Our Volunteers Celebrate in Gratitude
November 19, 2019It has been a big year for JAG volunteers!
There have been pool parties for our Sudanese friends, picnics with our Iraqi families and a weekend away with the newly arrived refugee families to cultivate relationships and grow long-lasting friendships. Amidst all this activity some of our volunteers have had the Higher School Certificate (HSC) to contend with… and now that chapter is complete.
As a congratulations and in thanksgiving for all the goodness our volunteers share, we came together to pay tribute to our volunteer Year 12 students in prayer and party.
We gathered around Saint Mary MacKillop’s tomb to recall those times in the year where we felt we had made a difference. Then we prayed for the courage, wisdom and tenacity to continue to work with those in need. In the link provided below, you are invited to pray the prayer of gratitude that we used.
One hard-working young woman volunteer was acknowledged with a special justice award. Maddie Mactal has been an active member in her school justice cohort at Mount St Joseph, Milperra for many years and was an instigator in bringing new volunteers to JAG. Maddie’s humility, kindness, genuine love for her friends and her proactive drive to get the job done have been an inspiration to us all. It was an honour well deserved.
Afternoon tea was shared and we reflected on our work for 2019. In true Josephite fashion we looked to the future and planned for 2020 with great enthusiasm and optimism.
A huge thank you must go out to Sr Maria Sullivan and Sr Jan Barnett for their support, encouragement and creativity; to Mary MacKillop Today for their financial assistance and to our volunteers. If these young people are an indication of what we have to look forward to in future leaders and policy makers – we will all be just fine with them in charge.
God bless all.
Karen Oxley
Volunteers Co-ordinator
Josephite Justice Network
Prayer of Gratitude by Sr Joyce Rupp O.S.M.
Bridgeteers Build Prizewinning Bridge for the Aurecon Competition
November 18, 2019
Mount St. Joseph Girls’ College, Altona (MSJ) was lucky to be chosen to host the Victorian state finals of the Aurecon Bridge Building Competition this year.
Aurecon Bridge Building Competition offers secondary school students a ‘real-world’ experience of what they can look forward to as future engineering students and professionals. Students are given a set of specifications and they use them to build the strongest bridge possible. The College team that builds the strongest bridge that can sustain the greatest weight is named the winner.
Congratulations to the MSJ student team, Augustina Baw Baw, Tam Maryoe and Sarvleen Kaur who won first prize for the strongest bridge and $500 prize money for the College. This was an outstanding achievement considering the competition from 42 other Colleges from across the State. Thank you to their teacher, Thy Nguyen, who has supported the students throughout the competition and organised MSJ to be the host College.
We look forward to seeing what these three very talented potential engineers achieve in the future and life beyond MSJ.
In the students’ own words:
“On September 18, MSJ hosted the State Final of the Aurecon Bridge Building Competition, an engineering challenge for secondary schools across Australia and New Zealand. This year we were up against 42 other schools in Victoria. Augustina, Tam and I worked together to design a bridge using the materials provided, including balsa wood, string and glue. We named our team The Three Bridgeteers. After many practice runs, we designed a bridge which was made up of a lot of triangle trusses, which are very strong structures.
We named our construction the Royal Trust Bridge. It weighed less than 200 grams and held 85.6kg. Our team won first place for the strength award and collected $500 prize money for our College. We were very happy with our achievement which was a great improvement from last year when our bridge only held 44kg.
It was amazing how many different and unique designs schools came up with for their bridges. We are very inspired by this competition to follow a career in engineering. We enjoyed this experience and wish we could do it again. It was very rewarding and something that we will carry in our hearts for the rest of our lives.”
Augustina Baw Baw, Tam Maryoe and Sarvleen Kaur
Nicole McGee
Marketing & Communications Officer
Mount St Joseph’s Girls College
Altona, Victoria
30th Anniversary of the El Salvador Martyrs
November 16, 2019On 16 November marks the 30th anniversary of the deaths of the six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter in El Savador.
These two links will take you to prayerful reflection on the call to nonviolence:
‘El Salvador Reality Pends Justice Romance’ by Fr Andrew Hamilton (Eureka Street)
Thumbnail image: El Salvador Flag International obtained from Max Pixel. Used with permission.
International Day for Tolerance
Celebrating Diversity: International Tolerance Day 2019.
The International Day for Tolerance (16 November) is an annual observance day declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance. Observed on 16 November, the international community celebrates the day with activities that target both educational institutions and the general public.
The United Nations’ call is to strengthen tolerance by fostering mutual understanding among cultures and peoples. This imperative lies at the core of the United Nations Charter, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is more important than ever in this era of rising and violent extremism and widening conflicts that are characterized by a fundamental disregard for human life.
In her recent address to the women religious of the United States, Sr Pat Murray the executive director of UISG reflected:
We are living in extraordinary times. This is not just “an era of change but a change of eras.” We live in a globalized interconnected world where millions of people are on the move within and across continents, fleeing poverty, war and famine, seeking new opportunities in distant places, struggling to build new lives in unfamiliar cultures and contexts. Our world is marked by pluralism, growing differentiation and complexity.
