THREE women religious from regional Queensland who entered the convent of the Mercy Sisters 50 years ago reunited to mark their golden jubilees. Mercy Sisters Carmel Ruddick, Cheryl Camp and Mary Lowcock were three of eight women who entered the Sisters of Mercy in early 1965. They came together to mark 50 years since they made their first professions on ... Read More »

AFTER more than 21 years of service to the Bowen community, Sister Carmel Arnold has been called back to Townsville. The last of the town’s Sisters of Mercy, Sr Arnold’s departure will bring to an end the 145-year presence of Sisters in the Bowen community. A Mass of Thanksgiving and farewell was celebrated by Bishop Tim Harris two weeks ago ... Read More »

BOTH the Mass of Thanksgiving and the concert for Father John Daly’s retirement as parish priest of Bundaberg highlighted the traits of love and kindness, which this humble, non-judgemental man of God brought into the lives of all he knew. Despite heavy rain on the night, hundreds of parishioners gathered at Holy Rosary Church to thank Fr Daly for his ... Read More »

FATHER Bernard (Bernie) Kenny, who died on June 10 aged 86, was known as a notable preacher and for his ministry to the sick and aged. Fr Kenny had been living in Port Macquarie, and his funeral Mass was held at the city’s St Agnes’ Church on June 23. Lismore Bishop Gregory Homeming, priests of the diocese and visiting clergy ... Read More »

ST Saviour’s Primary School reached out in support of colleagues of slain Toowoomba police officer Senior Constable Brett Forte. School principal Donna Muir, administration assistant Julie Robinson and school captains delivered two car loads of home-baked goods to Toowoomba Police Station recently to provide moral support after Snr Const Forte had been killed in the line of duty. Snr Const ... Read More »

WHEN she quit high school at 15, got married at 17 and became a mother at 18, Erica Prosser never envisaged she would one day be an award-winning principal. The Holy Spirit College principal was the only Queensland teacher to win an Australian Scholarships Group National Excellence in Teaching Award earlier this year. She received a Leadership and Development Award ... Read More »

IN 117 years, more than 200 Good Samaritan Sisters have served in the Charters Towers area. On May 28, all this came to an end as the remaining three sisters departed the community with much sadness. “It is sad that we are leaving,” Good Samaritan Sister Patricia Comerford said. “But we are leaving the community knowing that the good works ... Read More »

ROCKHAMPTON Bishop Michael McCarthy has spoken out in support of hundreds of Aurizon workers told they would lose their jobs with the closure of the city’s railway workshops. “I stand with the workers,” Bishop McCarthy said. “Workers who support families, have bills to pay, support our local businesses and are an integral part of our central Queensland family. “The workers ... Read More »

CAPRICORN Coast parish priest Fr Peter Tonti was farewelled by the staff and students at St Ursula’s College, Yeppoon, in May. Fr Tonti was presented with gifts by College Captains Rubyanna Cozzi, Natalie Cook, and Courtney Fisher, at a school assembly in the Ballygriffin Cultural Centre. An audio-visual presentation featured memories of the many Masses and special occasions Fr Tonti ... Read More »