Making A Difference – A Reflection on St Mary MacKillop
Never see a need without doing something about it.Mary MacKillop In 1866, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart and opened a school to provide free education for the children of Penola, South Australia. From this small beginning, Mary went on to establish Catholic […]
Father Founder – A Tasmanian Connection
In education these days, there is a practice where a teacher may use a ‘provocation’. This is an object or artefact, a photo or a poem that is a stimulus for thought and discussion. A launching pad for learning. In writing this reflection, and thinking about Father’s Day (4 September), and the role of Julian […]
International Day of Friendship
I believe friendships enrich your life and is one of the best gifts anyone can receive. Some of my favourite memories are with my friends. Such as the times we would spend hours catching up as there was so much to share about our lives. Personally, my friends add value, perspective, support, and love to […]
Julian Tenison Woods – 150 Years On!
On 16 July 2022, the Sisters of Saint Joseph celebrated 150 years of the Congregation’s presence in New South Wales since their arrival in Perthville in 1872. What would it be like for Fr Julian Tenison Woods to speak to us in this year of sesquicentenary? 150 years on, this is what I imagine he […]
Celebrating Our Wisdom People
As Pope Francis requested, we celebrate the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on 24 July to coincide with the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne on 26 July. To honour this day, I would suggest that we light three candles. I happily share with you the three candles that would top my list.
Responding to a Call
The phone rang as I was locking up the house before going to Saturday night Mass. It was the bishop wanting to know if I would go to a country town, 400 kilometres away to train people in leading Liturgy of the Word with Communion. The parish had recently lost their priest, with no replacement […]
July Prayer Intention: The Elderly
Each month, Pope Francis asks for our prayers for a specific intention. For the month of July, the prayer intention is for the elderly. The Story of Two Women There is an Alaskan Legend about two old women who were left to die when their tribe came across hard times. The families, who loved their […]
June Prayer Intention: Families
Each month, Pope Francis asks for our prayers for a specific intention. For the month of June, the prayer intention is for families. Family Ties Within the family, bonds can be strong, helpful and a valuable gift. Others can be torn apart after tragedy or trauma. As Pope Francis urges us to pray for families, the […]
Celebrating June Feast Days with Mary MacKillop
During the month of June, we have the opportunity as followers of Mary MacKillop, to recall and celebrate the great feast days of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (24 June) and St John the Baptist (25 June). Our Josephite constitutions expresses Mary’s hope that: God’s compassionate love, symbolised for Mary MacKillop by the Sacred Heart, […]
Trinity Sunday – Invitation to dance
Attempts to explain the Trinity are multiple. St Patrick is said to have used a shamrock to illustrate that the Three are One. The Russian iconographer, Rublev, offered us a beautiful image where the three appear equal around a table and there is a space for the observer to join them. Hildergard of Bingen left […]
Ascension – Letting Go and Opening Space for the New
The Ascension occurred in the life of Jesus when he left his followers, 40 days after the Resurrection and returned to His Father in heaven. ‘Why now?’ the disciples could be thinking as He disappeared from their sight and left them with his command to go out to all the world and be like him […]
There will be no such thing
Sr Mary-Ann shares a reflection on her favourite quote from Julian Tenison Woods. Father Julian Tenison Woods’ writings are sprinkling with delightfully lyrical and sometimes pithy pieces. I find myself returning to words he penned in 1880: There will be no such thing as sameness in the objects, no such thing as tameness in the […]