NEWS. 2 mother of mercy 4 council visit to townsville. Dear Friends. WASN T GOD GRAND to gift us the seasons of the year!

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1 Edition 21 spring 2014 MERCY PARTNERS NEWS CONTENTS 1 from the chair 2 editorial 2 mother of mercy 4 council visit to townsville 5 leadership formation program update 8 ministry updates 12 reflection garry everett acting chairperson, mercy partners PHOTOS: MHSNQ AND MERCY PARTNERS From the Chair Dear Friends WASN T GOD GRAND to gift us the seasons of the year! The world of nature dresses so differently for each season, and so do we. Summer the season for bare limbs, on trees and ourselves, everything designed and chosen to capture coolness. Winter is about the other extreme and we partner with nature wrapping up for warmth. But what of spring? Generous God decided this wasn t to be a time of focus on feeling hot or cold, but rather a time for us to feel the freshness, enjoy the Eden experience again when all is new. The season of spring does not manifest itself just in the world around us the external world. If we are truly human, we are conscious of spring within. It is a time of new beginnings; of letting go or savouring the sensory stimuli the sense of what is kind and merciful. Spring is THE season of the Formation Program of Mercy Partners. That program is focused around a difficult question: Who am I?. Just as the question, What is a year? can be answered by using the four seasons, so Who am I? can be answered in different ways, hopefully new ways. One thing is certain: we are more than just our body and what we do. Christian Formation takes us on a new path. We are encouraged to awaken to what is within ourselves. Awakening is a process akin to nature s rite of spring. Awakening is not like doing; not like engaging with the world of work. No, awakening is a gentler process that attends to a kind of organic unfolding of purpose or grace in our true selves. We are told that we need different attitudes, different skills, in order to answer Who am I?. Those attitudes and skills require careful discernment if they are to become trusted guides and friends along our journey. We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life s morning, wrote Carl Jung, the psychologist. In a similar way spring invites us to awaken, unfold, become who we really want to be. Christian formation is never completed. diary date October Catholic Identity Mercy Partners next Leadership Formation Retreat will be held at Robertson Gardens Comfort Inn and Suites, Brisbane 1 Mercy Partners NEWS Edition 21

2 mercy partners update judith gardiner executive officer, mercy partners From the Executive Officer THIS EDITION OF THE MERCY PARTNERS NEWSLETTER BRINGS YOU NEWS FROM THE COUNCIL, ITS COMMITTEES AND THE MINISTRIES AS WELL AS NEWS FROM AROUND THE MINISTRIES. WE ARE ALWAYS indebted to those people in the ministries who send us photographs and stories to share with our wider readership. The Council, reduced from its usual nine Councillors to six met in Townsville this month. Two Councillors, Mr Kieran McCarthy and Mr Les Jones, are currently on Pilgrimage in Dublin with others from across the ministries of Mercy Partners and the Sisters of Mercy Brisbane Congregation. This Pilgrimage, hosted by the Brisbane Congregation, continues to enrich our understanding and commitment to the charism of mercy. Two new Councillors, Ms Dianne Hearn and Dr Ricki Jeffery visited Townsville for the first time as Mercy Partners Councillors. The Council is appreciative of the efforts of the ministries in Townsville for their ongoing efforts in their mission. This edition also welcomes new members of the Mercy Partners Formation Committee. This newly convened Committee, under the leadership of Councillor Sr Marie Melville, is busy planning formation opportunities for We have all emerged from our mild winter into a glorious spring, our gardens bursting forth in blooms. It is also that time of the year when budgets and planning for next year begins, and Annual General Meetings remind us of the great effort that all the ministries make ensuring excellent administration and management of resources. Mother of Mercy Left-right: Patricia Kirchner rsm, Chris Hill, Jennifer Pitt (Nursing Director, Mater Health Services), Sr Angela Mary Doyle rsm, Dr David Wood, Dr John O Donnell (CEO, Mater Health Services) On September 10, Mater Health Services, Brisbane celebrated the tremendous efforts of those who achieved the Long Service Award. Mercy Partners Acting Chair, Garry Everett, spoke at the gathering congratulating those who have spent many years in the service of the Mater. Following is an extract from his address. A FEW DAYS ago, my wife was operated on in this hospital. It is just a simple reminder at a very personal level, on an occasion like today, of the countless cases of service that happen every day in the history of the Mater. Countless cases that come and go, parts of the tradition of caring. In these cases there are many people, each playing a role, some of whom often seem not to be noticed nor recognised. These are the unspoken details which are at the heart of the Long Service Awards at this Catholic hospital. This is why we gather today, why we give emphasis and importance to such an occasion. The need to be recognised is a universal and powerful human need. For those of you who have walked through the mall of Brisbane city on the other side of the river, you will see people who are trying to sell a newspaper called The Big Issue. These sellers come from many walks of life, mostly from severely PHOTOS: MHS 2 Mercy Partners NEWS Edition 21

