity with her time and talents, (playing the guitar and singing, sewing, cooking, making cards…), her wonderful sense of humour, her frequent bursts of laughter, her endless supply of stories! On the 11th her body was taken up to the marae in Waihou, her birthplace, where she lay for two nights. Many of her family, and friends, as well as the Marist sisters, came to say goodbye to her there. It was moving to witness just how much she was loved by them all. Many of her nieces and nephews spoke of the great influence for good “Aunty Bas” had been in their lives. She had never hesitated to challenge any deviation from the right path! On Friday 13th September after a beautiful Requiem Mass celebrated by Pa Henare Tate and three other priests, she was buried in front of the little Waihou church beside Father Wanders who had been parish priest there when she was a little girl. The Maori community saw this as a great honour.
May she rest in peace.
Sr Tecla Scala sm
Tecla Scala was born in Italy, in a little town between Sorrento and Naples, on 31st December, 1921 to Rafaele and Maria Catena Scala. She was born into a big Catholic family some of whom migrated to Australia, and when she was six years old, Tecla came here with one of her older brothers. I think her father was already here and later her mother and sister, Clara, were to follow. The family were involved in the fruit and vegetable trade especially in the markets. According to Tecla, ‘Scala Coffee’ which the family made, was the only coffee worth drinking. Love of her family was always a significant part of Tecla’s life. If there was a gathering of the clan, Tecla made sure she was present. When she was in St. Anne’s, a visit from her nieces, Veronica and Josephine, was very special to her.
At age 21, in 1942, Tecla entered the Marist Sisters and with Sr Gabriel, became one of the first two postulants to be received as Marist Sisters in Mittagong, where most of the sisters had gone during the war years. She was professed in 1944 and so began her long life as a Marist Sister. She was given the religious name of Sr. Angela, and for most of her religious life, was affectionately known as ‘Angie’. She was to minister in many different countries, including New Zealand, Fiji and her beloved Italy, as well as different states in Australia. Both primary and secondary schools were part of her ministry, and it was in the latter that her giftedness in domestic science and sporting prowess came to the fore. Not only was she able to produce wonderful culinary dishes but what a great netball coach she became. Many the trophies her teams won in school and district competitions; and how distressed she was when they lost. Allied with these sporting achievements was her passionate support for the Manly Sea Eagles Rugby League Team; on one occasion, when the team was losing regularly, Angie rang up the Team Coach to give him a few pointers!!
I think you may have gathered that she was a passionate, energetic lover of life. People were her special concern and when her teaching days in school ended, she took up a pastoral care ministry mainly among Italian families in the western suburbs. Never loath to speak her mind, she chided any one who may have become a little negligent in Sunday Mass going or were tardy in having the baby baptized. On the other hand, many were the times when she would go to the Markets and return home to Merrylands laden with fruit and vegetables which she bundled expertly and then delivered to families in need. Generosity was her second name.
Gifted with artistic talents, Tecla showed these in her culinary skills, producing Christmas and Jubilee cakes that were exquisitely iced and decorated. One Christmas she made a delightful ginger-bread house for Dario, her much loved grandnephew. Italian dishes were her speciality and how delicious were her soups, lasagne and pasta dishes. When she was in St. Anne’s Nursing Home, Chris, our Care Coordinator, for whom Tecla had a special love, would take Tecla for a pasta treat. How Tecla looked forward to that. Knitting and crocheting were further accomplishments of Tecla’s – always wonderfully executed. Again, she had green fingers and plants flowered under her care.
Our Tecla was a woman who ‘spoke her mind’; her favourite saying was: ‘I say what I think’ and speak she certainly did. None of us who were with her at our congregational assemblies will ever forget Tecla and her ideas. Never was she too fearful to expound on what she saw ought to be happening even if she received little encouragement or support.
