Gathering with Sr Kate

The Marist Sisters in Australia met recently to welcome Sr Kate McPhee back to her homeland for her official visit of our Unit.  The gathering commenced with a welcome from Sr Gail, our Leader, who kept in mind our Sisters who were unable to attend.  

 An informal talk from Kate followed, outlining how the visit will take shape. Kate then went on to share snippets of news from around the Congregation which will assist in our understanding of where we are at and how we will proceed so as to enhance our Marist lifestyle throughout the world.  The talk concluded with a reflection and prayer, after which Kate distributed copies of our updated Constitutions from our General Chapter of 2022.

Gail thanked Kate for her input.  She also thanked her for returning for a few weeks to her previous position of Bursar after hearing of the sudden death of our Business Manager.  This included the employment of our new Business Manager and the appropriate handover.  As well as showing our appreciation of Kate, Gail mentioned our gratitude for Sr Sylvette Mane (Congregational Leader) and her team who made it possible for Kate to return to Australia early for this added assignment.  It was then appropriate for Gail to conclude her thanks with a gift to Kate on behalf of the Unit of Australia.  

 As Kate celebrated a significant birthday on 2nd May we commenced afternoon tea with our amazing singing skills, singing the birthday song and then relaxing and enjoying the social aspect of our gathering.

Welcome Home Viv

The room was filled with joy and conversation when the Marist Sisters in Australia gathered at Hunters Hill to welcome  Sr Vivienne Goldstein back to the Unit of Australia.  In 2015 Vivienne was elected to the Marist Sisters General Council and so lived in Rome until 2022. After a period of renewal Viv has now returned home to Australia. It is great to have you back among us Viv.

The gathering also gave the sisters an opportunity to catch up with Sr Kate McPhee who was soon to return to Rome.

Celebrating in Australia

Marist Sisters in Australia gathered on 23rd July to mark three significant events. Firstly they acknowledged the anniversary of the Promise of Fourviere on 23rd July 1816. On this day a group of seminarians pledged themselves to beginning a congregation in Mary’s name. Beginning the afternoon with prayer the sisters remembered the Fourviere event and reflected on the gift of the Marist Spirit that has been passed down for over 200 years.

Secondly, the gathering was an opportunity to welcome Sr Grace Ellul home to Australia after serving as Congregation Leader for 7 years, and to thank her for her commitment and service during those years.

At the Marist Sisters General Chapter held earlier this year, Sr Kate McPhee was elected as a General Councillor. Kate will soon be leaving for Rome. While she will be greatly missed in Australia, the sisters expressed their love and support for Kate as she takes up this new role which she has generously accepted as God’s call.

General Chapter 2022

Marist Sisters in Australia gathered recently to receive feedback from the Marist Sisters’ General Chapter 2022.

Chapter delegates – Srs Gail Reneker, Kate McPhee and Noelene Simmons – shared their reflections and presented the message of the Chapter to those who were present.

Sr Judith Lythall, who had attended the Chapter as a support worker, presented a pictorial overview of the Chapter.

 

New Leadership Team in Australia

Marist Sisters in Australia gathered at Hunters Hill on 4th December to ritualise the change of Leadership that will take place on 8th December. Sr Gail Reneker will take up the role of Unit Leader of Australia with Srs Julie Brand and Beverley Lewis as her Assistants. The gathering was also an opportunity to give thanks to Sr Catherine Lacey who has been Unit Leader for the past seven years and to Sr Ruth Davis for her role as Unit Assistant for the last three years.

During a simple and prayerful liturgy, recognising that leadership is a call to love and service, the outgoing leadership team washed the hands of the new team. Cath then handed the Unit Candle to Gail as the sisters present extended their hands and prayed a prayer of blessing over Gail, Julie and Bev. At the conclusion of the prayer Julie, on behalf of the sisters of the Unit expressed gratitude to Cath and Ruth for their years of faithful service.

Afternoon tea followed the time of prayer. Due to Covid-19 restrictions this was the first time the sisters had been able to gather sine July 2020. Just being together was a joy and blessing for all present.

 

Latest ACRATH News

Marist Sisters in Australia have supported the work of ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) since its beginning in 2005.

