Sunday, November 23, 2008
THANK YOU to the Sisters of Saint Joseph Provincial Team
A BIG THANK YOU to the Sisters of Saint Joseph Provincial Team for hosting a wonderful evening of appreciation at the Kedron Wavell Services Club. We all thank you for your gift of hospitality and friendship and look forward to seeing you all again soon to celebrate 2009 - the anniversary of the death of Blessed Mary MacKillop.
A big EXTRA thanks for the laughs!
Mary MacKillop walk - Portland, Victoria
From Melbourne Age
The Mary MacKillop Walk takes in buildings and sites which were in existence during Mary MacKillop's stay at Portland from 1862 to 1866.
Walk north along Bentinck St. Halfway along the block, to the left, is the Christian Community College. It has been built around, and completely incorporates, a 6-room stone-and-iron house built for Stephen Henty in 1851. Mary MacKillop rented that house (then known as 'Bay View') from 1863 to 1866 and there reunited her scattered family. She established her first school on this property. When Father Woods visited the MacKillops he stayed in the stables and these remain. When Mary first moved to Portland she lived with the Cameron family as a governess a little further north along Bentinck St.
The Mary MacKillop Walk takes in buildings and sites which were in existence during Mary MacKillop's stay at Portland from 1862 to 1866.
Walk north along Bentinck St. Halfway along the block, to the left, is the Christian Community College. It has been built around, and completely incorporates, a 6-room stone-and-iron house built for Stephen Henty in 1851. Mary MacKillop rented that house (then known as 'Bay View') from 1863 to 1866 and there reunited her scattered family. She established her first school on this property. When Father Woods visited the MacKillops he stayed in the stables and these remain. When Mary first moved to Portland she lived with the Cameron family as a governess a little further north along Bentinck St.
Sculpture of Blessed Mary MacKillop
(Photo: Annette Arnold)
From Catholic Weekly
The Archbishop of Sydney George Cardinal Pell has unveiled and blessed a sculpture of Blessed Mary MacKillop at the Australian Catholic University’s North Sydney (MacKillop) campus.
ACU National vice chancellor Professor Greg Craven commissioned the sculpture by artist Linda Klarfeld to celebrate the university’s history and ongoing affiliation with Australia’s first saint.
“It is a beautiful work and I am sure it will provide a wonderful symbol to our university community, visitors to the campus and the local community,” Prof Craven said.
Ms Klarfeld, whose sculptures are highly regarded and sought after by collectors, described Mary MacKillop as “an incredible woman” who “dared to believe in her dream”.
“That’s why I feel quite a strong connection with her,” Ms Klarfeld said. “In fact, when I was approached to make this statue, I was extremely grateful but I wasn’t surprised. I feel I was destined to make it.”
Mary MacKillop was a woman of absolute faith, commitment and dedication who devoted herself to the quest for human dignity and compassionate care for those in need.
She founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph in South Australia in 1866 and moved to a cottage in Mount St, North Sydney, in the 1880s.
In 1913, the Sisters established a training school at North Sydney for the teacher training of the Sisters of St Joseph. In 1958, lay students were admitted to the college which in 1971 became the Catholic Teachers’ College. In 1982, it became part of the Catholic College of Education.
It was at this stage that the name MacKillop was given to the campus to identify it as a discrete part of the college and to recognise the ongoing support of the Sisters of St Joseph.
At the end of 1990, the Catholic College of Education Sydney formally handed over responsibility for the college and its operations, which now rests with ACU National.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Update on Canonisation of Blessed Mary MacKillop
In April 2008 a case involving a remarkable cure through the intercession of Blessed Mary MacKillop was examined at the diocesan level in a formal canonical inquiry. The proceedings of the inquiry were taken to Rome to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints for the examination that is required at this level. The documents were formally received and opened before any study could proceed.
In June Fr. Paul Gardiner SJ, the Postulator for the Cause, and myself as vice-postulator, came to Rome to be available for on-the-spot discussions and decisions as the Roman phase of the process continues.