This carried over to local community matters. She was a great fan of Talk-back radio and John Laws was her pin-up boy. How often did she offer pearls of wisdom over the radio and when she was living at Canley Vale, in a rather needy area, she would contact her local member to tell her a few home truths of how politicians should be helping more.
Her fearlessness – perhaps sometimes lack of prudence – was often visible when she would lecture drug addicts whom she found in the local park in Canley Vale as she was on her way to daily Mass at 6.30 a.m. Trying to tell her that it might be wiser to just greet them and continue on was useless. To her they needed some friendly advice, and she was the one to give it….and I must say, they listened to her and generally treated her with respect.
Tecla’s passionate nature saw her cling to her Catholic Faith and Marist Life with great zeal and love. Daily Mass for her was a must and so, too, her love of Mary, our Mother, shown in her great devotion to the praying of the Rosary. Her prayer embraced all her loved ones, first and foremost, her family members, not forgetting her religious family and any one in need. She was a feisty yet very loving character, with a heart filled with generosity and goodness. At times her forthrightness could be quite daunting but in spite of that, there was a loveableness about Tecla that couldn’t be denied.
I’ve been privileged to journey with Tecla over the last few years during her time in St. Anne’s, where she was cared for so lovingly by the Sisters of St. Joseph and the staff there. Each time I visited Tecla we prayed the Hail Mary, together with the marist invocation, ‘Mary, Our Mother, Our First and Perpetual Superior, pray for us.’ Tecla prayed that prayer so fervently. She also loved to have me sign her forehead with the sign of the cross and the prayer..’May the Lord bless you and keep you; may His Light shine upon you and give you peace.’ And her prayer was answered and her death was so very peaceful.
May Tecla now be enjoying the fullness of the Resurrection where she knows fully how much she is loved by God and by us. May Mary, Our Good Mother, receive her daughter, Tecla, with great joy and love, and may Tecla not be telling the Lord how to run Paradise.
Enjoy your new life Tecla. Please pray for us.
(Written by Sr Carmel Murray sm)
Sr Blaise Manueli sm
Ana Manueli was born on the island of Rotuma on 20th January 1940. Although politically linked with Fiji since 1881, Rotuma has its own distinct character – as did our Sister Blaise. She did her primary education at Sumi, a village on her home island and then when she was 15 years old travelled the considerable distance to Levuka, Fiji to do two years at the Commercial School which was run by the Marist Sisters. A couple of years later at the age of 19 Ana left “home and country” to take up Marist religious life. This meant travelling a much greater distance to Merrylands in Sydney for her initial formation under the direction of Mother Romanus for the first year. Ana was professed in June 1961 as Sister Blaise and remained in Sydney for another seven years. During this time she lived in Woolwich and then again in Merrylands, completing her secondary studies and assisting with domestic duties, including cooking.
The Sisters in Australia have very fond memories of those days, remembering Blaise as bright and quick-witted with a larger than life personality. It was around this time she became renowned for her ability to cook for over a hundred boarders, keep the kitchen spick and span and still have time for scrabble playing her right hand against her left!! A little later when cooking at Merrylands she became known for her Saturday night hot curries which reduced Sr David’s novices to coughing fits and – much to their delight – brought an end to the silence of the evening meal.
In 1969 Blaise returned to Fiji where she did her teacher training at Corpus Christi. In 1971 she took up the role of head teacher at the Yasawas. From then on her characteristic strength, compassion and humour took her from one leadership role to another. These included head teacher at St Agnes Samabula and in Levuka; supervisor of the Commercial School in Lautoka and boarder mistress at Cawaci; care giver in Nadi; bursar in Vatukoula and Levuka, local leader in Levuka, Lautoka, Vatukoula and Lami. With great generosity Blaise also gave community service for over two years at Marian House in Sydney as well for three years in our general house in Rome.
