February Prayer Intention: Religious Sisters and Consecrated Women
February 23, 2022
Each month, Pope Francis asks for our prayers for a specific intention. For February, the prayer intention is for Religious Sisters and Consecrated Women.
Pope Francis reminds us we are on a Synodal journey with the universal Church in communion, participation and mission, and that we are to do our part. (Letter to all Consecrated Persons, 25 January 2022).
Nourishing the Spirit
February 8, 2022
The Sisters of Saint Joseph’s Living Contemplatively: Retreats, Sabbaticals, Programs and other opportunities for nourishing the spiritual brochure for 2022 is now available.
Mary MacKillop’s Experience with Illness
Recently I have heard our culture described as being ‘crippled with emotion and needing intensive care for hope’. There are many types of illness including, physical, emotional and psychological, pervading the environs that we mix in.
Rejoicing in the changes we see, but longing for more
National Apology to the Stolen Generations – 13 February
The shifts in attitude to our ‘National Day’ (26 January) were plain to see this year, as we watched the hugely diverse crowds in largely peaceful protest marches across the land (despite Covid) and listened to the reflections of Australians of all ages and nationalities. They reminded us yet again of what is truly of the essence of who we are and who we are called to be as a nation.
World Day of Prayer for the Sick Reflection
Have you ever been hospitalised because of illness or a need for surgery? Such an experience can be overwhelming. Suddenly you’ve lost all control of your identity, free movement, decision making, privacy and body. For most of us, this experience is temporary but for many people it becomes a permanent reality.
World Day for Consecrated Life 2022
February 3, 2022On 2 February every year the Catholic church celebrates World Day for Consecrated Life. It is a day for Women and Men Religious to celebrate the gift that is theirs for the church and the world. This year Pope Francis focussed on the scene in the gospel of Luke 2:22-38 with Anna and Simeon in the temple and asked three important questions:
- What moves us? Simeon goes to the Temple, ‘moved by the spirit’ v 27
- What do our eyes see? Simeon moved by the Spirit sees and recognises Christ. And he prays, saying: “My eyes have seen your salvation” v 30
- What do we take into our own arms? Simeon took Jesus into his arms v 28
Sr Susan Pollard awarded Order of Australia Medal
January 27, 2022
Sr Susan Pollard of the Sisters of Saint Joseph awarded Order of Australia Medal in Australia Day Honours.
The Sisters of Saint Joseph are delighted to announce that Sr Susan Pollard rsj has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours 2022 for service to the Catholic Church of Australia.
Based in Adelaide, Sr Susan worked in education as a primary school teacher, deputy principal and principal in schools across South Australia and New South Wales for many years. She has a Ph.D. in Psychoanalysis, a Masters in Education and Arts degree in Italian, and is also a registered Clinical Psychologist currently in private practice.
Australia Day 2022
January 25, 2022
Australia Day is a time for all Australians to reflect deeply on what it means to be Australian. It is a time to Reflect, Respect and Celebrate the best of what being it means to live in this unique land that many have come to call home.
As we ponder all that this day holds for us, we acknowledge and respect the First Peoples of our Country, our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We know that this day holds pain for them in the realisation that it marks invasion day for them. It calls us to embrace in a deeper way the journey towards reconciliation and to support the initiatives enshrined in the Uluru Statement of the Heart.