July Prayer Intention: The Elderly

Photo by Maryellen Thomas rsj.

Each month, Pope Francis asks for our prayers for a specific intention. For the month of July, the prayer intention is for the elderly.

The Story of Two Women

There is an Alaskan Legend about two old women who were left to die when their tribe came across hard times. The families, who loved their elders, were sad as they walked away, knowing that they would never see these venerable women again.

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Finding yourself at St Joseph’s by the Sea

Garden at St Joseph’s by the Sea.

St Joseph’s by the Sea (SJBTS) is a retreat, conference and ecology centre situated on the shores of Hobson Bay, in Melbourne’s West on the lands of the Yalukit Willam, in Bunurong country and the Kulin Nation.

The Lava Blister (pictured below), which is millions of years old and an historic landmark, is situated on these shores and brings international people to visit.

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Sea Sunday 2022

Sr Mary with seafarers working on container ships and gas tankers that deliver fuel and cargo to Port Botany.

“No Seafarers, No Shipping, No Shopping”

With Sea Sunday approaching on 10 July, we are challenged once again to reflect on the lives of seafarers.

Seafarers and fishers are critical to global trade. They toil daily on cargo and cruise ships as well as fishing trawlers all over the world.

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Plenary Council Second Assembly

The second and final assembly for the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia will take place in Sydney from 4-8 July 2022.

At the assembly, the 277 Council Members will consider, discern and vote on the motions in the Framework for Motions that have emerged from that national journey, with the goal of renewing the life and mission of the Church in Australia.

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Feast of the Sacred Heart

For us as Josephites, celebrating the feast of the Sacred Heart (24 June) is intimately connected to God’s compassionate love. The Constitutions of the Sisters of Saint Joseph remind us:

Mary MacKillop believed that God’s compassionate love symbolised by the Sacred Heart would become a reality for her sisters and the people with whom they shared their lives through.
Constitutions of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart

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Celebrating ATSI Sunday and NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC 2022 theme.

From 3 July 2022, we celebrate two events: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Sunday on 3 July and National Aborigines, and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week from Sunday 3 July until Sunday 10 July.

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Father Julian and the Westbury Letters

Father Julian Tenison Woods.

Father Julian Tenison Woods had a deep connection with Tasmania over many years. As a missioner, he encouraged many young women to join both the Sisters of Saint Joseph on the mainland and the founding group of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

Aware of the needs in Tasmania, Fr Julian wrote to St Mary MacKillop in 1869:

There is no diocese, however, which wants the Sisters so badly as that of Tasmania. I am to see the Bishop of that place today or tomorrow on the subject and whatever comes I would send Sisters there if I am asked.[1]

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Doctorate thesis leads to book launch

Bernard Collaery, Dr Joel Hodge, Susan Connelly rsj and Bishop Vincent Long.
Dance performed by members of the Sydney Timorese community.

Susan Connelly rsj provides a reflection on the launch of her new book, East Timor, René Girard and Neocolonial Violence: Scapegoating as Australian Policy published by Bloomsbury Academic.

The book was launched on 11 June at the Strathfield campus of the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and grew out of Sr Susan’s doctorate thesis completed at ACU’s faculty of theology and philosophy under the supervision of Dr Joel Hodge.

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