All the proceedings needed to be summarised in a particular format and then translated into Italian. This part has been completed with the help of some wonderful translators. The material is now with the printer to be arranged with the English in parallel with the Italian. When all is checked and correct the printed copies will be sent to two doctors for examination.
If one of these doctors sees merit in the case, the official summary and a chronology of the main events in the history of the cure will be sent to a panel of five doctors from the medica consulta. If these find positively it will go to a panel of theologians and then to the Cardinals and, finally, to the Holy Father.
Please pray that there will be no stumbling blocks along the way. It would be a marvellous outcome if the cure is declared miraculous and Mary MacKillop can be recognised as a Saint for the universal Church. It will not add to her holiness but her life will be able to be a further sign of hope to many more people who need such a sign in these days.
There is great media interest in Mary MacKillop as the Holy Father gets ready for his visit to Sydney for World Youth Day.
Last Thursday, 3rd July, a producer, cameraman and sound recordist – working for ABC television - spent 6 hours with us getting material on the cure and Mary MacKillop for the 7.30 Report. Another team had visited Mary MacKillop Place on Wednesday. The programme will go to air on July 17, the day the Pope visits the Chapel.
A reporter from SBS is coming on Tuesday 8th. He will travel with the Holy Father and about 50 other journalists to Sydney. On Wednesday, 9th, there is an interview with Vatican Radio. On Thursday night there is a briefing of the world media persons who are to travel in the plane with the Holy Father.
All the media interest will certainly make Mary more known throughout the world.
Maria Casey
7/07/08
In June Fr. Paul Gardiner SJ, the Postulator for the Cause, and myself as vice-postulator, came to Rome to be available for on-the-spot discussions and decisions as the Roman phase of the process continues.
All the proceedings needed to be summarised in a particular format and then translated into Italian. This part has been completed with the help of some wonderful translators. The material is now with the printer to be arranged with the English in parallel with the Italian. When all is checked and correct the printed copies will be sent to two doctors for examination.
If one of these doctors sees merit in the case, the official summary and a chronology of the main events in the history of the cure will be sent to a panel of five doctors from the medica consulta. If these find positively it will go to a panel of theologians and then to the Cardinals and, finally, to the Holy Father.
Please pray that there will be no stumbling blocks along the way. It would be a marvellous outcome if the cure is declared miraculous and Mary MacKillop can be recognised as a Saint for the universal Church. It will not add to her holiness but her life will be able to be a further sign of hope to many more people who need such a sign in these days.
There is great media interest in Mary MacKillop as the Holy Father gets ready for his visit to Sydney for World Youth Day.
Last Thursday, 3rd July, a producer, cameraman and sound recordist – working for ABC television - spent 6 hours with us getting material on the cure and Mary MacKillop for the 7.30 Report. Another team had visited Mary MacKillop Place on Wednesday. The programme will go to air on July 17, the day the Pope visits the Chapel.
A reporter from SBS is coming on Tuesday 8th. He will travel with the Holy Father and about 50 other journalists to Sydney. On Wednesday, 9th, there is an interview with Vatican Radio. On Thursday night there is a briefing of the world media persons who are to travel in the plane with the Holy Father.
All the media interest will certainly make Mary more known throughout the world.
Maria Casey
7/07/08
Conference of Josephite Leaders
L to R Jill Dance, Moya Campbell, Marion Gambin, Noelene Quinane, Mary Quinlan, Mary Comer, Marlene Dunn, Josephine Dubiel, Pauline Morgan, Colleen Keeble, Anne Derwin and Patricia Egan.
Tuesday 21st October was an historic day for the Sisters of St Joseph of Australia and New Zealand. The inaugural meeting of the Conference of Josephite Leaders was held at Mary MacKillop Place North Sydney.
