SISTER COLLEEN CALENDAR OF EVENTS MARY MACKILLOP PLACE NEWSLETTER CHRISTMAS 2016

Transcription

1 MARY MACKILLOP PLACE NEWSLETTER CHRISTMAS 2016 Australian National Pilgrimage Reflections - In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop The National Pilgrimage commences in Melbourne, continues to Portland via Hamilton, on to Penola and Adelaide and concludes at Mary MacKillop Place in Sydney. This year thirty-six women and men gathered at the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre, East Melbourne on 9th November to begin this pilgrimage, In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop. We began by exploring an understanding of pilgrimage as a sacred journey, in which time is taken to pause and reflect on one s life and the revelation of God within that life and the lives of others. The pilgrim is lead to a deeper awareness of the God who goes before them. If a pilgrimage is to fulfil its purpose, it is a transforming experience for those who are involved. As we go on pilgrimage we are called to let go of the certainties of life as it has been. We open ourselves to the present moment with all its challenges, joys, frustrations, encounters and much more. We are called to ask ourelves, what is God asking of me right now? Arriving in Adelaide we were greeted by the face of INSIDE hospitality as the Sisters and Staff welcomed us to Kensington. A deeply moving moment for all was to sit in the Chapel at Franklin Street, the site of Mary s excommunication and to ponder what it would have been like for Mary to walk out of the Chapel with nothing. We reflected on the many people today who often have to leave home, refugees, asylum seekers, victims of domestic violence. Our pilgrimage concluded at Mary MacKillop Place where we had the opportunity to pray at Mary s Tomb and visit the Museum. Immersing ourselves in this haven of tranquillity we reflected on the journey we had taken together, where we encountered God, where we may have missed God, what we will take into the future with us. As one pilgrim said, I have learned to look for God in all that happens to me. We invite you to join us on Pilgrimage in Watch our Website for details. Annie Bond rsj Assistant Director - Faith & Liturgy LEgACY OF MARY MACKILLOP SISTER COLLEEN CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2 SISTER COLLEEN As we come to the end of another year and journey towards Christmas, it is good to pause and ponder the experiences we have had during the year. 2016, the year of the Sesquicentenary of the Sisters of St Joseph, has provided opportunities for the Sisters to gather together and give thanks for the many people who have companioned and supported them for 150 years. Here at Mary MacKillop Place, the educational contribution of the Sisters was highlighted in our Museum Exhibitions and two permanent reminders of this were established the Heritage Walk and the The Vision painting at Museum Reception. On November 28th the annual Mass of Thanksgiving for our Mary MacKillop volunteers was celebrated in the Chapel, followed by lunch. This was an opportunity to acknowledge and thank those women and men who have contributed to the 9,726 hours of service provided over the past 12 months. Much of our ministry here is dependent on the volunteers commitment to promoting the life, work and spirituality of Mary MacKillop, which they do with great generosity. The thousands of pilgrims who make the journey to Mary MacKillop s tomb, the Museum or the Café and gift Shop always experience the welcoming spirit and hospitality of our volunteers. The year of Mercy has now come to an end. As we move through the season of Advent, the hope of Pope Francis that the Jubilee Year of Mercy was to be a time when the witness of believers might grow stronger and more effective can help us to prepare for the coming of Christ. Approaching Christmas we might ponder the following how might we be stronger and more effective witnesses to the Word made flesh? how might we be beacons of hope reflecting god s mercy to all? how might we live our lives respecting all of creation and acknowledging the interconnectedness of all life? how might we be a voice for the voiceless? how might we open our hearts and minds so that god s love can be born within us this Christmas? May this Christmas be a time of peace and joy for each and everyone and may you be showered with abundant blessings in the New Year. Colleen Keeble rsj Director

