Sr Jacinta Rice CSB. PHOTO: Ballarat Diocesan Enews.
Brigidine Sister Jacinta Rice from Horsham in Victoria says her journey as a consecrated religious has been “challenging and faith-filled” – a journey that has included a range of ministries, always underpinned by a commitment to social justice, especially for women, refugees and people living in regional areas.
In a reflection written to mark the World Day of Consecrated Life, Sr Jacinta said she became familiar with the Brigidine Sisters from the time they arrived in Murtoa to instruct children each month and later in the Horsham Convent Boarding School.
“Life in the boarding school prepared me to decide to enter religious life but particularly through the example of the nuns themselves,” she said.
Jacinta entered the Brigidine Novitiate in Malvern with six other postulants on January 31, 1952 in preparation for St Brigid’s Day on February 1.
“At the Novitiate I was prepared for my vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, studied the Brigidine Constitutions and spirituality, teaching methods in religious education and started my teacher training,” she said.
“Our charism is Strength and Gentleness in Love and the Eucharist is central to our lives (guidelines from Bishop Daniel Delany), who refounded the Sisters of St Brigid in 1807 to assist the Irish poor, deprived of education through persecution. I also became familiar with St Brigid as a woman of the land, a peacemaker, friend of the poor, hearthwoman of hospitality, woman of compassion, a protector, a leader and a woman with a sense of humour who adapted to her time. Over many years I wrote poetry about her to share with friends and led a St Brigid’s Well group.
“In the spirit of our Congregation, I also continued to live the inspiration of Daniel Delany to act for social justice especially for refugees, women and regional people.”
After her religious profession in1954, Sr Jacinta returned to Horsham and graduated as a trained teacher, teaching at St Michael and John’s School, before beginning studies at Melbourne University by correspondence and being loaned to Geelong to teach at Clonard College for its first year.
From 1961 to 1976, she taught in a kindergarten and several secondary Brigidine schools in the four Dioceses of Victoria and finished her Bachelor of Arts degree.
“One of the highlights of those years was being a Religious Assistant to the Young Christian Students in the Sandhurst Diocese and meeting with the other adult leaders every fortnight, reflecting on the gospel in relation to current issues and our lives, in better enabling our students to do the same,” she said.
After a year of Pastoral Studies in 1977, Sr Jacinta began working with migrants and refugees in Adult Migrant Education (AMES). She then spent four years teaching English as a Foreign Language to civil servants in Thailand as an Australian Volunteer Abroad, returned to Australia to continue teaching in AMES followed by training as a spiritual director with Campion Ignatian Spirituality Centre, Kew in retreat work there as well as adult faith formation and retreat ministry in parishes, once again across Victoria.
“Finally, in 2009, I returned to the Wimmera, home of my childhood, and have lived in Horsham for the past 16 years,” she said.
“I returned to this parish (St Paul VI Parish Wimmera-Mallee) as a parish associate for adult faith formation and although retired now, still volunteer.
“My journey as a consecrated religious has been a challenging and faith-filled journey with many friends across cultures and races and from kinder to adults in education, hopefully empowering people to use their gifts in Church and society today.”
This article is based on a reflection by Sr Jacinta Rice CSB published in the Ballarat Diocesan E-News.