In the September issue of ACRATH News you can read about ACRATH’s new Forced Marriage Video Presentation which was launched in August. The Australian Federal Police participated in the launch and explored the issues facing local authorities working to combat forced marriage. Other stories include:

  • ETIKO Fairtrade clothing and JINTA sports equipment is offering ACRATH readers a discount. Work with them to keep workers, hit by COVID, in work.
  • LIZ Morris has written ACRATH’s submission to the Senate’s Select Committee on Temporary Migration. We make 10 compelling recommendations.
  • ACRATH’s calendar for 2021 is available and it explores some great projects combating human trafficking.
  • ACRATH’s volunteer Companions have been able to offer financial support to trafficked women and children during COVID.
  • JOIN the Webinar for teachers on November 23 2020.

Download your copy of ACRATH News here.

Acknowledging Faithful Service

Earlier this year Mrs Geraldine Carter retired after serving five years as Business Manager for the Marist Sisters in Australia.  Since then we have also farewelled Care-Coordinator, Miss Christine Mackenzie, who was with us for fifteen years.  Because of  Covid 19 and all the restrictions, we have been unable to come together as a Unit to officially thank these two wonderful women.

On Saturday 11th July those who were able, gathered at Hunters Hill for afternoon tea to acknowledge Geraldine and Chris and give thanks for the time they have faithfully served the Unit. The afternoon was very informal, but gave each of us a chance to catch up with them and also with each other.

We continue to pray in thanksgiving for both of them as begin the next phase of their journey through life.  Each of them has been a gift to our Unit in so many different ways.

Congregation Leader in Australia

Congregation Leader of the Marist Sisters, Sr Grace Ellul, has just completed her visitation to Australia. During her visit Grace spent time with each sister and engaged in conversation and reflection about the whole Congregation. The Marist Sisters in Australia were delighted to have Grace in their midst over these days. At the end of her visit sisters who were able gathered at Hunter Hill. This was an opportunity to thank Grace for her visit and to celebrate her birthday a few days in advance of the event.

(Click on images below to see an enlarged version of the photo)

 

Bennetswood Celebration

Srs Cath Lacey and Kate McPhee recently represented the Marist Sisters in Australia at the 60th anniversary of St Scholastica’s Primary School, Bennetswood on 11 th August. The Archbishop of Melbourne (Archbishop Peter Commensoli) was the main celebrant of the Mass which was followed by lunch and an inspection of the school which has been refurbished in the last few years. There was a great crowd of parishioners, both past and present, and a number of ex-students who were interested to hear about the Sisters who had been at St Scholastica’s over the years. Cath and Kate were presented with a commemorative candle and a plaque which acknowledges the work of the Marist Sisters at the school over 20 years.

Sr Margaret Purcell sm

Sr Margaret Purcell sm was called to eternal life on Monday 22nd July 2019.

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

We extend our prayerful sympathy to the Marist Sisters in Australia and to Sr Margaret’s family. The following words of remembrance were delivered by Sr Gail Reneker at her funeral on 27th July 2019.

It is a privilege for me to speak at this celebration of Margaret’s life and to honour the person she has been to each one of us.  It is a tribute to her that her family, her friends and her Sisters have gathered together this morning in thanksgiving for her and the blessing she has been in our lives.  Each of us brings personal memories of her.  This morning I would like to especially recall her life as a Marist Sister.

After finishing her school education at Marist Convent Woolwich Margaret trained and worked as a clerk/typist.  In 1947 she began her postulancy with the Marist Sisters at Merrylands, and received the habit in January 1948, when she was given the name Sister Vincent.  (It was in the 70’s that she went back to her baptismal name.) Margaret was professed on the 23rd January 1949 at Merrylands, and on the 13th May 1954 she made her perpetual vows at Woolwich.

After some initial training Margaret went to St Margaret Mary’s school Merrylands as a primary teacher.  The courage that was to become something of a hallmark in Margaret’s character was shown at the beginning of her ministry of teaching.  St Margaret Mary’s was a school where the enrolment of students burgeoned in the 1950’s with the post-war migration.  Margaret’s first class there was a kindergarten of 100 students.  It is reported that she went to sleep each night reciting their names so as to try to remember them all.  This courage was needed to be drawn on further when in 1957 she was appointed Superior of the community at Woolwich, a formidable role at her age in a sizeable community and in a role which also required her having a significant role in the school there.  An instance of the appreciation and regard in which the Sisters were held was the request in recent years received from a woman in Canada thanking the Sisters, and Sr Vincent in particular, on behalf of her mother for the education received there.  In 1960 Margaret went to Burwood Victoria as Superior of the community there and teacher at St Benedict’s Primary school. After Degree studies at Canberra University she was re-appointed to Burwood as Superior.  She also took up the role of Deputy Principal and Secondary teacher at Chavoin College.