For the past few years Blaise was back at Levuka where she first met the Marist Sisters. Again she held positions of responsibility – local leader for five years and recently local bursar. Some time ago her sight began to deteriorate so earlier this year Blaise moved to the Nadi community. It was there on 27th June this year that Blaise celebrated 50 years of Marist religious life with Sisters, family and friends who joined her for this very happy occasion.
There was joy and excitement in the air the morning of Monday, October 10th – Fiji Independence Day. During the first part of the morning, Blaise and Sr Maria Goretti were busy printing the Archdiocesan Vision Statement in our four major languages: English, Rotuman, Fijian and Hindi. The rest of the morning Blaise spent filling in her cross-word puzzle and Sudoku – her normal activity of a morning before lunch was ready.
The community then gathered in the dining room where Blaise led the prayer by singing the Vision Statement song. It was in the second verse of the song that Blaise moved back against the table, seeking support. Sr Miriama, who was standing close to her, noticed this and put her arm around Blaise. “I’m weak”, Blaise whispered to Miriama but she continued to sing in spite of it. Miriama alerted the rest of us that all was not right with Blaise. While the rest of the Sisters gathered around Blaise and helped her to a wheel-chair, Sr Marlene called for an ambulance, the parish priest (Fr Ipolito sm), and Dr Raymond Fong. Fr Ipolito was the first to arrive to administer the Sacrament of the Sick. When Dr Fong arrived he confirmed that Blaise had suffered a brain haemorrhage. When the ambulance came to take Blaise to the hospital she had already lapsed into the coma from which she never woke up.
From the hospital, Marlene called Sr Mariana (Sector Leader) with the news of Blaise’s collapse. Sr Jane Frances (Superior General) and Sr Julie (Regional Leader) were in Nadi for their visitation and were part of the anxious group awaiting news at Mt St Mary’s. Over the next few hours Blaise’s family and friends were informed of her illness. The Rotuman Community responded with love and devotion. They arrived from all over Viti Levu and took turns with our Sisters in keeping vigil by Blaise’s bedside in the hospital. Her brother, Kepieni, arrived from Brisbane on Saturday afternoon and went straight to the hospital. It was as if Blaise was ‘waiting’ for Kepieni to arrive! Together with his younger brother, Mua, Kepieni bade good-bye to his beloved sister, Ana.
Blaise remained in a coma from 1.50 pm on the 10th of October until she peacefully slipped away into God’s care at 4.50 am on 16th October. The parishioners of Mt St Mary’s Nadi, Lautoka, Nadi Town, the Rotuman relatives and friends of Blaise came to offer their help, bringing gifts of different kinds. The Sisters were overwhelmed by their show of love and support.
The Vigil was held in the convent chapel on the night of the 18th October and was attended by very many relatives and friends. The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated the next day by Fr Kaitu’u the Rotuman priest who had offered Blaise’s Golden Jubilee Mass. Fr Kaitu’u was assisted by eight priests. Blaise and Sr Nolasco now lie side by side in Balawa Cemetery, Lautoka, their graves overlooking the sea which both loved so much in life.
Blaise – like St Paul – has run the race and fought the good fight. She was loved by young and old, remembered as strong and forthright, but with a big heart, generous, vivacious and great fun. As one of our Sisters put it: “We have another Marist in heaven. May she now enjoy the reward of a Marist life lived to the full.”
Sr Joan Sheppard sm
Today we come to honour and say farewell to Joan Sheppard, probably one of our tiniest sisters, yet one of the biggest in her thinking and exercise of real care and education for all people, especially the not so well off. Joan was a Sydneyite born in 1925 and daughter of Nora and Victor Sheppard. When Joan was quite young she spent a year with her grandmother in Adelaide which seems to have been a valuable experience for her. She was lonely but loved her grandparents, and young though she was, reflected on God and life. “My key relationship at that time was with God. My significant people were the saints”. She had three brothers and one sister. Two of her brothers were in the War and spent years in Changi. When they returned to Australia they were, like so many others, wrecks of their former selves. It was not surprising that they died earlier than the rest of the family. Her one sister, named Betty, and her younger brother, Bill, died in more recent years.