The Vision of the Conference:
Strengthening the bonds for Mission
Acting as one for today’s Church and World
The members of the Conference are Sisters Mary Comer (Perthville) Noelene Quinane (Goulburn) Jill Dance ( Tasmania) Patricia Egan (Lochinvar) Marlene Dunn (Whanganui) Anne Derwin (North Sydney) Pauline Morgan (Western Australian Province) Colleen Keeble (Aotearoa New Zealand Province) Mary Quinlan (NSW Province) Marion Gambin (South Australian Province) Moya Campbell (Queensland Province) and Josephine Dubiel (Victorian Province)
The Sisters of St Joseph have been engaged in the healing of the separation of their history for many years. They have done this in a variety of ways, some social, some liturgical and some in the nature of pilgrimage to each other’s stories. More recent happenings include Retreats for Josephites offered across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, a combined website www.josephite.org.au, joint activities around WYD and the Josephite Leaders Social Action Office operating out Canberra.
Tuesday’s inaugural meeting of the leaders of the six congregations has paved the way for decisions to be made together for Josephite mission. The six congregations have served the people and the local Church of Australia and New Zealand, especially in rural areas and poorer parts of cities since the foundation made by Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods in Penola in 1866.
22nd October 2008
Sr Jill Dance
President of the Federation of Sisters of St Joseph
Sr Anne Derwin
Congregational Leader of the Sisters of St Joseph
On behalf of the Conference
Sunday, October 12, 2008
First Indian Saint
From SMH
Pope Benedict XVI has celebrated a mass to canonise India's first saint, Sister Alfonsa, who died in 1946 aged 36.
The ceremony took place in the Vatican in the presence of tens of thousands of worshippers from all over the world.
Recalling in his homily the life of the new saint, who threw herself on a bonfire to escape a forced marriage so she could enter a convent, the pope said she had been "an exceptional woman, who is offered to the people of India as their first canonised saint".
Her feet were badly burned and she was ill for the rest of her life but praised for her compassion and stoicism.
She had lived in "extreme physical and spiritual suffering", the pope said.
She "was convinced that her cross was the very means of reaching the heavenly banquet prepared for her by the Father.
"May we imitate her in shouldering our own crosses so as to join her one day in paradise."
"This canonisation is very important to us, especially in this moment, when we are persecuted in India," said Sister Ceelia, a member of the same Franciscan Clarist order as the new saint, who was born Anna Muttathupandathu, known as Alfonsa dell'Immacolata Concezione.
The order was founded in the southwestern region of Kerala in 1888.
"Unfortunately, there is always violence where there is love," the sister added.
Sister Ceelia was one of thousands of Indians, many of them priests and nuns, who had come to Rome from the region of Trivandrum, capital of Kerala.
India's Christian minority, making up little more than two per cent of the population, has felt particularly threatened in recent months.
Attacks by Hindu extremists on Christians in the eastern Indian state of Orissa have left 35 people dead since August.
Tens of thousands have fled and hundred of houses and dozens of churches been burned down. Benedict XVI has condemned the violence.
Others to be canonised included the Ecuadorian Narcisa de Jesus Martillo Moran (1832-1869), Swiss nun Maria Bernarda Buetler (1848-1924), a missionary in Colombia and Italian Gaetano Errico (1791-1860) from Secondigliano, in the Naples region.
Official site
Her canonization will make Blessed Alphonsa the second Indian to proclaimed a Saint, the first being Gonsalo Garcia of Bombay who was matryred by crucifixion on 5 February 1597 at Nagasaki, Japan and canonized by Pope Pius IX on 8 June 1862.
Pope Benedict XVI has celebrated a mass to canonise India's first saint, Sister Alfonsa, who died in 1946 aged 36.
The ceremony took place in the Vatican in the presence of tens of thousands of worshippers from all over the world.
Recalling in his homily the life of the new saint, who threw herself on a bonfire to escape a forced marriage so she could enter a convent, the pope said she had been "an exceptional woman, who is offered to the people of India as their first canonised saint".
Her feet were badly burned and she was ill for the rest of her life but praised for her compassion and stoicism.
