Canossian Sister Melissa Dwyer will be leaving Brisbane for Rome in November after she was recently elected during the Canossian Institute’s General Chapter to the congregational leadership team for a term of six years, reports The Catholic Leader.

The leadership team oversees more than 2100 of her sisters in 32 countries across the world.

She said it was a “huge responsibility” and a “huge gift of trust from my sisters to be elected”.

The leadership team includes a Superior General and four councillors. Sr Dwyer has been elected as a councillor.

Despite being the youngest in the General Chapter, Sr Dwyer is encouraged by the amazing vote of confidence from her sisters.

“Without intentionally voting in this way, for the first time in the Institute the five members of the congregational leadership team represent the five continents where we serve” Sr Dwyer said. “It’s also the first time there has been Sisters born in Africa, South America and Australia serving on this Council. This diversity, in ages and experiences, brings with it a wonderful richness.”

Whilst this opportunity presents with it many new possibilities, Sr Dwyer will be sad to leave Brisbane, her family and friends, and her Canossian Sisters of Australia.

“This is not the first time I’ve left Australia responding to the presence of the Spirit. And yet the call to respond to God’s call and leave people who I love here is not easy” she said.

She said her new role would be as a reference point for the sisters in the various Provinces assigned to her, engaging in questions of governance as well as leading the sisters of the Institute along the path and vision set out at the General Chapter.

“The Sisters of the Institute have asked us as the General Council to be women of relationships, so as a team we really want to honour that mandate, and support our Sisters across the world as much as we can” she said.

While in Rome for the General Chapter in August, each of the sisters also had a chance to meet Pope Francis during a private audience.

She said she had not thought of anything to say to him, she was near the front of the line and suddenly it was her turn to go forward to meet the pope individually.

“I didn’t know what to say to him, because what do you say to the pope?” she said with a laugh.

“I told him, ‘Hi I’m Melissa from Australia… please pray for me and pray for the people of Australia’.

“He said, ‘I will and I do’.”

Sr Dwyer said it was amazing to be in the presence of Pope Francis.

“I know he’s a human and I know at the same time he’s an amazing spiritual servant leader of our Church, so to have that encounter and to meet him and to shake his hand – wow.

“I’m in the presence of greatness, in the presence of holiness.”

This article by Joe Higgins was published in The Catholic Leader.