Joan entered the Marist Sisters novitiate in 1949 and was professed in 1951. After one year of profession Joan went to Teachers Training College and was then sent to Melbourne to teach in our school there. This was the time of mass migration to Australia, many of whom were Catholic parents who were anxious for their children to have a Catholic education. The result for Joan was that she had a class of 130 primers! What was astounding was, that this recently graduated teacher, was able to manage as well as she would have with 30! From 1954 to 1973 she moved between Burwood and Merrylands, which had the same kind of migrant intake. After teaching for so many years in Melbourne or Merrylands, she turned to a new apostolate.
All this time she had been having contact with Catholic children who were at the State school and giving them instruction in their Faith outside of school hours. She could see how important this was but realised it would be much better if she could do so in the State schools. She spoke of this to her superior who was then in touch with the Bishop of the area, Bishop Kelly, and he could see the needs of the children of Western Sydney at this time. The Bishop then asked to talk with Sr Joan and the deed was settled. From 1973 to 1979 Joan was engaged in this work, but also helping other catechists and writing a book, suitable to give to all children in State schools, of First Reconciliation and First Communion, which was used throughout Sydney. This work continued to 1979 then Joan went in 1980 to Woolwich to teach in the parish school in Gladesville Road , with a short break in Mackay in 1983 and then back to Merrylands. As one of the sisters remembered, what was essential in all this, was that Joan loved and enjoyed the children, ever finding their misdemeanours amusing.
In 1986 she took up pastoral work in Merrylands and in 1987 was appointed to St Patricks, Church Hill, which for her was a different sphere of work though still of a pastoral nature. Here she remained for three years and was then appointed to Richmond to continue the same work of pastoral duties.
Another aspect of Joan’s life was her extraordinary gift of supporting the very poor and sometimes illiterate people, quite a few of whom were adults. With these people she had the gift of conversation, making sure they never were in danger of losing their dignity. From 1993 to 1995 she was on the staff of Marian House and then in 1986 was teaching and doing CCD work at Marist College, Woolwich. In 2001 she was due for a good break and chose to live for a time in Gilroy Village. Then when it was realised she was not well, she moved to Marian House and in 2004 to Our Lady of Consolation, Rooty Hill, where she died after a prolonged term of illness.
Joan was generous with her time, had a terrific sense of humour and was very good company. There was a down side when she could be quite cranky but her good humour certainly outweighed this. This year, just a month ago, on the exact date of her first profession she was able, though very ill, to renew her vows with her companions, on the exact date of her Diamond Jubilee of Profession, the 15th July. A big thanks to Sr Beverly and Sr Judith who arranged this, when the group met at Our Lady of Consolation Home for this little ceremony. Judith has been caring for Joan in this period of illness over a number of years, made more fruitful by her own expertise in this field. Joan died on the 17th August, 2011. In Joan’s own words written some years ago for the children in her catechetical programme,
God loves me, God calls me, Lord here I am.
In answer to your call I come, in answer to your love I bring
the life that you gave me.
Sr Nolasco Storck sm
Sr. Nolasco was born in Lautoka in the year 1915 and baptised Marjorie Storck. Her father was Ludwig Storck and her Mother Elizabeth Davis.
Sr. Nolasco inherited the best qualities of both races – German and European but Sister was always happy to be known as Fijian and insisted that her name be spelt StorCk. You will see in the booklet the different places where Sr. Nolasco has worked but you may not know her as a person and the many qualities that were hers. This is what I want to share with you.
Sister had a strong character – What was right was right and what was wrong was wrong. Human nature being what it is some people did not always appreciate this but that’s how it was.
Sr. Nolasco was a caring person. In New Zealand she spent time with the Maori Children
in Waitariki. In Fiji she helped many who needed help. Sister excelled in cooking and her Fruit Cakes were delicious. She shared this gift with the Marist Fathers especially morning teas on Sundays. And as she sat in her wheel – chair in the kitchen she guided me as I cooked pies, pasta and brandy sauce.
