The Archer Letters – Letter Two
July 2, 2024
In a letter written from Penola on 5.4.1865, Fr Julian Tenison Woods writes to William Archer in a bantering tone. He will not be abbreviated with his words, as obviously William Archer had been in his letter of 21st!
Fr Julian’s sense of humour comes through, as does his praise of the work that William Archer is doing in the scientific area, despite his many responsibilities with the Government. He relies on his friend for resources and is keen to acknowledge him officially through naming a geological specimen after him.
The Archer Letters – Letter One
This letter from Fr Julian Tenison Woods to “My dear Sir”, William Archer, is rather a long one with a considerable number of explanatory endnotes. However, it is far from a tedious read!
Written from Penola towards the end of 1863, it is a good example of Fr Julian’s command of the English language, his fluent penmanship and his sense of humour. The letter from William Archer, to which he is replying, must have been an interesting one to have caused such a reaction! The endnotes, as compiled by Sr Anne Player, give valuable background to the people with whom Fr Julian associated in 1863 – and the scientific investigations that engaged his interest. He was, at this time, questioning the value of his membership of scientific associations as he was having trouble getting his writings published. However, the local papers seemed quite willing to publish his views. Riding around his far flung parish gave him ample opportunity to think about framing his next letter or article on whatever happened to be his current topic of interest.
The Archer Letters – Introduction
In 1980, Sr Anne Player [1] read 33 letters representing the exchange between Fr Julian Tenison Woods (1832-1889) and William Henry Archer (1825-1909) over the years 1863 – 1889.
Anne realised that these letters gave a different glimpse of Fr Julian, situating him within Australian society of the time and revealing aspects of his life and interest apart from the Sisters of St Joseph. Anne set out to add comprehensive footnotes to the letters to give context and meaning and, with permission from the University of Melbourne Archives, in 1983, the Sisters of St Joseph, Goulburn, published The Archer Letters.
Spirituality Ministry – Introduction
June 25, 2024
After a period of discernment and review, the Sisters of Saint Joseph in 2023 launched a new ‘whole of ministry’ approach to their spirituality and heritage programs – including and going beyond the spirituality and heritage centres across Australia. This whole of ministry approach will continue to respond to the spirituality needs in our community in a contemporary manner.
The first stage of this new approach was the appointment of a Board in late 2023. This Board includes Chair Natalie Acton, Rob Kennaugh, Josie Vescio, Brianna Ragel and Andy Kuppe, and has been meeting monthly. I was appointed Director of Spirituality Ministry, commencing in early March this year, and Xavier Crimmins joined the new enterprise as Chief Executive Officer in April. The transference of governance to the new entity will take place on 1 July 2024.
Human Trafficking – Let the Work Continue to End this Heinous Crime
Talitha Kum group.
The Second General Assembly of Talitha Kum was held at Sacrofano, outside Rome, from 18-24 May 2024. There were 153 delegates, from 71 countries, representing the 60 Talitha Kum networks committed to ending human trafficking on all continents. Two Josephite Sisters formed part of the Talitha Kum Oceania Region Delegation – Sr Annette Arnold, the Talitha Kum Oceania Regional Coordinator and Board member of ACRATH and Sr Margaret Ng, ACRATH member and Josephite Counter-Trafficking Project Coordinator.
Sr Pauline Morgan awarded Order of Australia Medal
June 12, 2024
The Sisters of Saint Joseph are delighted to announce that Pauline Morgan rsj has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List for service to the Catholic Church of Australia, and to education. Based in Adelaide, Sr Pauline (pictured right) worked as a maths and science teacher and later as student counsellor at Mary MacKillop College Kensington, then as Principal of Caritas College at Port Augusta and at St Michael’s College Henley Beach.
“I loved being a teacher – seeing students’ faces light up when they understood what seemed to them to be a difficult concept or successfully working out their own strategies for problem solving,” says Sr Pauline.” I particularly enjoyed encouraging girls to excel at maths and science – especially in the 1960s and 1970s when this was not a common occurrence.”
Embracing Humanity: World Refugee Day and Living Out Gospel Values
June 7, 2024
On 20 June, the world pauses to reflect on the lives of millions of refugees who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and disasters. World Refugee Day is not only a time to acknowledge their suffering and resilience but also a call to embody the Gospel values of love, compassion, and justice that lie at the heart of our Christian faith.
Refugee Week 2024 – Finding Freedom: Family
Loved, safe, and cherished…
There is, was and continues to be a crisis in our community whereby people fleeing from danger are shown no mercy. Unloved, unsafe and uncherished, by a nation that prides itself on having ‘boundless plains to share’. Not as refugees, but as people, they have the right to equal care and support, yet when they arrive, they are mistreated and demoralised, due to the incompetence and downright indifference of the Government. Is this the home we’re willing to share? This inhospitable home?