Prayers in honour of Our Lady, Help of Christians
Awakened by the Spirit – Pentecost
Julian’s Day 2021: Let’s learn to live in harmony with nature!
To celebrate the 7 October anniversary of the death of Fr Julian Tenison Woods, co-founder of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, this year we have done something special. Fr Julian was a man of many talents: an environmentalist, scientist, priest, explorer, campaigner for social justice and the rights of Indigenous people, among many others. To […]
Plenary Council 2021: The Josephite Contribution
Update 14 October 2021: Sr Monica Cavanagh reflects on the themes and achievements of the first Assembly. Sr Monica Cavanagh on the First Assembly Dear Friends, The long-awaited first session of Australia’s Fifth Plenary Council begins this Sunday, 3 October. After a long process of discernment and hard work, hundreds of delegates will gather to […]
Plenary Council 2021: Mary MacKillop Inspires Us To Be A Heart-Centred Church
On 5 August, 45 leaders of religious congregations were formally commissioned as members of the Plenary Council in a virtual ritual prepared by Catholic Religious Australia. As the Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, I am a member participating in the formal sessions of the Plenary Council. I am looking forward to this […]
Plenary Council 2021: An Opportunity For An Inclusive Church
In my role as a member of the Plenary Council Facilitation Team, with Lana Turvey-Collins, Peter Gates, and Olivia Lee, there still seems to be countless matters to attend to in these final days of preparation before the first session of the Plenary on 3 October. Every Tuesday evening for the last six weeks the […]
Dignity, Service, Synodality: The Plenary Council’s Josephite Values
The Plenary Council is a wonderful opportunity for the Catholic Church in Australia to renew ourselves and face up to our current reality. I became involved with the Plenary Council in January this year when I was asked to assume the role of Liaison Officer for the Plenary Council Working Group for the Archdiocese of […]
Plenary Council 2021: A View From The Grassroots
Sr Chris Schwerdt gives an insight into the Plenary process at the local level after attending the Adelaide Diocesan Assembly, held over 17 and 18 September. The Adelaide Diocesan Assembly was a very hopeful and enriching experience, involving more than 400 people, including seven Josephites and two Covenant Josephites. Parish representatives, migrant communities, schools, clergy, […]