ANZAC Day 2021
My great grandfather Duncan was an ANZAC, served as a Sergeant-Major, and survived both World Wars. My aunty Sally fought leukemia and unfortunately did not survive, dying on ANZAC Day in 2002. On ANZAC Day I remember them both. When they went to fight their own wars they were in their twenties – like me.
Flora – A Woman of Faith
Flora MacKillop (née MacDonald) was born in The Ben Nevis (Hotel) in Fort William in the Scottish Highlands in 1816. At the time her father Donald was the proprietor. She was the only girl with two brothers, Alexander and Donald. The family migrated to Melbourne in 1840 with their mother Catherine, while their father came […]
A Fair Go
The Christian belief is that all people are equal in God’s sight. The Christian concept of love of neighbour is starkly different from the self-seeking competitiveness we often find in today’s world. Jesus identified with the poor and marginalised people, whereas current society often highlights the rich and powerful for adulation. Jesus advocated for a […]
2021 Easter Reflection from Sr Monica
May Easter be a bright and joyous day.Mary MacKillop 1.4.1906 Today we celebrate the great feast of the Resurrection in our Christian Tradition. Over these past few days, we have stood at the Cross with Mary and the other women in silence and disbelief at what has taken place. We have waited at the tomb […]
Josephite Light Shines on Peru Mission’s 40th Anniversary, Despite COVID-19
For four decades the Josephite mission in Peru has maintained the spirit of St Mary MacKillop through many hardships—all of them shared with the Peruvian people. The COVID-19 Pandemic is the latest challenge faced by the mission, which celebrated its 40th year on 1 April. Sister Clare Conaglen spent 16 years in the mission and […]
Feast of Saint Joseph 2021
Sr Monica’s video message. Feast of Saint Joseph (19 March) Be creatively courageous like Joseph.Pope Francis, Patris Corde, No. 5 On 8 December 1870, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church. Pope Pius IX was the Pope with whom Mary MacKillop met in Rome in 1873. On 8 […]
Reflection on Mary MacKillop
Reflecting on Mary MacKillop’s eventful life there is a realisation that she lived a type of nomadic existence. Her grounded spiritual approach to life enabled her to travel to establish new foundations and to meet the needs of the sisters and the needs of the times. Her journeys took her to many parts of the […]
St Joseph – Fr Julian’s Example and Guide
In his last circular to the Sisters of Saint Joseph two years before his death, Fr Julian Tenison Woods affectionately reminded the sisters about what was essential for their Josephite lives. Julian exhorts the sisters to follow the example of their patron, St Joseph. We are to try to teach [others] by the example of […]
Sisters of Saint Joseph Arrive in The Rocks
Sisters of Saint Joseph arrive in The Rocks area of Sydney, New South Wales On the evening of 6 March 1880, two Sisters of Saint Joseph arrived in Gloucester St, Sydney to take up residence in a small rented cottage to which they invited the needy of the Rocks area – women and children who […]
Build on a Strong Foundation
World Day of Prayer 2021 The movement of the World Day of Prayer can be traced back to the 19th century where women in the United States and Canada initiated a variety of cooperative activities. It is now an ecumenical global movement where all are asked to join in prayer and action for justice and […]
JJAMM 2021
JJAMM – Joseph, Julian and Mary MacKillop Every year, around this time, I sit down to write an article to share with our Josephite community, informing you all of our JJAMM gathering. Every year I struggle for a new angle, because, quite honestly, every year is the same – inspirational, rewarding and such a […]
Lent – A Time for Engaging with Difference to Make a Difference
Practise Deeper Listening to Bring About Change Ash Wednesday occurs on 17 February to begin the season of Lent in 2021. The ritual will be a little different this year. Due to the current global pandemic, the Vatican has advised there will be no marking of our foreheads with a cross of ashes. Instead, there […]