She had lived in "extreme physical and spiritual suffering", the pope said.
She "was convinced that her cross was the very means of reaching the heavenly banquet prepared for her by the Father.
"May we imitate her in shouldering our own crosses so as to join her one day in paradise."
"This canonisation is very important to us, especially in this moment, when we are persecuted in India," said Sister Ceelia, a member of the same Franciscan Clarist order as the new saint, who was born Anna Muttathupandathu, known as Alfonsa dell'Immacolata Concezione.
The order was founded in the southwestern region of Kerala in 1888.
"Unfortunately, there is always violence where there is love," the sister added.
Sister Ceelia was one of thousands of Indians, many of them priests and nuns, who had come to Rome from the region of Trivandrum, capital of Kerala.
India's Christian minority, making up little more than two per cent of the population, has felt particularly threatened in recent months.
Attacks by Hindu extremists on Christians in the eastern Indian state of Orissa have left 35 people dead since August.
Tens of thousands have fled and hundred of houses and dozens of churches been burned down. Benedict XVI has condemned the violence.
Others to be canonised included the Ecuadorian Narcisa de Jesus Martillo Moran (1832-1869), Swiss nun Maria Bernarda Buetler (1848-1924), a missionary in Colombia and Italian Gaetano Errico (1791-1860) from Secondigliano, in the Naples region.
Official site
Her canonization will make Blessed Alphonsa the second Indian to proclaimed a Saint, the first being Gonsalo Garcia of Bombay who was matryred by crucifixion on 5 February 1597 at Nagasaki, Japan and canonized by Pope Pius IX on 8 June 1862.
Monday, September 15, 2008
JAN Update
Soiree
A most enjoyable musical evening was held at the Corpus Christi College Cultural Centre on Saturday 30 August. Performers included renowned pianist Rita Miles, soprano Ireni Utterley, and three excellent musical groups from Corpus Christi College – eCCCo’s, the Year 8 choir and the Madrigal choir.
The evening was compered by Poppy Masselos, JAN Committee member and editor of the Courier Mail Education Section “Headst@rt”
A delicious supper was provided by the students from Marist College, Ashgrove under the direction of Hospitality Teacher Gary Keown.
Several raffles were held during the evening together with a lucky door prize of a beautiful flower arrangement donated by Ed & Lyn Lowe of Albany Creek Florists.
Dates to Remember
19th October 2008 - Sunday - Josephite Heart Day @ 11am -2pm with Shared lunch. Venue - MacKwood Life, 8 Dutton St., Dutton Park. This is open to all JAN Qld Inc members and prospective members.
15th November 2008 – Saturday – Prayer Day with Margaret Robertson rsj. “Praying to and with the Saints”. Venue St Brendan’s Catholic Parish Hall, 88 Hamilton Rd, Moorooka.
16th November 2008 - Sunday – JAN Qld Inc AGM @ 11am with shared lunch. Venue - MacKwood Life, 8 Dutton St., Dutton Park.
Silver Circle Results
The Week 10 draw of our Silver Circle Series 002 was held on Saturday 30 August in conjunction with our Soiree evening.
The winners were:
1st prize - $300 - No 05 – Shirley O’Ryan
2nd prize - $200 - No 95 – Pam Levers
3rd prize - $100 - No 82 – Sr Ann Fleming
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Congratulations Anne
Congratulations to Anne Bond rsj who has just finished her doctorate in the States. Anne will soon be returning as Director of Baulkham Hills.
Some links that might interest you.
St. Joseph's Spirituality Centre Baulkham Hills
St Joseph's Spirituality and Education Centre Kincumber
Mary MacKillop Foundation
Mary MacKillop Place
World Youth Day
Josephite Dreaming CD
Sunday, May 25, 2008
JAN Fundraising - Silver Circle
The Week 10 draw of our Silver Circle Series 001 was held on Saturday, 24 May in conjunction with an enjoyable wine and cheese afternoon attended by about 15 people.
