Category Archives: Sisters

Liturgy, Word, Service and Funerals Close to the Heart

Sr Stancea Vichie MSS, 2 March 2023 In 2016, Sr Stancea Vichie MSS was in Rome with the International Union of Superiors General, in a meeting with Pope Francis. It was there that the question arose: as women already function effectively as deacons, could they not be ordained like those women in the early Church?Continue reading “Liturgy, Word, Service and Funerals Close to the Heart”

Interview with Sr Nathalie Becquart XMCJ

Sr Nathalie Becquart XMCJ, 9 February 2023 Sr Nathalie Becquart XMCJ, described as the most senior woman in the Vatican, recently made a whirlwind tour of Australia. She gave talks and interviews with many people, and truly represented the synodal Church preparing for the Synod of Bishops gathering in 2023/2024. I was extremely privileged toContinue reading “Interview with Sr Nathalie Becquart XMCJ”

Diaconal Formation from the Past, for the Future

Sr Patricia Fox RSM, 15 December 2022 Sr Patricia Fox RSM has had a lifetime of education, formation and church leadership. Lately she went digging back into her history, to several years running the Adelaide Archdiocese Ministry Formation Program. It was not a long time, she recalls, but very significant both for her personally andContinue reading “Diaconal Formation from the Past, for the Future”

Mission to the Margins, in Service

Sr Bernadette Wallis MSS, 1 December 2022 Today Sr Bernadette Wallis MSS reflects on liturgy on the margins in her own words. Thanks, Bernadette! The margins, of course, are the centre of the universe for those who live in places or lifestyles that are considered ‘margins’ by others!  However, when we are in those margins,Continue reading “Mission to the Margins, in Service”

Possibilities for deacons in Religious Institutes (RI)

Rev. Assoc. Prof. Anthony Gooley, 27 October 2022 At our Feast of St Phoebe Webinar, Deacon Anthony noted one of the unanswered questions and kindly offered this blog post in response. It also relates directly to the recent blog about Sr Helen. Thanks, Anthony! I was asked by a member of a women’s Religious InstituteContinue reading “Possibilities for deacons in Religious Institutes (RI)“

Free to Help those in Need

Sr Helen Stannard RSM, 13 October 2022 Three “pivotal moments” stand out for Sr Helen Stannard RSM as she was discerning to join the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta 25 years ago. While on an overseas holiday, the promptings from God became virtually unmistakable. Helen ended up in Notre Dame de Misericordia (Our Lady of Mercy)Continue reading “Free to Help those in Need”

Building Up the Faith of Others

Sr Liz Morris RSJ, 23 September 2022 Sr Liz Morris RSJ was very keen to be interviewed for this blog. As she told me clearly, “Women are already doing diaconate ministry. It is just not called that.” Liz is part of our quest to shine a light on what already has been, and is, occurringContinue reading “Building Up the Faith of Others”

School Ministry on the Margins

Sr Duyen Nguyen RSM, 5 May 2022 In the following blog piece, Sr Duyen Thi My Nguyen, RSM kindly offered to share her experience of liturgy on the margins in her own words. No one working in a wealthy Catholic school in an urban city of Australia could say that their ministry is on theContinue reading “School Ministry on the Margins”

The Harrow Parish – Of Church, Change and Wood-Chopping

Sr Kathleen Moran RSM, 7 April 2022 In the Western farming belt of Victoria lie the towns of Harrow, Balmoral and Tarrayoukyan. Together, they made up the smallest parish in the Diocese of Ballarat. And it was the first parish in Victoria not to have a resident priest. In 1986, Bishop Mulkearns went to theContinue reading “The Harrow Parish – Of Church, Change and Wood-Chopping”