In 1970 Margaret was elected Provincial of Oceania, a Province encompassing Sisters’ communities in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.  A very specific task for Province leaders at that time, and so for Margaret, was the implementation of the direction set by Vatican 11 for the renewal of Religious life.  The changes inaugurated a somewhat difficult, challenging period for the Sisters.  The departure of a number of them was part of the upheaval which ensued.  Margaret’s wisdom, calm and inner strength was obvious as she guided the Province, seeking to respond to the signs of the times and the call to renewal while keeping the ship afloat.

These qualities together with her leadership and administrative abilities were recognised by the broader Congregation and she was elected as Superior General at the General Chapter of 1974.  She now had the task, in collaboration with her Administration, of negotiating on the global stage the paradigm shift we’d been called to.  Dealing with the various languages and different cultures with understanding and sensitivity added to the demands.  Given her reserved nature the role of Congregational leader was thus undertaken at significant personal cost.  There were also health issues to deal with and she felt the distance from her family and in particular her ailing mother.

Nevertheless Margaret gave herself wholeheartedly to the role and task confided to her.  It was during her administration that International renewals and pilgrimages for the Congregation’s members were begun.  These provided for participants to engage in a personal renewal program and to have the opportunity to visit Marist places of origin in France and drink of all that new historical research into our Marist spirituality was providing.  It was also during her two terms of office that a rewriting of our Constitutions was begun with a process which included visits from those charged with the task to engage all Sisters throughout the Congregation.

A particular significant undertaking was the discernment and consequent decision of the General Administration under Margaret’s leadership to establish new missionary ventures in Latin America .  This outreach to Latin America had been urged on by the Pope and the call was strengthened by the growing movement for the Church to take a preferential option for the poor.  Margaret called for volunteers from all provinces, and foundations were made in Brazil in 1978, Mexico in 1981 and Colombia in 1984.   These initiated an audacious experiment within our Congregation to embrace a new style of religious life with communities living amongst the poor and involved in less-institutional ministries. Grace our current Congregational leader and a member of the founding group in Brazil recalls: ‘Margaret made it clear that we were to discover a new way of being religious, not to just transplant models to a new place.  Many years later I asked Margaret if she knew what she was doing when she appointed me novice directress – me, with no experience in formation, no course as formator!  Margaret smiled and said:  I think so.  I didn’t want to send a trained formator because she would just do what she had always done.  I wanted someone who would learn how to be a formator in another land.’   Such was Margaret’s vision and daring.

At the completion of her term as Superior General Margaret showed her readiness to do herself what she had asked of her Sisters. She became a founding member of a new missionary venture in the Gambia, West Africa.  There in Farafenni, recognising the needs and possibilities, she set up a training college for local teachers as well as establishing a primary school where children were enrolled at aged 6 rather than at age 8, providing them with greater opportunities of education.  Margaret was particularly happy there.  She was able to take to heart on a personal as well as at a Congregational level, the call to be with the poor.  The sisters experienced obstacles but under her leadership they weren’t deterred and found ways to overcome them.

After three years in the Gambia, Margaret was called back to Australia to take up again with continuing generosity and commitment the role of Provincial of Australia.  In the three years of her term she initiated the move of the Blacktown community to a new house in the area so as to widen from there the apostolic involvement of the community members.  The novitiate was relocated to Bennettswood Victoria and significant extensions and renovations to the Administration house at Haberfield were begun.  It was also at this time that the Pastoral Planning process undertaken across the Congregation was set in motion here.

After completing her term as Provincial Margaret undertook pastoral and social welfare work in the inner city through St Margaret’s Hospital.  It wasn’t long though before another project took root in her heart.  I recall as Provincial of the time meeting with Margaret for coffee at the Centrepoint Shopping Centre to talk about her idea of establishing a community in a needy area.   An initial investigation with her finally led to a meeting with the Department of Housing, Liverpool who saw the value of the presence of the Sisters among the economically and socially disadvantaged in Claymore, near Campbelltown. A community was begun there in Claymore in August 1993.  From this ministry of presence other ministries developed in particular with migrants, refugees, St Vincent de Paul and the Neighbourhood Centre.  Margaret was at home with other cultures and the people warmed to her interest and respect for them.  She had a special and loved ministry with Cambodian families, teaching English and accompanying them with the challenges of life in a new country.  This initial insertion led later to similar communities being established in the Campbelltown area at Airds and at Rosemeadow.