3 Happenings in 2017 Acknowledging and celebrating in January: golden Jubilees of 22 Sisters of St Joseph Diamond Jubilees of 33 Sisters of St Joseph Australia Day 26th January: * Mass in the Chapel at 9 am Announcing the 2017 Retreat Programme at Mary MacKillop Place: * Minding the Mysteries that Matter - Holy Week 9th - 16th April; * Contemplative Prayer Weekends - Offering a contemplative environment and experience of different prayer practices - 16th - 18th June and 24th - 26th November. Please see the Website for details: Australian National Pilgrimage: The Sisters of St Joseph offer you the opportunity to journey to significant places in Australia made holy by St Mary MacKillop. Commencing in Melbourne in mid-october, we experience the early life of Mary and the MacKillop Family. The Pilgrimage continues to Hamilton, Portland & Port McDonnell. We travel to Penola and connect with the stories of Mary MacKillop & Julian Tenison Woods, before continuing to Robe and then to Adelaide. From here we fly to Sydney and stay at Mary MacKillop Place, where Mary lived and died. We visit her tomb in the Memorial Chapel for reflection. Further information please contact: Australian Pilgrimage Co-Ordinator Tel: mmp.nationalpilgrimage@sosj.org.au CALENDAR OF EVENTS DECEMBER MARCH 2017 DECEMBER 2016 JANUARY 2017 FEBRUARY (cont d) Reflection Day - Beyond the Year of Mercy - Sr Veronica Lawson rsm 10 am - 3 pm Sacrament of Anointing - Chapel am Carols and Christmas Vigil Mass - Chapel 7 pm Christmas Mass 10am - Chapel 1 2 Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of god; New Year s Day (Chapel closed after 9am Mass; Museum and Café closed) Summer Holidays & Beyond at the Museum - Botanical Room open 16 December - 30 June to for all visitors to create drawings or contribute to the community mural drawing project. 14 Sacrament of Anointing - Chapel am MARCH 1 Ash Wednesday Mass - Chapel 8 am, 1 pm 3-12 Celebrating NSW Seniors Week 3-12 March (Chapel closed after Mass; Museum, Café closed) Boxing Day (Chapel, Museum, Café closed) 26 Australia Day Mass Chapel 9 am FEBRUARY 11 World Day of Prayer for the Sick 17 Solemnity of St Patrick Mass - Chapel 8 am 20 Solemnity of St Joseph transferred from Sunday - Mass - Chapel 8 am

4 Just before leaving the Novitiate I remember Mother Mary addressing us on the duties we were about to undertake. She exhorted us to do our work perfectly and to remember if done otherwise how displeasing it would be to god. In the most trying circumstances in school I have prayed to Mother Mary and felt that through her intercession I obtained special help. A LIFE OUT OF THE by Sister M Embeline McDonough, 22/11/1925 For some time I had the happiness of being associated with our Saintly Foundress, Mother Mary of the Cross... and of hearing many beautiful instructions fall from the lips of one who inspired the souls of those she was training with virtues like to her own. Many a time she gathered the novices round her and endeavoured to instil into them a great zeal in the service of god, reminding them that crosses would be their lot, but encouraging them by her own example to place unbounded confidence in god. To promote the glory of god was one of her chief characteristics. This she proved by her great charity towards the poor and the advice she gave to the Sisters regarding the education of children. Charity was another distinctive virtue of Mother Mary s. This she exercised towards all her children without exception. She herself practised the virtue in a high degree and ever guiding the Sisters to have a great love for the suffering, saying that these souls were dear to god and that we must love those He loved. Humility was another outstanding virtue of her life. I remember her on one occasion reminding us to try and cultivate this and not to mind what others thought of us, but to be glad if they despised us, at the same time relating incidents which would encourage those she was training. Mother Mary also instructed those souls confided to her care in the practice of poverty. One day finding a small piece of soap she assembled the novices and spoke at length on this subject, counselling them to be most careful in the observance of this virtue. She at the same time reminded us of the Poverty of the Lord. She was remarkable for her great patience and meekness. Her life was one of prayer. She had a great love for the Blessed Sacrament and on several occasions spoke to the novices of how the dwelling place of Our Lord should be kept. At the same time telling us that the life of a Religious should be like that of Our Lord dwelling in the Tabernacle. Extract from Memories of Mother Mary by those who knew her. Sisters of St Joseph Trustees of the Sisters of St Joseph, John garrett Publishers. THE guest BOOK Mary Mackillop is Australia s first Saint who devoted her life to the service of the poor. We often attend Mass on Sunday or visit St Mary s Tomb in the Chapel; we enjoy the tranquillity. The Café next to the Chapel has delicious cakes and coffee, and the service is great. I recommend a visit to Mary Mackillop Place Museum to learn about Mary s life - very interesting and a great history lesson. There is just such a beautiful vibe and ambience everywhere and the Sisters are always so friendly and helpful. I stayed at Anderledy Lodge early last week. It was just lovely, only cost half of what I usually pay for hotels in Sydney, and my room had everything I needed. There was a wide range of food available for breakfast and I ordered a takeaway from the Restaurant for dinner. I mostly gave a 5 because of the atmosphere. Staff were lovely, and the setting was beautiful. I really enjoyed my stay there, and hope to return. It is a place of worship and contemplation!