3 mercy partners update disadvantaged backgrounds. When their organiser was asked recently, how he would describe them as a group, he replied, They are the unwanted and un-recognised people of this city. He went on to ask, that even if you do not wish to buy a paper, that you might just smile or say hello. The sellers, he said, thrive on recognition that they are people and workers too! Giving and receiving recognition has a long history in the Catholic Church as well. The best examples are the various feast days devoted to individual saints: holy women and men whose lives influenced others for the good. My favourite feast day is the first of November, a day we call All Saints Day. I like this idea, because I think we are meant to recall and acknowledge all those holy people who are not officially recognised as saints: the un-named, the unnoticed, whose quiet lives made a difference for the better for someone, or so many others. Only God recognises them. Today s award ceremony, affords us the opportunity to recognise the 485 people who were invited to receive an award. Today also affords us the opportunity to pause, remember, and celebrate all those staff, whose long service to the mission of the Mater over more than 100 years, deserves our utmost respect and gratitude. The description Long Service Awards makes us focus on the time, length, or duration of service. The milestones are recorded in years. Yet somehow this quantitative emphasis always seems inadequate. It is an abbreviated attempt to capture something quite elusive the quality of that service. I want today s recipients of awards to know and to feel, that we pay tribute to you as much for the wonderful ways in which you have served, as for the definitive durations of your service. Your names are now part of Mater history. CELEBRATING SERVICE IN MERCY Today is not only just an historical occasion. Today is also an important occasion. While pondering the significance of today s awards, I began thinking about the similarities and dissimilarities between Long Service Awards, and the awards given by another institution, a university. Graduates at a university are usually young, and at the beginning of their careers or professions. Our award recipients are much farther along their journey. The graduates have achieved the required basic knowledge and skills; our award recipients have achieved much more: they have acquired the dedication, commitment and compassion, that marks maturity in the university we call Mater. However, I would like to dwell for a moment on one aspect that the graduates and our recipients share in common. In many overseas universities, a degree is often accompanied by a description expressed in three Latin words, summa cum laude. A simple translation of those words renders the meaning as the highest level, with praise. However, simple translations can miss the richness of the original. While summa gives us the English The need to be recognised is a universal and powerful human need word summit (or highest point), cum laude is not well translated as with praise. Laude is meant to convey more than praise. In Latin, the sense is one of admiration, communal rejoicing, celebrating with sheer delight the achievement. This is the meaning we want our recipients to take away with them today. Perhaps a simple story will make the point more effectively. At a recent university graduation, a novelist, George Saunders, stunned the graduates with these words: What I regret most in life, are failures of kindness. Those moments when another human being was there in front of me suffering. And I responded sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly. Don t make the same mistake I did. Do all the other things, the ambitious things: travel, innovate, become famous! However, as you do all these wonderful things, incline in the direction of kindness. Do those things that incline you towards the big questions, and avoid those things that would reduce you and make you trivial. The effect we have on others, is the most valuable contribution we will ever make. Today I have a sense that our long service award recipients have demonstrated what Saunders hoped for the university graduates a service lived with kindness, compassion, and mercy, in the measure described by Jesus as, pressed down and flowing over. A FINAL TRIBUTE Most Queenslanders, I suspect, do not know the meaning of the word Mater. Those who do translate it as Mother, mostly do so in the context of this hospital a hospital for mothers which is part of its proud history. However, far fewer people know that the original title of this hospital was Mater Misericordiae, Mother of Mercy. The hospital was originally not just for mothers, but for Mercy. All those who came here for any form of healing, were to experience God s mercy, through the care and service of all who worked here. Mercy is a word with a variety of meanings: compassion, sympathy, comfort, care. Pope Francis has recently endorsed the description of mercy as the experience of God s love. Sometimes the notion of God s love is too abstract, too far removed from life; too unreal. But when someone shows you mercy, described by some as care over and above what you deserved, then you experience and know LOVE, God s love. This is the standard for a Mother of Mercy hospital. May we all leave here today, inspired by our long service award recipients. Inspired to give generously, to give full of mercy, and to give for life. Edition 21 Mercy Partners NEWS 3