This global trend with daily media features of heart-wrenching stories of refugees in distress and intense suffering are so confronting and often reminding us of the growing diversity and conflict in our own society. From the US-Mexican borders where thousands of people are reported to be dying due to draconian border policy, to Australia, where the indefinite detention of asylum seekers in Nauru and Manus Island has been cruel and inhumane.
Earlier this year in New Zealand, the March 15 Christchurch Mosques shootings are evidence of intolerance and extreme hatred towards Muslims who are seen as different. Beneath the surface, the victims at the Mosques are fathers, mothers, grandparents, daughters and sons. They are refugees, immigrants and New-Zealand born.
Refugees and asylum seekers need the “freedom to live their lives normally, just like you and me.” But they face many barriers, violence and human rights abuses while trying to find safety, and then face discrimination and hostility when they finally begin to rebuild their lives in another country.
During the Emmaus journey over the past two and a half years, Sr Lee Tan, the author of this article, has been fortunate to immerse in several ministries where she witnessed Josephite leadership working across differences to create space that is inclusive and welcoming to all.
Continue reading the article here (PDF)
Collage image obtained from the International Day for Tolerance website. Photo of people by Jens Johnsson obtained from Unsplash. Image of shaking hands by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay. All used with permission.
Birth of Fr Julian Edmund Tenison Woods 1832
November 15, 2019A child is born!
Autumn with its myriad colours of gold and red, could be seen in the countryside. And as the Woods family prepared for the cold of winter, another child was born into their family. Little did they realise that this child would leave England’s shores at the age of twenty-three, go to a far-off country where his scientific ability, his way with words, his artistry with the paint brush, his musical talent, and his deep faith would have a profound influence on his new country of adoption, Australia.
This son, Julian Edmund Tenison Woods, was the fifth surviving child born to James Dominik Woods and Henrietta Marie St Eloy Tenison on 15 November 1832, at West Square, Southwark, England. James was working away from England, for The Times, when Julian was born. This must have been an anxious time for Henrietta without her husband’s support, as they had already suffered the deaths of two children.
Those readers of The Times the day following Julian’s birth, would have seen the announcement of his birth.
Nearly three months later, on 1 February 1833, Julian was baptised by Fr John White, a missionary priest. The baptism may, or may not, have taken place in the family home, but the record of it can be seen in St George’s Cathedral, Southwark.
Julian’s older living siblings were Edward, James, Nicholas and Henrietta. Three more children would complete the family: Terence, John and Charles. (Three brothers died when young.)
Click here to continue reading
Remembrance Day
November 11, 2019Lest we Forget.
As we prepare to acknowledge the end of World War I at ‘the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month’ I would like to share with you a small part of my family’s involvement in this conflict.
Herbert Clarence Ronan, Service number 265, and Maurice James Ronan, Service Number 421, were my paternal grandmother’s two older brothers. Both were members of the 44th Battalion that was raised in Claremont, Western Australia in February 1916. It was part of the 11th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division and was known as ‘Old Bill’s Thousand’ after its first commanding Officer, William Mansbridge.
The Ronan brothers left for Britain in June of that same year, headed for Britain and eventually, in March 1917 for the front line in France. History recalls this battle as ‘one ill-fated effort involving almost half the Battalion on 13 March 1917’. Elsewhere it is recorded that by October 1917‘ of the 992 men from the battalion only 158 had emerged unwounded’. By the end of the war only 80 men from the 44th Battalion had survived.
Among the 844 men who did not survive were my Great Uncles ‘Bert and Maurice. Maurice at the age of 20 years passed away on 14 March 1917, one day into battle, and ‘Bert did so on 4 April 1917 in the same battle. My grandmother had lost her two brothers within 21 days!!
While studying in Belgium I was able to visit some of the many Cemeteries where our Australian Soldiers now rest – Ypres and the Menon Gate that has the names of over 15,000 fallen, and Flanders Field. The War Graves in each place were beautifully kept and at the entries to the grave yards there are plans of their layouts and lists of all those buried there.
During term break I made a pilgrimage to France to visit where my Great Uncles had fought and try to find their graves. My first stop was in the small town of Boulogne where I knew Uncle Bert was buried. It was a cold windy autumn day with the streets were ankle deep in autumn colours. Not speaking French was a difficulty but from visiting war graves in Belgium I knew the best thing to do was to find the Information Bureau and show them my Australian Passport and that they would then welcome me and know that I was there to find a loved one. With map in hand (all in French!) I set out on a short winding road to the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery intending to stand at the foot of my Uncle’s grave – the first relative to visit for 83 years.
As I stood there, I thought of my great grandparents, my grandmother and her two sisters and younger brother, my father and his brother who never met their uncle and the two generations that have followed them.
Leaving Boulogne which is on the coast bordering the English Channel I headed back towards Lille and on to Armentieres, the closest station to the Cite Bonjean mil Cemetery. Repeating the procedure that I had followed in Boulogne I set out map in hand – still all in French – for a small hike to the cemetery and easily located Uncle Maurice’s grave, thanks to the reverence with which the locals care for the fallen. How I wished that my Grandmother was still alive to know that ‘the boys’ had been visited!
