Josephite Companions from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Peru recently gathered at Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney to connect face-to-face, in the Companions spirit of: Friendship, Prayer and Service.
The theme of the conference was, Seeds of Hope: Sowing – Nurturing – Harvesting.
I feel blessed to have been present at this special conference.
I would like to begin by thanking the JCoLT (Josephite Companions Leadership Team) and Conference Committee. Their incredible organisation, effort, preparation, and design of the programme, made this an inspiring, energising, and enjoyable time of growth and connection. Mary Mudge was our facilitator and led us through the days in a gentle, spiritually skilful way.
On Friday evening we began with time to connect before praying together. Surprise gifts and helpful booklets greeted us in gift bags on our chairs.
Meaningful and thoughtfully prepared prayer continued to be part of each day as we began. Each time a paragraph of Scripture was read three times, with time to reflect on a word or phrase that caught our attention.
The Parable of the Yeast in the flour causing it to rise was modelled in real time.
Ann Gilroy rsj was our keynote speaker. Her presentation was titled Our Prophetic Stance is Inclusion – Let the yeast rise among us.
We were captured by her creativity and deeply inspired breaking open of Scripture, helping us to understand this in an inclusive way, one being Jesus’ parable of the fig tree. She broke open the Sisters of Saint Joseph Chapter statement artwork helping us to understand the symbolism and connection with ‘let the yeast rise among us’.
Mary Mudge led us through an expert Synodal Process after Sr Ann’s presentation with these key questions: What makes my heart sing when I think of inclusion? What do I see as the challenges? She asked us in our groups to record what was emerging, converging, tensions, and how the Holy Spirit is inviting us. Some themes were the equality of dignity and worth in every being, everyone has a purpose, and to become more aware of our blind spots.
Representatives from Queensland, New Zealand, Victoria, JCoLT, and Peru, shared how their group connects and responds as Companions. Carmen was generously assisted by Sr Katrina in translating Spanish into English and vice versa.
These presentations were inspiring, showing the generosity and creative practical ways people found to respond to the specific needs of their communities they serve.
Aotearoa New Zealand Companions, Helen and Catherine, guided us through connecting the Direction Statement with the Companions Prayer and the pillars of Friendship, Prayer, and Service.
Mass was celebrated in the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel, followed by a delicious dinner, engaging conversations, and a fun quiz ended the second day, Saturday.
Sunday began with the inaugural singing of the lyrics created by Sr Susan based on the spirit of the Chapter Direction, followed by a prayerful reflection on Peter 4: 8-10; the variety of spiritual gifts we have been given, to use them well to serve one another, and to show a deep love for each other.
The JCoLT team presented information related to the revised 2025 Josephite Companions Charter and the Auspice Agreement with the Sisters of Saint Joseph – both breakthrough and vitally important formal documents for the Companions going forward.
Time was given for regions to discuss future steps and hopes to ensure the ‘seeds planted’ take root and are nurtured in our areas.
Throughout the days, and at the end, we sang For Everyone Born, a song for inclusion of all.
Find out more about the Josephite Companions here.
Sue Bennett
Josephite Companions