In 2000 Margaret was missioned to Marian House, Woolwich for three years as community leader.   Her next move into the parish at Laverton Victoria in 2003 engaged her in pastoral work in particular with the socially deprived and elderly shut-ins.  After a number of years there she returned to Marian House to again give service to the Sisters there.  As time went on she increasingly needed extra care for herself as a number of health problems developed and she experienced more intense suffering. This led to her recognising and accepting her need for extra care at Southern Cross Homes at Marsfield where she moved in May 2018.  Margaret settled in well, appreciated the care and enjoyed among other things caring for her pot plants.  Her quiet warmth and friendliness there endeared her to staff and other residents.  The return of cancer this year eventually led to her final admission to the Mater Hospital a fortnight ago and to her death on 22nd July.  Despite both emotional and physical struggles, sensitively handled by medical staff and those who loved her, Margaret as usual was mindful of others.  She expressly directed that her gratitude for everything be given to the Sisters, the doctors, nurses, carers and her family.

Marist qualities aren’t difficult to find in Margaret.  From her school days and from the Sisters she knew and loved there and undoubtedly from the values lived in her family she absorbed the Marist spirit.  She had a wonderful sense of Mary in her life and a great love of the Church, of Mary’s place in it and consequently that of Marists.  The gift of self to God was unqualified and found expression in her wholehearted commitment to the Congregation and its mission.  The vision she showed, especially in her leadership, was born of this grasp she had of what it is to be Marist.  Her spirituality too was thoroughly Marist, simple and uncomplicated but quite profound.  Like Mary at Nazareth and Jeanne Marie in Jarnosse she was at home among the people, being with them, sharing life with them, loving and encouraging them in a quiet unassuming way.  There was no pretentiousness in Margaret.  She was a truly humble woman. She had a true understanding of what it was to live ‘hidden and unknown’.   Although quietly friendly by nature, a natural diffidence, even apprehension, sometimes showed in her.  This only highlighted the courage she showed throughout all her life.  So many Sisters have expressed their admiration of and gratitude for her far-sightedness and daring – for her utter goodness.

Her reserve didn’t stop her from enjoying gatherings and entertainment with the Sisters and with others.  She enjoyed the simple pleasures of craftwork, quilting, dressmaking and cooking all of which she developed some prowess in.  She appreciated music and especially liturgical music, enjoyed reading, especially spiritual books and developed an interest in Australian history.  She got to appreciate sport.   She had a special interest in young people, liked being with them, wanting and delighting in their development, their gifts and potential.

This was very evident in Margaret’s deep love for, pride, joy and interest in her family.  You, her nieces, nephews and families always gladdened her heart and she loved sharing news of you.  Her sister Pat, your Mum, was very dear to her and her death left a very big gap in her life.  Coming to terms with it was very much helped by the ongoing love, interest and devotedness shown by you.  The care you have shown to Margaret, especially in this time of her last illness, has I’m sure supported, comforted and reassured her.  Your presence here today gives evidence of the place she has in your hearts and she, together with all those with whom she has been reunited, including her sister, your Mum, surely smiles at you all with gratitude and great delight.

In giving time to ponder and recollect memories of Margaret I was drawn to the image of the valiant woman spoken about in the Book of Proverbs Ch 31.  In a reflection I came across on that passage I was alerted to the Jewish understanding of this valiant woman, in Hebrew an Eshet Chayil.   Margaret certainly warrants being named as a valiant woman.  Such a woman, we are told, possesses unique strength.  She is one in whom a person can put their trust.  Others are strengthened by her trust in them and her ability to channel their gifts for good. She gives selflessly. Her tendency to always have an outstretched hand is an exemplary quality. The valiant woman possesses wisdom and integrity. She manages situations with strength and gentleness.  Her spirituality is reflected in her actions.  She has unshakeable trust in God, who is the centre of her life, knowing that all is in God’s hands.  In short, an Eshet Chayil, a valiant woman, is a woman of inestimable value, more precious than pearls.

Margaret you were all of this and more to us.  We thank you for who you’ve been, for what you’ve given. We thank God for what God did in and through you.  We thank God for blessing us with you – a sister, friend, aunty, companion on the journey and a wonderful inspiration of self-giving love.  May you be at peace and rejoice forever in the heart of our God.