Palm/Passion Sunday: Journey of Hope
April 11, 2025
In a musical composition, the Prelude serves to introduce motifs that will be developed in the larger work. Similarly, as we begin the journey we call ‘Passion Week’, the liturgy of Palm Sunday acts as a Prelude, containing the themes that will develop over the days that follow. As we walk in Jesus’ footsteps starting from Bethany and ending at Calvary, we become pilgrims. During this Jubilee Year of 2025, we are urged by Pope Francis to make this journey a Pilgrimage of Hope.
The first act of Palm Sunday’s liturgy has us setting out to Jerusalem where crowds hail Jesus as Messiah, a King who comes in God’s name. In setting out on the journey of this Jubilee Year, Pope Francis reminds us, we need to meet Jesus ‘personally’ as the ‘door of our salvation’, the one who is ‘our hope’. [1] As today’s world writhes in political and social turmoil, can we confidently proclaim this hope?
Perthville Closing Ritual
April 9, 2025
On the weekend of 22-23 March, St Joseph’s Perthville finally closed its doors after 153 years. It was a bittersweet occasion for the Sisters and others, many of whom had been associated with Perthville from their early days as boarders.
On Saturday, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart gathered to remember, to give thanks and to farewell the Perthville complex with their own community.
On Sunday, about 450 people including Sisters of St Joseph Lochinvar, Sisters of Mercy, Missionaries of Charity, Josephite Companions, family members, friends, ex-boarders, volunteers, local Perthville village friends, priests and others gathered to bid farewell.
A Story of Unity Over Division
April 8, 2025
Mother Benedict Seymour.
On 8 April, we commemorate the 90th anniversary of when Papal Approbation was granted for the Sisters of St Joseph of Goulburn.
A proclamation from the Vatican in July 1917 profoundly impacted the lives of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Goulburn Congregation. On 28 July that year, Pope Benedict XV proclaimed the establishment in New South Wales of the new Diocese of Wagga Wagga, separating it from the Diocese of Goulburn.
A Knock on the Church’s Door and the Answer is ‘Welcome!’
The Rite of Election for RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) candidates was held recently in St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney. The twelve candidates from St Brigid’s Marrickville were up the front, and so we had a close view of the sanctuary and by craning our necks backwards, we could view the almost unending line of candidates and their sponsors. There are 384 people enrolled to become Catholics in the Archdiocese of Sydney this year – and they were obviously all there.
Mary MacKillop continues to be Ecumenical in Bendigo
A statue of Mary MacKillop was recently placed in the Grand Stupa Buddhist Shrine of Universal Compassion in Bendigo (Victoria) together with a statue of St Francis of Assisi that was already there but in need of restoration.
The ceremony for the installation of Mary MacKillop was held in the Peace Garden of the Shrine. Following morning tea, Mr Ian Green (Chairman of the Grand Stupa) welcomed all and explained the vision of the Grand Stupa. Sr Monica Cavanagh, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, told something of the life of Mary MacKillop and her perseverance against the odds and the virtues that made her a saint; prayers followed as Bishop Shane Mackinlay of the Diocese of Sandhurst blessed both statues.
Pope Francis honours a life of service
April 7, 2025
Professor Emerita Anne Cummins with the award of Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great.
Pope Francis honoured Professor Emerita Anne Cummins with the award of Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great. This honour is granted to Catholic women and men in recognition of their service to the Church through their work and community impact.
The award was presented by Archbishop Anthony Fisher at a ceremony held at Cathedral House in Sydney on 21 March.
Josephite Justice Network Gathering: March 2025
March 25, 2025
The Josephite Justice Network (JJN) gathering for March 2025 was held at St Joseph’s Baulkham Hills in Norwest (Sydney) from Friday 14 March to Sunday 16 March. Josephite Sisters, Companions, organisational partners and guest speakers from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand were all present. Inspired by Emily Dickinson’s description of hope as “the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all,” our gathering focused on how we can use this year of Jubilee to ignite hope in the lives of all those we serve.
First JAG Gathering for 2025
The Josephite Action Group meets for the first time in 2025!
February marked the first catch up of the Josephite Action Group (JAG), an opportunity to welcome fresh faces to the group, and catch up with existing members.
We gathered in Croydon (New South Wales), excited to spend the afternoon socialising and planning action for 2025. The group began with some team building games, fun that challenged our communication skills and creativity. We then went onto reflective activities thinking about all that has happened in the first two months of this year (can’t believe we’re already now three months into 2025!), and we discussed our hopes for the remainder of the year.