Waitangi Day 2023
February 5, 2023
Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Treaty of Waitangi signed in Aotearoa New Zealand
Seen as New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840 at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, in Te Ika a Maui, (the North Island) of Aotearoa (New Zealand). The document outlines the principles to which Māori Chiefs and British officials made a political agreement to form a nation-state and establish a government.
The Treaty was made and signed to deal with the quickly changing circumstances in New Zealand. More and more Europeans were acquiring land from the Māori to establish commercial operations. The settling population was rapidly growing, bringing along uncontrolled crime and violence. There was a perceived threat of French or USA colonisation and the British wanted to get in first.
Word of God Sunday 2023
February 3, 2023
An industrial Chaplain retells an incident where a young man came to him at work stuck in his pain between having a financially beneficial job and being more present to his wife.
The chaplain welcomed him, listened to his dilemma and then wondered aloud if the young man felt stuck between his head and his heart. His response led the chaplain to suggest to the young man that he listen to his heart. This invitation was sufficient to enable the young man to begin his inner exploration which an hour later led him to his own answer and to peace. No sermon, no lecture, no teaching was required.
On Sunday 5 February, we are invited by Isaiah (58:8) to let our “light shine like the dawn” which suggests that means acting justly. Then as related in Matthew (5:16), Jesus reiterates this teaching saying “let your light shine in the sight of all”.
‘Circling’ with Fresh Courage
February 2, 2023
Written for World Day for Consecrated Life which is on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord – 2 February 2023.
Recently, nine Sisters of Saint Joseph gathered at Mission Bay, Auckland, in Aotearoa New Zealand. We sought to respond to God’s call, “Enlarge the space of your tent, spread out your tent cloths unsparingly, lengthen your ropes and make firm your pegs”. [Is 54:2]
Across these four days we were dedicated to conversations in ‘Circle’* leadership which created a space where we committed to the crucial importance of listening to each other and God’s movement within ‘our Josephite tent’.
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.