“YOUNG people often seem to think we’re not quite human,” says Sr Sesilia Ioane, leader of the Sisters of Nazareth community at Wynnum’s historic and imposing Nazareth House.
Obviously these particular young people have never heard the Samoan-born woman’s extraordinarily hearty laugh – her seemingly carefree attitude made all the more remarkable by the often serious side of her ministry with the elderly and the dying.
Nor have they seen her “rolling up her sleeves” and taking part in fundraising and giving input and direction to restoration work in the magnificent chapel and convent at the 90-year-old establishment.
But no doubt many young Catholics have encountered Sr Sesilia’s enthusiasm on vocations displays at events such as Sydney’s World Youth Day in 2008 and the recent Ignite Conference in Brisbane.
So what sort of questions do these young people typically ask?
Sr Sesilia gives one of her throaty chuckles.
“Typical questions?” she said.
“Hmm. Things such as: ‘What makes you become a nun?’ ‘What do you do all day?’ ‘Are you allowed to marry?’ ‘Do you get holidays?'”
Sr Sesilia became very much aware of her humanity once she decided to “suss out” at 18 whether she had a vocation.
For a start she had to break with her closely-knit Samoan family with four brothers, six sisters and many other relatives.
“My decision was very hard for Dad,” she said.
“He really didn’t want me to enter religious life – I was his favourite daughter so we had a very close bond.
“My decision took him a while to accept.
“Also, unlike my mother, he was not a Catholic to begin with.”
In common with many vocations, it was an inspirational teacher which started her thinking about life as a religious.
“I was taught by the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary, an order with French connections, in Apia,” she said.
“A particular Sister, our music teacher, impressed me.
“She was very bubbly and outgoing and I began to wish I could be like her.”
At 19, following the advice of her spiritual director Fr Patrick Kennedy she decided to assist the Sisters of Nazareth and went to Christchurch.
“I was attracted to Sisters’ ministry working with orphans, in aged care and at schools,” she said.
“I saw others who had given up their family and home – their commitment and dedication impressed me immensely.”
At 20 she made her decision. Three years in the order’s Melbourne novitiate followed.
Sr Sesilia’s first house after her profession was in Western Australia at the order’s Fre-mantle Nazareth House.
There, with eight other Sisters, she ministered to the aged from 1978-81.
Ministry in various other houses in Sydney, Port Pirie and Ballarat followed. In American Samoa, she taught in Montessori schools from 1994 to 2006 and by 2009 was back in Australia, then up to Brisbane.
Upon her arrival at Nazar-eth House and subsequent leadership role, Sr Sesilia was faced with a significant challenge.
“It quickly became clear that significant restoration work was needed in several sections … for a while there was even thoughts we might have to move out which would have been terrible,” she said.
However, all that’s behind her now. She’s been working with Nazareth Care (Wynnum) general manager Tony McPhillips for the past year, first of all on co-ordinating restorations at the magnificent Nazareth House chapel and now on renovations at the convent.
The goal has been to return the establishment to its original beauty where possible and also to make life more comfortable for the Sisters.
“We’re consulting with builders, architects and others to ensure all is going to plan and have meetings every fortnight,” Sr Sesilia said.
“At this stage the work will be completed on October 19.
“On October 27 Archbishop (Mark) Coleridge will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving and blessing of the restored Nazareth House convent.”
Funds are another challenge.
The chapel restorations alone cost $140,000 and so far donations are only around the $40,000 mark.
Meanwhile, Sr Sesilia has a community of seven Sisters to lead.
Five of them take their pastoral care to the elderly in the Nazareth House aged-care facility and two of the Sisters are in care themselves.
Then there’s Sr Sesilia’s own special mission to promote religious life amongst the young.
“Regardless of what people say, the Church is alive as are its young people,” she said.
“Looking around, you can see so much goodness in young people who are doing great things.
“Just look at the Ignite Conference … all that enthusiasm and commitment.”
Sr Sesilia is delighted to report success in reaching youth at the four-day conference.
“A young woman from Emerald approached our stand and will be one of those attending a discernment weekend running from November 16 to 18 here at Nazareth House,” she said.
“She and the other young women will have the chance to see what religious life is like.”
Sr Sesilia smiles as she says: “They will see we love our work.
“The young women will also get the chance to experience the great tradition of hospitality associated with the Sisters of Nazareth.
“We try to be compassionate and value and respect the dignity of the residents.
“At all times, we are very much aware these elderly people have had to leave home to come here and live with us.
“It’s a big change so we must be sensitive to their needs and difficulties they face.
“That’s why we’re all so delighted that the mission here at Nazareth House can continue.
“However, we need the support of the community.
“We also look to the Lord to provide as he has always done.
“That is why we are looking to the future with eyes of faith and trust.”
