A VOLUNTARY association of women is being formed in Brisbane with the aim of becoming a new Australian religious congregation.
The initiative is being steered by a Sister of Perpetual Adoration, Sr Carmel Doherty, who has been carrying out the group’s special apostolate of helpfulness at Nundah, guided and encouraged by parish priest Fr John Sullivan.
Sr Carmel said she and like-minded women envisaged their life as a community who pray, study and exercise “the charity of helpfulness”.
“We would work alongside the many willing helpers in the vineyards of the parishes,” Sr Carmel said. “Our goal would be loving co-operation with the priest and his people.”
If a new congregation is formed, members would take a fourth vow of “charity of helpfulness”, in addition to the usual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
As well as community prayer, the association would maintain the holy hour celebrated in Nundah parish church, she said.
Sr Carmel said members would focus on the study of Scripture and its application in the life of the Church.
The association would be called the Daughters of Mary, Mother of the Church and would be in keeping with the thinking of Fr Julian Tenison Woods, who founded the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.
“Five years of prayer, study and research,” Sr Carmel said, “have made clear that it is timely to bring forth in this country Fr Woods’ missionary idea of service to especially honour Our Lady among priests and people, thus completing his own broad vision of loving service to Australia.”
By July 11 there were four members in the association.
For enquiries contact Sr Carmel Doherty at “Balamara”, 6 Scott St, Northgate, Qld 4013, phone (07) 3256 6931.
Archdiocesan Vicar for Religious, Sister of Charity Patricia Scully said formation of a voluntary association could be the first step in a long process of setting up a new religious congregation.
