SISTERS of St Joseph from throughout Australian and New Zealand are in Rome this weekend to see their founder Mary MacKillop recognised as a saint.
The Josephites’ Australian congregational leader Sr Anne Derwin is leading the 138 pilgrims that include 12 Queenslanders.
Josephite Sisters making the journey range in age from their mid 20s to their 80s and include retirees along with those working in ministries such as education, pastoral support, aged care and missioning to indigenous cultures.
The biggest representation is from the NSW province with 85 sisters, followed by 14 from New Zealand, 12 each from Victoria and Queensland, eight sisters from Western Australia, five from South Australia, and two from Tasmania.
Queensland Josephites in Rome are Srs Judith Steer, Patricia Marsh, Rita Flynn, Margaret Cleary, Lyn Stabler, Helen Hughes, Cecilia Anning, Irene Harrison, Anne Josephine Howley and Moya Campbell, and Sr Helen Alfrey, a Sister of Perpetual Adoration.
Queensland provincial Sr Moya Campbell said she was always inspired by the life of Mary MacKillop and the Josephite Sisters who taught her.
“The sisters in Miles many years ago gave me a photo of Mary MacKillop when I was about 12 years old,” Sr Campbell said.
“This photo has stayed with me, and it was at a very early age that I decided that I wanted to follow Mary MacKillop and become one of her sisters.”
Sr Campbell said Mary MacKillop was just as inspirational today.
Brisbane archdiocese’s ministry development officer for pastoral councils Sr Cecelia Anning said there was much that inspired her about Mary MacKillop and, with God’s help, she hoped to continue to strive to follow her example.
“Mary MacKillop’s life-long respect for the dignity and worth of every person continues to inspire and challenge me,” Sr Anning said.
“Her deep love of God and her constant awareness of God’s presence in all people and situations, meant that in spite of any difficulties or misunderstandings she suffered, she maintained her deep respect for the dignity and worth of every person in her life, as shown in how she spoke, behaved, interacted and wrote.”
Sr Lyn Stabler, who is based at the Josephites’ Queensland administration centre in Wavell Heights, said she was looking forward to all the canonisation celebrations.
“Mary’s life is for me a rich icon revealing the possibilities flowing from trust in ‘our good God’, love, resilience, inner peace and contributing to the common good,” Sr Stabler said.
Australian Josephites who have travelled to Rome represent the Central and Federation (“Brown Joeys” and “Black Joeys”) Josephite Sisters living and ministering throughout Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Peru, East Timor, Scotland and Brazil.
While in Rome the order will be welcomed by the Australian Ambassador to the Holy See Tim Fischer and participate in special events to commemorate Mary MacKillop’s life and mission.
The sisters will also lead fellow pilgrims in the “Footsteps of Mary MacKillop” visiting landmarks, sites and churches that played an important role in Mary’s time in Rome in 1873-74 and her quest to have the Rule of the Sisters of St Joseph approved by the Holy See.
Sr Anning said that while she was very excited and privileged to be going to Rome the canonisation was just another step in the Josephites’ journey.
“I see this wonderful event as contributing towards Mary MacKillop becoming a helpful and comforting inspiration and a spiritual model for all Australians,” she said.
“It will be my pleasure on returning to Australia to share any aspects of the special experience to further enrich the appreciation of this wonderfully good woman.”
