Brisbane in Queensland and Ceduna in regional South Australia have welcomed two congregations of Religious women into their communities to pray for and accompany women, indigenous people and those seeking Biblical, theological and spiritual formation.
It may be a long way from their home in India, but Sisters from the Congregation of St Anne - Madras are staying true to their mission of ‘working for the betterment of women’ around the world with the opening of a new convent house in Ceduna.
And in Brisbane, four nuns from the Sisters of Mary, Morning Star have offered to pray night and day for Australia and its people inside their new home in Brisbane.
The Southern Cross reports that in a celebration that brought together parishioners from Ceduna, Streaky Bay, and Chandada, together with staff from Centacare Catholic Family Services and members of the local community, the St Anne’s convent house was blessed by Bishop of Port Pirie, Greg O’Kelly SJ, and opened by the Congregation’s superior general, Sr Jacqueline Mary SSAM on August 14.
From left, the newly arrived Sisters of St Anne, Sisters Jacqueline, Leonie, Nancy, Elizabeth, Delma and Sheela with Bishop Greg O’Kelly SJ at the blessing of the convent house. Photo: The Southern Cross.
In welcoming the Sisters’ Far West community, Bishop O’Kelly urged them to be the “seekers of lost sheep” and reflect the compassionate face of Jesus to all, especially the “poor, lonely, suffering and abandoned”.
Sr Jacqueline commissioned the two Sisters – Sr Nancy Ulahannan SSAM and Sr Elizabeth Royan SSAM – for their ministry in the Ceduna community and the wider Streaky Bay parish and in particular with local Indigenous women and children.
The two Sisters told The Southern Cross that their work in the area was in keeping with the aim of their Congregation to “explore new avenues to reach out to and engage with people on the periphery, to listen to their stories and empower them to be actively engaged in ways that enhance their dignity, self-esteem and participation in community life”.
Since arriving in March they have been providing a pastoral presence in the community with regular visits to the Ceduna kindergarten, hospital and aged care home. A lot of their time is spent with Centacare’s Regional Domestic Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Service.
“We accompany Centacare staff when they visit the families and help the homeless clients get a roof over their heads and protect them from disturbing parents or partners,” Sr Nancy said.
“We assist the women and children to fulfil their needs for a comfortable stay at the safe house; listening to them and their stories, encouraging them not to lose hope but trust in the God they believe.”
Meanwhile, The Catholic Leader reports that in Brisbane, Archbishop Mark Coleridge welcomed Sr Samuel from France, Sr Sarah Rose from the United States, and Sr Jeanne Marie and Sr Josephine Marie, both from New Zealand, on September 12.
Archdiocese of Brisbane vicar for religious Sr Moya Campbell RSJ (left) and Archbishop Mark Coleridge welcoming Sr Josephine Marie, Sr Samuel, Sr Sarah Rose and Sr Jeanne Marie of the Sisters of Mary, Morning Star, who have established a new convent in Brisbane. Photo: The Catholic Leader.
“We’ve been in discussion with them for some time as part of a process of discernment; and both they and we have decided that this is what God wants,” he said.
“Our hope and prayer is that the sisters will bring new light and energy to the archdiocese.”
Founded in 2014 in San Sebastian diocese in Spain, the Sisters of Mary, Morning Star have 250 Sisters worldwide in 20 priories.
The non-cloistered, contemplative community consists of a life of silent prayer, study of scripture, philosophy and theology, and manual labour to meet their living expenses.
They begin and end their day with an hour of Eucharistic adoration, and unlike their cloistered counterparts, open their convents to offer formation in philosophy and theology, Bible studies and spiritual direction.
Sr Samuel, a former engineer, said she first came into contact with the Brisbane Archdiocese when she met a priest from there in Cebu.
Later, two young Australians entered the order following Sr Samuel’s two week-long visits to Brisbane between 2017 and 2019.
Sr Samuel said Archbishop Coleridge welcomed the idea of the Sisters establishing a home in Brisbane because “the best thing to do” about the crisis and difficulty in the Church in Australia “is to call for a contemplative life and prayers”.
“The reason we came, firstly, was to pray for the people,” Sr Samuel said.
The four Sisters plan to share their prayer life with the Australian public “to help people become true friends of Christ”.
“This is what is most important, our divine friendship with Him, and we need to seek and look for Him with all our heart,” Sr Samuel said.
This article is drawn from articles first published in The Southern Cross and The Catholic Leader.