The winners were:
1st prize - $300 - No 13 - K.Mulcahy
2nd prize - $200 - No 32 - L.Schell
3rd prize - $100 - No 36 - D. Hector
If any members wish to subscribe to Series 002, which we hope to get under way in mid-June, please contact me by return email. Depending on how may current subscribers renew, we may have only a limited number of places available. If you have been a subscriber to Series 001 and wish to renew, please contact Brian Sullivan. The cost is $20 for the 10 weeks. Please make cheques or money orders payable to JAN Qld Inc and send them to our mailing address at P O Box 59, Moorooka, Qld, 4105.
The winners were:
1st prize - $300 - No 13 - K.Mulcahy
2nd prize - $200 - No 32 - L.Schell
3rd prize - $100 - No 36 - D. Hector
If any members wish to subscribe to Series 002, which we hope to get under way in mid-June, please contact me by return email. Depending on how may current subscribers renew, we may have only a limited number of places available. If you have been a subscriber to Series 001 and wish to renew, please contact Brian Sullivan. The cost is $20 for the 10 weeks. Please make cheques or money orders payable to JAN Qld Inc and send them to our mailing address at P O Box 59, Moorooka, Qld, 4105.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Youngest Professed Nun in Australia
Photo by Ben Ruston
From Sydney Morning Herald
Andrew West
May 24, 2008
ANNE-MARIE GALLAGHER was in her final year at Domremy College in Sydney's inner west when the assistant principal suggested, "you would make a good nun".
"I just laughed it off," she said. "I thought of myself as a normal teenager and, like most of my peers, [at one stage] I even questioned my faith. I just thought it was normal."
Tomorrow, however, Sister Gallagher will do something rare for a 24-year-old woman, when she takes her vows as a Josephite nun in the Mary MacKillop Chapel in North Sydney.
She has been a novice for two years and can already be called "Sister" but after tomorrow's ceremony the letters "RSJ", or Religious Sisters of St Joseph, will be added after her name.
Sister Sheila McCreanor, a Josephite leader, believes Sister Gallagher will become the youngest professed nun in Australia. "It is more common for women to enter the order in their 30s, 40s or even 50s," she said. "But someone of Anne-Marie's age is very unusual, and very exciting, for us." The average age of her fellow sisters was in the 60s.
Sister Gallagher' religious community is almost 150 years old, founded in 1866 by MacKillop, but she found her vocation on the internet.
While studying education and theology at Australian Catholic University as a 19-year-old, she came across the website for Catholic Vocations Ministry Australia. "I couldn't believe that I was [looking] there," she laughed. "Me, of all people. But for a while this feeling of being unsettled had niggled at me.
"I had dated some guys but something else, involving a deeper commitment to God, was demanding my attention."
For five years, as an "enquirer", then in the novitiate, she lived in a Kimberley Aboriginal community where her late father was a lay missionary, and worked with the aged. She wants to teach.
Professor Neil Ormerod, a theologian at Australian Catholic University, said that after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, Catholics asked, "what can I do in religious life that I can't do as a layperson?"
Now, older women entered orders. "It is part of re-evaluating their own spiritual direction," he said. "That's what makes Anne-Marie's case quite unusual."