5 THE CURATOR S OFFICE A Year in Review The Sesquicentenary year has been a year of projects both publically visible and behind the scenes. In January this year we welcomed Jennifer Exton to the curatorial team. Jennifer has been working in the museum industry including eight years in a registrar position at Sydney Living Museums. Jennifer brings a wealth of experience in collection system database management. In the first six months, Jennifer, with the support of our volunteer cataloguer Lyn Hyman, have powered through the researching and documentation of newly-acquired items and problem items needing further identification. In March the Museum welcomed Australian Catholic University students participating in the Community Drama Program the Museum. Now in its third year, the program aims to immerse students in the museum environment and provide an introduction to collection care and handling. The program has succeeded in igniting the imagination of visitors, both adults and children and in bringing home the reality of the past lives of the pioneering Sisters and the legacy of the co-founders of the Congregation. We hope you can join us for Thursdays the Museum 2017 from late April to May. Information on the program will be available on our Website Edwina Huntley MMP Museum Curator Participating ACU students utilising Museum objects for the community drama segment. DRAMA IN THE MUSEUM - SHARINg a TEACHER s ExPERIENCE at the MARY MACKILLOP PLACE MUSEUM During my attendance at a Josephite Colloquium at Mary MacKillop Place in May 2016, I was privileged to participate in several activities facilitated by ACU Drama students in the Mary Mackillop Place Museum. Two of the activities were, firstly, several students showing precious personal items of Mary MacKillop that were not currently on display at the Museum. This was followed by several students acting out scenes from a typical day in the Penola Schoolhouse theatrette, mini blackboards and chalk included! I was particularly impressed with the reverence and knowledge demonstrated by the students. It was obvious that they were aware of the solemnity of this very special place and the privilege of being allowed access to handle personal items belonging to Mary MacKillop, that are not currently viewed by the general public. The students are outstanding ambassadors for their University. I felt confident that their personal experience would ensure they communicate the significance of Mary MacKillop to their peers, family and friends. Annette Robertson Religious Education Co-Ordinator, St Joseph s Catholic Primary School Oatley

6 THE CURATOR S OFFICE OBJECT SPOTLIGHT Objects tell stories and often reveal a significant and personal connection with their original owner. We are very lucky at Mary MacKillop Place Museum to have many objects in the Sisters Collection that share this connection. Earlier this year we received a group of objects that were donated by Elvie Collins. Elvie s mother, Alice Standford, born in 1913, was educated by the Sisters of St Joseph at St Joseph s Convent School in Nymagee, NSW. These objects, including children s prayer books and prayer cards were obviously treasured by their owner, Alice, especially as they had been kept together safely for her whole life from the time she was a young child. Alice s handwritten notes on nearly every item tell us of their personal importance to her, as a child and beyond. One of the items donated was Alice s prayer book, Key of Heaven. This book of prayers appears to have been in continuous publication for at least fifty years ( ), indicating it was a popular work to aid private devotion and the celebration of the sacraments. Alice s own handwritten notes reveal the span of time over which she engaged with her prayer book. In careful script she recorded her name and the year when presumably she received the prayer book, 1926, perhaps in memory of her First Communion. On the blank pages at the end, Alice has written the dates and ages at death of her mother and her father. The dates indicate personal and sentimental use of the prayer book from 1926 through to at least Aesthetically, this prayer book is quite significant. The inside cover displays a raised rectangular piece of heavy card, with the Sign of the Cross prayer engraved in gold. When opened, the piece of card reveals a hidden cavity in which a miniature silver and gold crucifix is embedded. This unique feature is not seen in any other prayer book held at the Museum. This prayer book was donated to us, still in its original box, which shows how much it was cared for and how special it was to Alice. We are so grateful to have it as part of the collection at the MMP Museum, where it will be cared for now and in the future. Jennifer Exton Museum Registrar