Sr. Nolasco was present to support families in times of distress – and when tragedy struck the Tabutoa family in Levuka, Sister sat and prayed together with Fr. John Crispin. Sister was their great support. Day and Night they waited and when the search for their dear father was called off Sister was there to support the Mother and Children and Fr. Crispin who was utterly devastated.
Sister Nolasco was a lover of Nature. She loved flowers and trees and the sky in the evenings delighted her, while the song of the birds filled her with joy. When we took her for a drive she was so happy to see again the beautiful shrubs and trees and especially around Christmas time the Golden Showers and Flamboyant. Sister also was a lover of animals and often asked if Rover had his food.
Sister Nolasco was a woman of many gifts and qualities which she used for Him and
His People. And now she is with Him enjoying the reward prepared for all those who love and serve Him.
On behalf of the Marist Sisters and Sr. Nolasco’s immediate family, especially Max Storck,
I wish to thank all those who helped Sister during her time of illness. We cannot name all of you but we do appreciate your kindness. However, I wish to express our gratitude to Dr. Raymond Fong who was there any time day or night when we needed him.
So, good bye Sr. Nolasco, and thank you for all you have shared with us during our life time together.
(Eulogy given by Sr Marlene at Sr Nolasco’s funeral Mass)
Sr Martha Drummond sm
“A life so hidden and yet so fruitful seemed to Fr Colin to be the model of what the life of the whole society (of Mary) should be”.
These words sum up the life of our dear Sr Martha Drummond whom we honour and lay to rest today. She, Alice Joyce, was born in Manly in 1919 and had 3 older brothers – Edmund, Francis and Leonard. In 1921 her mother Martha, having lost her husband, married Augustus (Gus) Drummond who became a good father to the family. In 1922 her twin sisters Mavis and Louisa were born in Lawson. In 1924 after the tragic death of nine-year old Leonard in a riding accident the family moved to Penrith where many happy years were spent. They lived next to the convent of the Sisters of St Joseph where Joyce (as she was always called) and her sisters were educated.
After leaving school Joyce moved into clerical employment until 1943 when, during World War II, she enlisted in the Australian Women’s Army Service, being posted firstly to Bathurst and then to Melbourne. She worked as a clerical assistant and in the Quartermaster’s store was promoted to Corporal and drove very large Army trucks in Victoria. In the Army she met her lifelong friend Kath Bobridge who remembers Joyce’s prowess as a keen ballroom dancer.
When she was discharged from the Army she entered the Marist Sister’s Congregation in December 1946 and at her reception was given the name Sr Martha to the great joy of her mother who was also Martha. Her first posting was to Mittagong where the Sisters were pioneering a boarding school for developmentally disadvantaged children.
Then followed many years of faithful service in Australia and eleven years in New Zealand. Our Congregational Leader, Sr Jane Frances, knew Sr Martha when she was a pupil of Mt Albert in Auckland. In her email she speaks of Martha as the kindest, gentlest and most thoughtful Marist Sister she had met and this continued down the years. She stressed her ability to listen, understand and empathise with everyone at all times and Martha’s tremendous respect for the value of the person and her spirit of openness and hospitality. The sisters in New Zealand have many lovely memories of her.
When I lived with Martha in Burwood, Melbourne, I was inspired by her loving motherly care for two very aged sisters, Cuthbert and Odilon, and also her compassion and joyful good humoured presence in the community. She was a great driver, a wonderful cook and house keeper, always ready to serve and help her loved Marist Sisters, and her own family. She exercised her gift of hospitality to so many people. She was very good to the priests of the parish. I remember Martha quietly preparing a daily egg-flip for a young and very fragile assistant priest. However, I believe he gained much more than health care from the 11am egg-flip given with such understanding and friendship by Martha. When she came to Marian House in 1991 she worked tirelessly and unobtrusively for all till gradually she slowed down but remained always cheerful and interested in everything. During those years she discovered she had an aptitude for Art and produced some lovely paintings and drawings.