But Sister Gallagher insists tomorrow's commitment, a "vow to God, chastity, poverty and obedience", will not mean a cloistered life. "I still call myself a social butterfly," she laughed
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Dates to remember
24th May 2008 - Saturday @ 2pm - Wine and Cheese for the public draw on the 10th week of the Silver Circle fundraiser Venue - MacKwood Life, 8 Dutton St, Dutton Park
30th August 2008 - Saturday 7pm -9pm - Soiree Venue - Corpis Christi Auditorium, Nundah
19th October 2008 - Sunday - Josephite Heart Day @ 11am -3pm with Shared lunch Venue - MacKwood Life, 8 Dutton St., Dutton Park
16th November 2008 - Sunday - JANQld Inc AGM @ 11am with Shared Lunch Venue - MacKwood Life, 8 Dutton St., Dutton Park
MacKwood Retreat - invitation extended to JAN members on Friday 4th,[ @ 4pm] 5th & 6th April 2008 @ Mary Haven, Scarborough - finishes at lunch time Sunday
MacKwood Prayer Dates - Sunday 25th May 2008 @ 4pm with Shared meal - Sunday 20th July 2008 @ 4pm with Shared meal - Sunday 26th October 2008 @ 4pm 'Break-up' with shared dinner
Contact details phone Faye Walsh - 38630447
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Stations of the Cross by Helen Barnes
Sr Helen Barnes is the author of a book and original painted illustrations which depict the 'stations' of the people of our land who share in the sufferings of Jesus.The Cross: An Australian Journey, hopes to “challenge us to find evidence of the risen Christ in the events and people we meet, and in our inner being where the touch of the spirit may be barely visible” and “brings to mind for our meditation, the sufferings of those living in the Australian environment.”
Exhibit and book - MacKillop Place
Josephites celebrate National Apology
Josephites around Australia celebrated the National Apology to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Historic Day
Kevin Rudd 13/2/2008"Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and
governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these
our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their
descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the
breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a
proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be
received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the
nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of
our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to
a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must
never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous
and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life
expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring
problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal
partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the
next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia."
Paul Keating:
"A country has always got to look for its golden threads and when we start looking for the black threads you lose your way," he said. "We lost our way for a decade looking for black threads. What is important is that when policy cut across the human spirit we are always in for misery and as a consequence the stolen generation was a cut right across the spirit of those people and the soul of the country."
Formation Day and 2008 JAN Team
Margaret McKenna RSJ and JAN President, Faye Walsh
JAN Chaplin, Father John Scarrott with Eileen Armstrong receiving membership kit
Fr. John Scarrott presenting membership kit to Joan Mason
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Poppy Masselos
Cheryl Blair
Margaret Tainen
Mary Fletcher
Joan Mason
Guido de Glas
Sr. Margaret Robertson (PLT Representative)
Fr John Scarrott (Chaplain)
COMMITTEE MEMBERSPoppy Masselos
Cheryl Blair
Margaret Tainen
Mary Fletcher
Joan Mason
Guido de Glas
Sr. Margaret Robertson (PLT Representative)
Fr John Scarrott (Chaplain)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT Faye Walsh
VICE PRESIDENT Kathryn Downing
SECRETARY Shirley O’Ryan
TREASURER Brian Sullivan
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
President's Report
AGM – Committee of Management Report
The past year has been exciting and fruitful for JAN Qld Inc. It has been a period of growth, of learning, and of achievements. Major highlights have been completion of our Strategic Plan, signing the Memorandum of Understanding with the Qld Province of the Sisters of St Joseph and some successful fundraising ventures.
Following on from our Incorporation, we have obtained an Australian Business Number. We now need to follow up this process to register as a Charitable Organisation for taxation purposes.
From a spiritual perspective, a meeting was held with Canon Lawyers Fr Frank Morrissey from Canada and Sr Mary Casey to discuss the process required for Canonical recognition from the Church by becoming a Private Juridic Person.
After much discussion, many letters and a meeting with Sr Margaret Robertson and the Qld Province solicitors, the Memorandum of Understanding between JAN Qld Inc and the Qld Province of the Sisters of St Joseph was signed on Mary MacKillop Day this year. This was a significant milestone and the MoU has been well received and acknowledged by other members of the Josephite Congregation throughout Australia.
With the help or our mentor Janet Hughes, our Strategic Plan has been completed. This is a “living” document which will need to be updated every couple of years. With the assistance of Sr Moya Campbell, work has commenced on development of our policies. To fit in with the Memorandum of Understanding, these are being done in a format similar to that used by the Qld Province.