Kathleen Hitchcock rsj
History Source: Australian War Memorial
Picture original Linzi Carter. Used with permission.
Year of Indigenous Languages: Chinese and Nepalese
November 8, 2019The United Nations has declared 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. To celebrate, for each month this year, you’re invited to view greetings for different languages.
For November we feature the languages Chinese and Nepalese:
Chinese
2015年教宗方济各在关于守护受造界的《愿祢受赞颂》通谕中写道，“文化的消失与动植物物种的消失相比同样严重，甚至于更严重”。“由此看来，必须特别照顾和保护原住民团体及其文化传统”（参阅：145-146节）。
土著语言也向人类敞开了一扇神奇的大门，让我们得以一窥祖先在农业、生物、天文、医学和气象学等领域的知识和经验。
祝愿今年土著语言国际年作为一个转折点让我们把本土语言保护传承下去。
Pope Francis addressed in the Encyclical Laudato Si that the disappearance of a culture can be just as serious, or even more serious, than the disappearance of a species of plant or animal. In this sense, it is essential to show special care for indigenous communities and their cultural traditions. (Referring to Chapter 145 and 146)
Indigenous languages specifically are doors to invaluable knowledge and ancestral practices on agriculture, biology, astronomy, medicine, meteorology and much more.
We pray the year of 2019 is a turning point in our collective determination to save indigenous languages.
Nepalese
परमेश्वर सृष्टिकर्ता आत्मा, हामीसँग हिंड्नुहोस् र हामीलाई जीवनको लागि खडा रहन शक्ति दिनुहोस्, विनाश र पृथ्वीको लोभको सामना गर्नुपर्दा।
हामीलाई हाम्रो भूमि र पानीले प्रदान गर्ने सबैको लागि आदर र अनुकम्पा हुन सिकाउनुहोस्।
God Creator Spirit, walk with us and give us the strength to stand for life, in the face of destruction and greed of the Earth.
Teach us to be respectful and gracious for all that our land and waters provide.
Three people walking towards red photo by Chastagner Thierry on Unsplash. Nepal Children Boys Begging Native Dress Standing obtained on Max Pixel. Both images used with permission.
A Day in the Life: Josephite Justice Network & Josephite Action Group
No Two Days the Same.
I love being part of the Josephite Justice Network (JJN) and the young Josephite Action Group (JAG). This love was nurtured from childhood. My father particularly embodied for me what it meant to fight for those pushed to the edges. As well, my Josephite education taught me to see needs and do something about them, and my Josephite life has given me opportunities that otherwise I might never have had.
It is a truism to say that no two days are the same in justice work. JJN has been most closely involved in recent months in the climate crisis, the Uluru Statement from the Heart, asylum seekers and refugee issues, affordable housing and the accelerating gap between rich and poor. The great joy of being part of the Network is the fact that all of us have passion for justice across all these areas, but that different members focus on particular issues and call on the rest of us when necessary to join with them on a particular concern.
In our morning prayer today, the psalmist assured us that “the God of truth and justice fills the earth with love”. A great reminder! At our last JJN meeting we shared our belief about the importance both of speaking the truth – in love – and giving hope. It is this that motivates and reassures me as we take action in the many ways, we have done this year.
- Josephites supported the climate strike in correspondence and media statements. Across Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, Josephites participated in the huge rallies that drew such world attention (although they resulted in no action from the Australian Government, despite condemnation from the United Nations and international environmental bodies).
We have worked with refugee families, providing support and welcome (such as picnics and a week-end away), and advocating with them for their rights.- Right around Australia, Josephites have written to their local members and senators to ask why we will not accept New Zealand’s offer to take the refugees from Papua New Zealand and Nauru.
- We are supporting the Uluru statement from the Heart, both on the ground and politically.
- We have been part of the Sydney Alliance advocacy, urging governments to introduce legislation that will provide affordable housing.
- We are actively involved in the Bernard Collaery and ‘Witness K’ case (I’m sure you were in admiration of Susan Connelly’s advocacy on 4 Corners).
- We advocate constantly with Aboriginal custodians and other South Australians for a decision that will refuse to allow a nuclear waste dump in that state.
We struggle as you’d know, realising that in the current political climate, it’s almost impossible to make gains. Meetings, phone calls, letters and visits to politicians, submissions to Government, achieve little more than polite or not so polite rejoinders (mind you, the politician who wrote, ’you stick to your business of saving souls and let us focus on saving the country!” did amaze me).
I was asked last week by one of the young people with whom we work why we persist when so little progress seems to happen.
And of course, it’s because I’m continually inspired and challenged by the people with whom I serve each day, including the young woman who asked me this question. It’s also because I can do no other. Belonging the group founded by that woman whose motto was “never see a need …” and continually inspired by those who journey in her footsteps, it’s impossible to do otherwise. Ultimately, I believe strongly in the force for good that the Josephite life can be, and I’ve been enormously blessed in the opportunities I’ve been given to share in it.
Jan Barnett rsj
Images provided by Jan Barnett. Used with permission.