When I was at Martha’s bedside in Royal North Shore Hospital I felt what a patient, enduring and strong heart she had! The words of our charism “Hidden and Unknown” express the gentle Marian presence of Martha. She never drew attention to herself, simply fitting in wherever she could be of service, never seeking praise or acknowledgement. The qualities of Mary also embodied in Jeanne-Marie Chavoin, our Foundress, seem to find resonance in Martha’s life: “humility, poverty, love of work, in an integration of prayer and action in constant union with God”.
Dear Sister Martha we will miss you but will never forget your true example of an authentic Marist life. May you rest in peace in the arms of the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph – and all the saints. O give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His merciful love endures forever.
Sr Muriel Austin sm
It’s just over 70 years since Sr Muriel made her first profession just down the road in the Woolwich chapel on the feast of the Archangels 1939. So, what we celebrate today is not only a long life (95 years), but a long life of faithfulness to God in the Congregation of Mary!
Frances Muriel Austin was born in Goulburn in 1914 to Arthur Austin and Ellen Curry. Her mother’s early death brought about a separation from her brother Arthur and sister Joyce as the three were placed in the care of different relatives and subsequently lost touch.
Muriel was brought up in Waverley by her grandmother to whom she was very devoted. Clearly it was this woman who developed in Muriel her deep faith. I remember her telling me about a picture of Our Lady above her bed as a child and her grandmother saying that this was her mother now. That was a precious memory for her.
No doubt it was also her grandmother who fostered Muriel’s lady-like demeanour. The Holy Cross Convent School at Woollahra was – according to my research – a select high school set up by Cardinal Moran and the Mercy Sisters for Catholic middle class girls, its primary purpose being the imparting Catholic faith integrated with a suitable middle class education, equal to, but preferably excelling that offered by state schools. Afterwards, having also gained a commercial qualification, Muriel took up office work.
At what point she felt drawn to a religious vocation is not certain. What is clear is that Muriel waited until her grandmother died, no doubt caring for her until the end. Muriel’s upbringing equipped her well in some ways for religious life and not so well in others. It was once remarked that she was more suited for the life of an ambassador’s wife than for the life of a Marist Sister. However, Muriel was a determined woman, who knew her own mind and followed tenaciously the path she thought was right. And Marist religious life was surely what she considered the path for her.
On her profession Sr Stephanie, as she was then known, was missioned to New Zealand where she spent almost 25 years. Most of these were spent teaching very young children who warmed instantly to her gentle manner and soon learned the importance of avoiding her disapproval. In 1964, after all those years of teaching experience, Muriel returned to Sydney, as was often the case for sisters in those days, to receive her teacher training.
Thus began a stint of some 14 years ministering in education in three states of Australia. In Victoria, Muriel served in both our primary schools, at Burwood and Bennetswood, for four years each. At St Scholastica’s she proved to be what could be termed “multi-tasked” also holding the positions of – local assistant, local bursar, deputy head and infants co-ordinator! This was followed by four years at Star of the Sea Gladstone and another two at St Margaret Mary’s Merrylands.
From 1978 Muriel moved into a new phase of ministry for more than 20 years. Having retired from school, she took up parish work and later pastoral work which she combined with various administrative roles – local superior, local bursar and provincial secretary. During this time she lived in Blacktown, Keilor, Haberfield and Woolwich. Even when she moved to Marian House in 1996, it was still in order to assist with the care of our sisters there. Indeed, Muriel continued to work in her thorough, meticulous, yet unhurried way, until her official retirement in 2000 when she was 85 years old!