With the help of a grant of $5000 from CLRIQ, development of our long awaited Spiritual Companioning Program has commenced and a framework has been developed. Following issues with copyright, it has been decided that we will continue to develop this program “in house.”
There has been a steady growth in membership over the past year with the acceptance of 17 new members. Our membership now stands at 33, with 14 Life Members, 17 Ordinary Members and 2 Organisational members. A promotional tour to Millmerran was undertaken last November by Guido DeGlas and Eileen Armstrong and another is planned for early next year.
In August, along with other Josephite Associates and Friends of the Sisters, we were invited to a morning of facilitated conversation with the Sisters of St Joseph as part of their Provincial Chapter. This gave both us and the sisters the opportunity to exchange views and ideas and for us to promote JAN Qld Inc. It was a most informative and successful session.
Throughout the year we have held a number of successful fundraising events. The major purpose of these is to ensure that we have the funds to cover our annual Insurance costs, which are currently around $4000 per year. We have also been blessed with a number of generous donations to assist with these costs.
At one of our Strategic Planning sessions last year, one of the participants used the phrase “With a Josephite Heart”. By that evening, Mary Fletcher had written a song with that title and put it to music. This culminated in the production of 500 CDs of which over 300 have been sold or otherwise distributed. Our sincere thanks to Mary for generously donating this work to JAN for our fundraising
In July we held a very successful Soiree featuring Mary’s mother, Rita Miles, the eCCCo’s from Corpus Christi College and other artists. This raised over $900 and the feedback received about the evening was such that we will probably hold another one next year
At the Soiree, we launched our Art Union. Books of tickets were sent to all members and the response has been most pleasing. The Art Union will be drawn today and is expected to raise about $1300. Our next fundraising venture, the brainchild of Guido, is a Silver Circle which is run over a 10 week period. If we can run 4 of these per year, the funds generated will pay for most of our Insurance costs
Also being launched today is our booklet “In the Spirit of Mary MacKillop” which has been developed by Guido DeGlas, Eileen Armstrong, Sr Therese Wilson and Sr Joan Finucane. Thank you to these generous people for the effort they have put into this booklet
Our sincere and heartfelt thanks must also go to Sr Margaret Robertson, the Provincial Leadership Team and the Sisters of St Joseph here in Queensland for the support and encouragement which they have given to JAN Qld Inc over the past year. Our particular thanks to Sr Annette Arnold, the PLT representative on our Committee of Management and Sr Joan Finucane, for their willingness to be there whenever we needed them.
I would like to thank the Committee of Management for the support that they have given to me and the effort they have put in to making this a successful year for JAN Qld Inc. It has been a lot of hard work, with quite a few challenges, and lots of fun times along the way.
In conclusion, I would like to thank you the members for your support throughout the year. I encourage you to continue your support of JAN in whatever ways you can, whether that be by supporting our fundraising ventures, coming along to meetings and Formation Days, your prayerful support or helping out in whatever other ways you are able.
- Faye Walsh 11/11/07
The past year has been exciting and fruitful for JAN Qld Inc. It has been a period of growth, of learning, and of achievements. Major highlights have been completion of our Strategic Plan, signing the Memorandum of Understanding with the Qld Province of the Sisters of St Joseph and some successful fundraising ventures.
Following on from our Incorporation, we have obtained an Australian Business Number. We now need to follow up this process to register as a Charitable Organisation for taxation purposes.
From a spiritual perspective, a meeting was held with Canon Lawyers Fr Frank Morrissey from Canada and Sr Mary Casey to discuss the process required for Canonical recognition from the Church by becoming a Private Juridic Person.
After much discussion, many letters and a meeting with Sr Margaret Robertson and the Qld Province solicitors, the Memorandum of Understanding between JAN Qld Inc and the Qld Province of the Sisters of St Joseph was signed on Mary MacKillop Day this year. This was a significant milestone and the MoU has been well received and acknowledged by other members of the Josephite Congregation throughout Australia.
