World Interfaith Harmony Week
February 1, 2023
Observed annually during the first week of February (1-7), World Interfaith Harmony Week was created “as a way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith”. (United Nations)
Sr Giovanni Farquer, a Sister of Saint Joseph and former Congregational Leader, is currently working with the Archdiocese of Sydney as Director of the Archdiocesan Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Relations (ACEIR).
Julian Tenison Woods’ Baptism
Julian Edmund Tenison Woods was born on 15 November 1832 at Southwark in London, England. His parents, James and Henrietta were of Irish origin, James being a Catholic with marginal commitment to the church and Henrietta coming from the Saint-Eloy Tenison family with strong connections to the Anglican church.
Julian’s birth was announced on 16 November in The Times newspaper for which his father was a correspondent. James, however, was in Belgium at the time of Julian’s birth, reporting on the siege of Antwerp. Before the end of 1832, he returned to West Square, Southwark where Henrietta was caring for their children, Edward, James, Henrietta, Nicholas and baby Julian.
Sister Mary Comer Receives Medal of the Order of Australia
January 26, 2023
Congratulations to Sr Mary Comer rsj who received a Medal of the Order of Australia in this year’s Australia Day honours list – for service to the community including in her role as the founding director of Centacare Bathurst.
We share a profile of Sr Mary published on 26 January 2023 in The Catholic Weekly.
Plus a profile on the work of Sr Mary in the Western Advocate.
Australia Day 2023
January 25, 2023
As we celebrate Australia Day, we reflect on all those Australians who have dedicated their lives in service of their sisters and brothers, our everyday heroes and heroines. Many will be recognised in Australia Day citizen awards and others will formally become Australian citizens.
Australia Day provides us with the opportunity to reflect upon what is best in our nation, the values at the heart of our story – the care of those most disadvantaged, the spirit of egalitarianism, the support of one another in times of adversity and the welcome of the many cultures that now call Australia home.
Sisters Celebrate Diamond Jubilee – 60 Years of Religious Life
January 23, 2023
Over 30 Sisters of Saint Joseph from across the Congregation celebrated their Diamond Jubilee in January marking 60 years since their first profession. Twenty-one of the Jubilarians were able to gather and acknowledge the event at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney where they also celebrated with fellow Sisters, family and friends.
Those Sisters who were not able to attend were remembered, particularly the 12 Sisters from this profession group now resting with God.
Alexander MacKillop – Father of Mary MacKillop
January 20, 2023
Mary MacKillop’s father Alexander MacKillop was born in the Lochaber district of Scotland in 1812. He died in Hamilton, Victoria (VIC) on 19 December 1868 and is buried there.
Alexander had studied for the priesthood in Rome and for a short time in his homeland in Scotland. However, as he said, “it was not God’s will that I be a priest”, and so in 1838 he migrated to Australia to start a new life.
Remembering the Beatification of Mary MacKillop
January 18, 2023
The Beatification of Mary MacKillop was a historical time for Australians. The naming of a saint born and raised in Australia brought great joy, not only to Catholics, but to many others who had come to know and admire her.
Weatherwise, 19 January 1995 was grey, threatening to rain. In contrast, the prevailing atmosphere was one of pure happiness. You felt it everywhere! This positive atmosphere had also been at the magnificent vigil-concert/display at the Sydney Domain the evening before.
Mary MacKillop’s Cross from the Beginning
January 13, 2023
We celebrate the birth of Australia’s first canonised saint and co-founder of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Mary MacKillop, who was born on 15 January 1842.
Mary MacKillop’s whole life, almost from the time of her conception to her death, was overshadowed by the Cross. Father Geoghegan, priest at St. Francis’ Catholic Church, Melbourne, gave her mother Flora a relic of the Cross said to have been found by Helen, mother of the Emperor Constantine, to wear until her child was born. She would have explained to her daughter the significance of the Cross she had worn day by day during her pregnancy.