Throughout her ministerial life, once Muriel was convinced about a certain project, she organised the means to the end in quite a remarkable way. Together with her very persuasive manner, her highly detailed planning led to very fruitful results. Two examples come to mind.
At St Margaret Mary’s in the seventies Muriel organised the education of parents for the new rite of reconciliation. This was a mammoth task as it was to be not only input but process work. About 30-40 group leaders were required to come on each of three separate nights. Each sister living in our large community at the time was approached by Muriel. Needless to say, every group was covered, as it would have taken a courageous woman to decline. In Keilor a few years later, Muriel set up a parish-based network of pastoral care, again requiring a huge amount of painstaking organisation. Both endeavours were highly successful. The Marian group she began in Keilor continues to function to this day.
Another constant appearing through the whole of Muriel’s active life was driving the car. She loved it and reminded us often that we were safe with her as she had done a Defensive Driving Course. She did have one accident – she had parked the car and was accompanying a sister into the doctor’s surgery when suddenly they noticed the car rolling backwards down the road. Muriel took chase down the middle of the road, car keys aloft. But the car met one coming out and then swerved into three stationary cars before a fourth put an end to its advance, finally allowing Muriel to catch up with it! No one seems to remember when Muriel gave up driving, but when she did there was a collective sigh of relief through the province! Personally I am convinced that there was a special bubble of protection around her as no one was ever hurt.
Sr Laurentia Furlong sm
Brigid Furlong, or we knew her, Sr Laurentia, was born in Tipperary – I presume there is no need to spell out which country! She made her novitiate in Peckham and Paignton, in England, being professed on the 26th October, 1939, which almost coincides with the outbreak of World War II.
The War was to play an important role in her very early years, As a young professed she was called on to take some child evacuees in 1941 to Fishguard, which was a relatively safe centre from the bombing in London. She would tell us the story of her evacuation and her part in it. She remained there for a year with one other Marist Sister but living with the Sisters of Mercy. This whole episode had a very deep effect on her as a young sister. Indeed, living in England where both Peckham and Paignton, houses of the Marist Sisters were and where she stayed, were bombed. When the war was over in 1945 she set out for Fiji. Such was her courage.
She was one of the first arrivals after the war. Her first appointment was at Levuka. She spent the next 25 years in Fiji in many of the mission stations, none of which was easy. With a few short breaks, she remained there until 1972. She was an excellent teacher and very kind with the children she taught, though the climate was not always easy for a native of Tipperary. Again we see that determined courage.
Australia was the next stopping place with an appointment to Gladstone, then Keilor in Melbourne and finally North Mackay where she remained for some years, with a break in Ireland when a family member was ill. In these appointments she was really great, relating well to the children, and most especially to those she was taking who had specific learning difficulties.
Not very often, but now and again, she showed she was a woman of great spirit. One such occasion occurred in Mackay, when the superior had made a promise to drive her across the river to St Pat’s for Confession every second Saturday. The superior had the misfortune to forget, but I can tell you she never forgot again. Laurie, as we called her, could be very volatile.
When she came to Sydney and lived at Blacktown all her hidden artistic gifts came to the fore which she hadn’t been able to apply herself to before. Painting and craft became works of art in her hand and she was able to use these gifts to support the parish craft stall. As well she was a great nature lover, especially of the birds.
What she loved most however, was organizing the monthly Masses held in the Blacktown house for the elderly and disabled. She prepared the Mass with every bit of care she could muster and enjoyed the company of those who attended. She extended this pastoral care to those in hospital whom she visited every week.
But all this time, what I think very few of us knew was the ill-health she managed to hide and that was with her for many years. When she was well in her nineties, she went to Marian House and then to St Anne’s where she was cared for so lovingly.
Laurie, you can now enjoy to the full the God you loved so much and Mary, his Mother. As our Mother Foundress says,
We shall be very happy
at the hour of our death
if we have known how to take advantage
of all the moments of life.
Laurie, you certainly knew how to do that. May you rest in peace.