INSPIRATION takes many forms for Brisbane Canossian Sister Sally Fuller who recently made her final profession.
“But I’m always really inspired that 14-year-old kids are waiting to meet me at Lourdes Hill College when I arrive sometime after 6am on those days when we go to talk to the homeless in the city,” she said.
“These are teenagers – everyone knows they’re not supposed to be up and around at that hour; yet here they are filled with enthusiasm.
“Their passion challenges me to be more than I am.”
As well as being on Lourdes Hill staff and involved in social justice work including the Homeless Outreach Program, Sr Fuller works at Canossa Private Hospital, Oxley.
Here she has been helping to establish the “Care for Carers” program for palliative and oncology carers.
“Now we have organised a morning tea for carers,” she said.
“The focus is on their needs and enabling them to meet other carers.
“Sometimes they may want to talk about their struggles, maybe some bad news they have received.
“Other times they may just want to talk about cricket.
“The important thing is they’re meeting with others in a similar situation.”
Oxley’s Canossian Sisters joined with Sr Fuller to celebrate and give thanks to God for her life commitment to the congregation on September 29. Her family and friends were also among the guests and Passionist Father Ray Sanchez celebrated Mass.
The 36-year-old Gunnedah woman’s journey into religious life started in 1996 at Brisbane’s Australian Catholic University campus.
Here she was introduced to the Canossian Sisters and found them to be “great women”.
She was particularly taken with the story of the life of foundress St Magdalen of Canossa, and she joined the order in 2000.
“I wanted to follow in Magdalen’s footsteps, serving those living in poverty,” she said.
Sr Fuller spent her initial formation in Brisbane with further exposure in the Philippines and the United States.
She spent many years in study including a postgraduate degree in psychology.
“Now I’ve finally had time to make my life commitment,” she said.
“However, when I made my first vows, I knew this was where my life was meant to be.”
To those young women considering entering religious life, Sr Fuller said: “If you feel you have a vocation, you must follow it.
“If it’s right for you it’s a great life.”
Another Canossian, Sr Melissa Dwyer, a Brisbane woman working in Malawi, Africa, made her final profession at Oxley last weekend.
