Keep in Touch Newsletter
The Sisters of Charity and Long Bay - 100 Years On.
There would be few people who, if reference was made to a gaol, would not automatically think of Long Bay, or “the Bay” as it is so often referred to.
On the 25th August, 1909 Long Bay Gaol was proclaimed as a women’s reformatory. On August 25th, a “commemoration” rather than “celebration” of the Centenary was marked among other things by the erection of a bell cast from 300 decommissioned “Jackson” type locks collected from various correctional centres around the state.
Historic Times for the Sisters of Charity
On July 1st Mary Aikenhead Ministries was established, heralding a change in governance for the various facilities founded by the Sisters of Charity. The Sisters’ facilities will now be governed by a group of Trustees: - Richard Harpham (Chairman), Elizabeth Dodds rsc, Linda Ferrington rsc, Rowena McNally and David Robinson. The official signing was carried out within a prayerful setting that acknowledged the history of the ministries and the great significance of the transfer.
2009 Claire Nolan Memorial Scholar
Therese McCarthy, of Caritas Christi Hospice, Kew, has been awarded this year’s Claire Nolan Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship honours the life of Sister Claire (RIP February 6th, 2005). The funds from the award will support Therese in her Graduate Diploma in Counselling as well as a Graduate Diploma in Theology through the Melbourne College of Divinity.
Mary Aikenhead Ministries
To assist in the implementation of the move to Mary Aikenhead Ministries, the previous Congregational Leader and Council appointed an Implementation Team and six Task Groups. On 17 November 2008, all the Task Groups came together to share the work that they have been undertaking and identify emerging challenges. The Task Groups have been inspired by Mary Aikenhead’s words: “We can never sit down contented with what has been done. The spirit of our Holy Institute requires that each of us shall be ever ready to undertake and try to accomplish all that may promote the Divine Honour and Glory”
World Youth Day comes to Australia
The Congregation was delighted to be able to sponsor a number of pilgrims to come to MAGiS/WYD in Sydney. Our pilgrims included three young Zambian sisters, Nancy, Helen and Miyanda, two sisters from Nigeria, Grace and Eucharia and Marie and Patrick from Tipperary, Ireland. A young woman, Marcela from Venezuela was accompanied by Franca Ahumibe, a Nigerian Sister of Charity who with Colleen Jackson rsc from Melbourne were animators for our group. (Animators accompanied a group of about six young adult in a supporting role for both the group members and group leaders.) Also part of our group were ‘seven little Australians.’ From Sydney we had Emma (ex St Vincent’s College), Elizabeth (SydPath, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney) and Noeleene (ex Bethlehem College). Representing Melbourne were Geri (ex Catholic Ladies College) and Stephie and Jacinta (St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne). From the Apple Isle, came Sarah (ex Mt Carmel College Sandy Bay).
Celebration at The Tree of Hope
On May 21 2008 Centacare celebrated many years of ministry to People Living with HIV/AIDS at The Tree of Hope by inviting Her Excellency Marie Bashir, Governor of New South Wales, and Bishop Terry Brady to come to a special gathering. Members of the Centacare executive, Bernard Boerma, Michael Austin, Gwen Bonett and Dianna Keogh, as well as service providers to the HIV clients were also invited to this special morning tea at the Centacare Campus at Surry Hills. St Patrick’s Business College is also on this site.
Mt Olivet Hospital Redevelopment
Brisbane’s Mt Olivet Hospital has begun work on a $35 million upgrade and extension to its facilities to create a general medical hospital of excellence specialising in the area of general medicine, gerontology, palliative care, rehabilitation and other specialised programs focusing on chronic disease management.
Celebrating Pastoral Care at St Vincent’s Health Melbourne
Sisters of Charity were an integral part of the Pastoral Care Week celebrations at St Vincent’s Health Melbourne. Pastoral Care week is celebrated internationally, and gives an opportunity to acknowledge the care and support provided by Pastoral Carers to patients and their families.