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”

Preaching to the Converted

Sr Elizabeth Young RSM, 31 March 2022 I was 21 years old, a university student, and attending multiple different churches and spiritual groups at the time. Because of my work in the interfaith movement, I was invited to attend the World Conference of Religions for Peace in Kyoto, Japan. And when I returned – young,Continue reading “Preaching to the Converted”

Journeys of Healing – Sr Mary Trainor RSM

Sr Mary Trainor RSM, 13 January 2022 When Sr Mary Trainor rsm discovered the work of this blogsite, she said that it “warmed the cockles of my heart!” She can certainly identify with ministry on the margins and was eager to share her experience alongside people with mental illness and intellectual disability. After many yearsContinue reading “Journeys of Healing – Sr Mary Trainor RSM”

A refuge in grief – Sr Meredith Evans RSM

Sr Meredith Evans RSM, 4 November 2021 Several weeks ago, Sr Meredith Evans rsm got a phone call. It was the 19-year-old son of her friend, to tell her that ‘Frances’ * mother had died. Frances was distraught. Could Sister Meredith come to see her? The two women had met eight years ago, when FrancesContinue reading “A refuge in grief – Sr Meredith Evans RSM”

Sr Gerri Boylan SGS – Striking Gold

Sr Gerri Boylan SGS, 7 October 2021 The remote Western Australian gold-mining towns of Mount Magnet, Cue and Meekatharra are tiny, but very special. This is what the Good Samaritan Sister, Gerri Boylan, related to me, and I could hear the joy in her voice. Mount Magnet is 340km inland from Geraldton, the seat ofContinue reading “Sr Gerri Boylan SGS – Striking Gold”

Liturgy on the Margins

Australian Diaconal Ministry, Present and Future Once upon an outback prison, there was a need. A yearning for spiritual support and motivation. And there were not enough ministers to provide it. But one day, the appeal from the bishop and priest chaplain received a response, and a volunteer started to visit one of the units.Continue reading “Liturgy on the Margins”

Sr Patty Fawkner SGS – An Agent of Reconciliation

Sr Patty is a real inspiration to me. Not only is she the Congregational Leader of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, but she speaks clearly as a voice of justice and spirituality. She has written some wonderful articles for the Good Oil, including her hopes for women in Church ministries. From the very start,Continue reading “Sr Patty Fawkner SGS – An Agent of Reconciliation”