Launch by Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Heroic Women: The Sisters of Perpetual Adoration 1874–2014, by Mary Cresp rsj – Brisbane 8 December 2024

In the late afternoon of a hot Sunday, around 70 people attended the launch of Heroic Women: The Sisters of Perpetual Adoration 1874–2014. It was 32 degrees outside, but the heat did not hold back the spirit of joy and thanksgiving for the launch of the book written by Mary Cresp rsj, to commemorate the sesquicentenary of the founding of the Sisters. Mary knew the Sisters well as she had been their Canonical Congregational Leader from 2006 to 2009. The book is published by ATF Press and has over 200 pages with many photographs.

The event was MC’d by Josephine Dubiel rsj, Congregational Leader of the Josephite Sisters and Monica Cavanagh rsj welcomed all present — the Archbishop, family and friends of the Sisters, and in particular the five Sisters of Perpetual Adoration — Sisters Narelle Hickson, Elizabeth Bargenquast, Raphael Mizzi, Xavier Woods and Helen Alfrey. Sr Monica explained that since 2009, the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have been aggregated with the Sisters of Saint Joseph, both groups being co-founded by Father Julian Tenison Woods.

Archbishop Coleridge launched the book, encouraging the audience to discover as he did, many things about the Sisters’ story generally unknown. He expressed gratitude for their ministry over the years which had involved hard work and many sacrifices. The Archbishop then spoke as a biblical scholar on the title of the book, Heroic Women. He contrasted the conventional heroism found in the pagan classics with those of the Bible:

The only true hero in the Bible is God. The heroism of God emerges in the New Testament as the anti-heroism of Jesus crucified and risen. On the Cross, Jesus looks anything but heroic. Calvary is the epicentre of biblical anti-heroism. Yet the self-sacrificing love which comes to its fullness on the Cross is the only true heroism to which the human being can lay claim. Any other supposed heroism is false. The Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have been heroic not in any conventional way but with the anti-heroism of the crucified and risen Christ.

In her response, Mary Cresp rsj pointed out the relevance of Religious Life to all who follow the Way of Jesus Christ. It was only because the Sisters fell in love with Jesus that they could do the seemingly impossible. Present-day discipleship calls for the same: ‘Though you have not seen him, you love him’ (1 Peter 1:8). She thanked all who had helped in the writing of the book – archivists, editors, interviewees – and all those present at the launch, particularly the organiser Marie Dowling rsj. She hoped the book would now play “a small part in inspiring its readers to bring to our Christian mission the same courage, belief and heroism that has marked the story of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration”.

Finally, Hilary Regan of ATF Press thanked all involved in the production and launch of the book.

Refreshments, photos, book-signing and happy conversation brought the event to a close.

Copies of the book are available from Sr Marie Dowling for $30. Contact us here.

Hilary Regan
ATF Press – Adelaide, South Australia