7 THE FIELD MMP Volunteers Pilgrimage Formation - A Day with a Difference On 14th October, Sr Annie Bond facilitated a Pilgrimage Experience for the MMP Volunteers. There was a beautiful atmosphere which we felt as soon as we walked into the room and saw the candle, flowers, swathes of fabric, cards and booklets. It was very spiritual. It made us reflect about our relationship with god; Mary and Julian s influence on us and how we can relate to their experiences, in our own lives and families. It was different to other training days, where we focus on information about exhibitions and other practicalities. It was good to sit quietly, relax and have the time to look and think about ourselves. It was nice to meet and interact with so many Volunteers who work in a variety of areas at Mary MacKillop Place. We enjoyed sharing ideas and personal thoughts with each other in a comfortable, trusting environment. There was no pressure to share our ideas but maybe god s grace helped us to open up unexpectedly. At the beginning of the day many of us were hesitant and thought we would just remain quiet. It was amazing how each of the little cards appealed to different individuals. We felt we were known personally. At the end of the day we felt renewed and inspired. With grateful thanks to Sister Annie, we really appreciate her care and support, The Tuesday Volunteers group, Mary MacKillop Place. MMP ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS we can take action for creation by living simply and reducing our carbon footprint what else can we do.? Mary Mackillop Place has put into place many new initiatives that have already made a huge difference. MMP s first project has been to reduce waste and recycle as much as possible. We have: * Installed recycling stations around the site; * Removed plastic lined desk bins and replaced them with individual waste stream bins. SOAP AID PROGRAMME MMP is supporting the Soap Aid Programme (see which collects waste soap from the accommodation area for re-processing into new cakes of soap. Soap Aid then distributes the new soap to disadvantaged communities to help improve hygiene amongst children and adults. At the same time MMP has ceased to discard soap bars to landfill. Soap Aid is a not-for-profit organisation founded in Australia, which aims to minimise hygiene related illness via education and donations of soap to communities in Australia and overseas. Handwashing with soap saves lives!. The The Legacy of Mary MacKillop Place - a place of Pilgrimage Would you like to to continue Mary MacKillop s legacy and ensure that her legacy and that of the Sisters of St Joseph continues into the future? Your gift is welcome now, or you might consider regular monthly gifts, or a bequest in your will. If you are interested in supporting Mary MacKillop Place, please contact trish.downey@sosj.org.au for more information.

8 SPOTLIGHT ON THE MUSEUM Introduction: Museum Co-Ordinator / Educator Sandra Johnston It is with much joy that I join Mary MacKillop Place as the Co-ordinator/Educator. Mary has been someone special to me since I was a young girl. The Josephite Sisters have a special place in my family. Their love and devotion to Our Blessed Mother are a tradition upheld in my family. I have two grown up children still at home with me. My daughter Rosemary, 21 years old, is carrying on the teaching tradition as a Secondary Science teacher. Christopher aged 18 years, has chosen to study Health Studies. I have worked the past 32 years in Catholic and Independent Education and have held various roles of responsibility during this time. Recently I have worked at Our Lady of the Rosary St Marys and prior to that at the Italian Bilingual School in Meadowbank. In the role of Co-ordinator at previous schools I have managed small teams of teachers developing programs and resources for students. Closely working with the principal, teachers and parent bodies I have assisted in developing a close-knit community. Through my years in education I am an attentive listener, respectful and prepared to see the other side. I am open to new ideas, working with people and contributing to a happy work place. I look forward to working in this inspiring and stimulating environment dedicated to Australia s first saint, St Mary MacKillop, Mother Mary of the Cross. SPOTLIGHT ON THE GIFT SHOP 2017 Josephite Calendar IT S CALENDAR TIME! With inspiration from our Founders, Family and friends will be Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop Fr Julian Tenison Woods delighted to receive this beautiful and inspiring calendar as a Christmas gift. Inside you will find inspirational writings and quotes from the Founders - St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods. The Calendar also features wonderful photographs taken by the Sisters of St Joseph and Associates, significant dates in Josephite History, contact details of Mary MacKillop Centres in Australia and New Zealand, and much more, for only $7. St Mary MacKillop Bracelet This delightful 14ct gold-plated St Mary MacKillop bracelet would make a memorable gift for that special occasion. This piece is handmade by an artisan, with alternating gold-tone and pink simulated pearl beads and includes the St Mary MacKillop pink medal charm. Price: $ For all merchandise please visit the MMP Gift Shop, order via mmp.shop@sosj.org.au or telephone: SPOTLIGHT ON ANDERLEDY LODGE JOSEPHITE CALENDAR 2017 Sandra Johnston Co-Ordinator/Educator Mary MacKillop Place Museum mackillop@sosj.org.au 7-11 Mount Street North Sydney NSW 2060 PO Box 1081 North Sydney NSW 2059 Tel (02) Fax (02) FOLLOW US... facebook.com/marymackillopplace twitter.com/marymackillopplace