With the help or our mentor Janet Hughes, our Strategic Plan has been completed. This is a “living” document which will need to be updated every couple of years. With the assistance of Sr Moya Campbell, work has commenced on development of our policies. To fit in with the Memorandum of Understanding, these are being done in a format similar to that used by the Qld Province.
With the help of a grant of $5000 from CLRIQ, development of our long awaited Spiritual Companioning Program has commenced and a framework has been developed. Following issues with copyright, it has been decided that we will continue to develop this program “in house.”
There has been a steady growth in membership over the past year with the acceptance of 17 new members. Our membership now stands at 33, with 14 Life Members, 17 Ordinary Members and 2 Organisational members. A promotional tour to Millmerran was undertaken last November by Guido DeGlas and Eileen Armstrong and another is planned for early next year.
In August, along with other Josephite Associates and Friends of the Sisters, we were invited to a morning of facilitated conversation with the Sisters of St Joseph as part of their Provincial Chapter. This gave both us and the sisters the opportunity to exchange views and ideas and for us to promote JAN Qld Inc. It was a most informative and successful session.
Throughout the year we have held a number of successful fundraising events. The major purpose of these is to ensure that we have the funds to cover our annual Insurance costs, which are currently around $4000 per year. We have also been blessed with a number of generous donations to assist with these costs.
At one of our Strategic Planning sessions last year, one of the participants used the phrase “With a Josephite Heart”. By that evening, Mary Fletcher had written a song with that title and put it to music. This culminated in the production of 500 CDs of which over 300 have been sold or otherwise distributed. Our sincere thanks to Mary for generously donating this work to JAN for our fundraising
In July we held a very successful Soiree featuring Mary’s mother, Rita Miles, the eCCCo’s from Corpus Christi College and other artists. This raised over $900 and the feedback received about the evening was such that we will probably hold another one next year
At the Soiree, we launched our Art Union. Books of tickets were sent to all members and the response has been most pleasing. The Art Union will be drawn today and is expected to raise about $1300. Our next fundraising venture, the brainchild of Guido, is a Silver Circle which is run over a 10 week period. If we can run 4 of these per year, the funds generated will pay for most of our Insurance costs
Also being launched today is our booklet “In the Spirit of Mary MacKillop” which has been developed by Guido DeGlas, Eileen Armstrong, Sr Therese Wilson and Sr Joan Finucane. Thank you to these generous people for the effort they have put into this booklet
Our sincere and heartfelt thanks must also go to Sr Margaret Robertson, the Provincial Leadership Team and the Sisters of St Joseph here in Queensland for the support and encouragement which they have given to JAN Qld Inc over the past year. Our particular thanks to Sr Annette Arnold, the PLT representative on our Committee of Management and Sr Joan Finucane, for their willingness to be there whenever we needed them.
I would like to thank the Committee of Management for the support that they have given to me and the effort they have put in to making this a successful year for JAN Qld Inc. It has been a lot of hard work, with quite a few challenges, and lots of fun times along the way.
In conclusion, I would like to thank you the members for your support throughout the year. I encourage you to continue your support of JAN in whatever ways you can, whether that be by supporting our fundraising ventures, coming along to meetings and Formation Days, your prayerful support or helping out in whatever other ways you are able.
- Faye Walsh 11/11/07
Congratulations and Farewell!
Farewell to Sister Annette Arnold @ recent JAN meeting.
Sr Anne Derwin, director of the Mary MacKillop Place Mission in North Sydney, has been elected Congregational Leader of the Josephites in Australia. Along with Sr Sheila McCreanor from the South Australian Province, Sr Ann Gilroy from the New Zealand Province, Sr Eileen Lenihan from the Region of Ireland and our own Sr Annette Arnold from our local Qld. Province.Congratulations Annette ..Thanks for all your great work with J.A.N.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Changes to our blog site.
There have been some changes associated with our previous Blogger blog. Those of you who are new to JAN are encouraged to look at previous posts on our other blog. There is some JAN history and photos.
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