4 mercy partners update Clockwise from above: Dr Ray Campbell, Mercy Partners Council Acting Deputy Chair, with the team from MHSNQ including Co-chair, Geraldine O Brien. Sr Carmel King, Sr Bev Hickson and Sr Sandra Lupi. Helen Perriman, Sr Helen Mary Peters, Sr Beverly Strong and Jenny Gustavson Council Visit to Townsville Recently the Mercy Partners Council met in Townsville, and hosted a Cocktail gathering for staff and Directors of the Boards of St Patrick s College, Mater Health Services North Queensland and Mercy Community Services. THE COUNCIL, LED by Acting Deputy Chair, Dr Ray Campbell, sees these regional events as an important element of its mission to support and encourage the local ministries. The Council recognised the great work done by the ministries. The evening was also an opportunity for people from across the three ministries to meet and socialise. The Chairs of the Boards, Mrs Geraldine O Brien, Sr Carmel King and Professor Sue McGinty (Deputy Chair) spoke enthusiastically about their ministries. Mercy Partners presented each of the ministries with a framed embroidery of the Mercy Partners Cross a representation of the cross of risen Jesus protecting the signature of Mercy Partners. Our special thanks go to Linda Souter from MHSNQ who kindly took photos of the evening. PHOTO: MHSNQ 4 Mercy Partners NEWS Edition 21

5 leadership formation program update carmel dwan rsm mercy partners formation co-ordinator From the Formation Corner OUR ANNUAL GATHERING IN CAIRNS AROUND THE VALUE OF RESPECT GIVING VOICE WAS A VERY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED. AS USUAL IT is always good to catch up with former graduated participants as well as current participants. Our time together began with respect for the Cosmos in which Sr Mary Anne Casanova rsj led us through the 13.8 billion year story of evolution and concluding with the area of Australia where we were situated Cairns. She did this via input and reflection. Our next reflection was led by Jenny Rossiter from Mt St Bernard s school in Herberton. Jenny spoke about her own experience of working with indigenous students and seeing their confidence and strength build up after being encouraged by these dedicated teachers. As time ran out with these sessions, two other stories were handed to participants for their own reflection. Terry Power then transported us down to the main business area where we embarked upon a Walk of Faith visiting such places as Hospital Precinct Healthcare and Wellbeing, Cairns Regional Council Governance and Leadership, Munro Martin Park Marginalised and several other places of interest and significance. We stopped at each, prayed, noted the focus of each and then prayed for an outpouring of God s grace in our community. We concluded our walk at St Monica s Cathedral Community of Faith and here Terry told us the story of the magnificent Creation Windows. The central philosophical tenet of these windows is to bring together religion and science, through art. During our celebration dinner we heard the story of the Mercy Mission and Charism Board, enjoyed each other s company and stories. See Formation Corner, page 6 Edition 21 Mercy Partners NEWS 5

6 leadership formation program update formation corner Continued from page 5 Our keynote address Who do you stand with? Respect, Advocacy, and Ministry by Mr Peter Pearce was a first in our Mercy Partners story in that this main address was delivered by one of our graduates. Peter presented a very well researched, informative address mingled with reflection and interaction. Our 24 hours together was a very enriching, enjoyable and reflective experience. A Springtime of Mary! I want to recommend some medicine for all of you, Pope Francis announced at the end of a Sunday Angelus address last November. It s a spiritual medicine. He held up a white medicine box with a drawing of the human heart on it. In the box, he told the 80,000 people gathered there for midday prayer, was a rosary. Don t forget to take it, he said. It s good for your heart, for your soul, for your whole life. The Rosary is a spiritual aid for our soul and for spreading love forgiveness and brother/ sisterhood to everyone. As I thought about this I became aware of the number of celebrations of Mary in our Church calendar during September, October and November. It s like a Springtime of Mary as we prepare for the Advent summer and the lead up to the Birth of Jesus. September 8 Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary On September 8 we celebrate the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She probably took time to look back on the past year and look forward with hope and possibility to the future. Our birthday celebration also gives us an opportunity to look back and to look and reflect with new eyes at the time ahead. September 12 Most Holy Name of Mary The feast of her birth is followed four days later on September 12 by the Most Holy Name of Mary. It led me to wonder Presenters Ms Jenny Rossiter and Sr Mary Anne Cassanova rsj 6 Mercy Partners NEWS Edition 21

7 about my own name who chose it? What is its meaning? Do I like it? Do YOU like your name? What is its origin? September 15 Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows On September 15 we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, an opportunity for us to reflect on the absolute humility of Mary as she heard the words prophesied by Simeon, A sword of sorrow shall pierce your heart. How would Mary have felt at hearing these words? How do we cope with these real life predictions in our own lives? Do we turn to her for strength? September 24 Feast of Our Lady of Mercy We move now to September 24 the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy which is honoured and celebrated in a special way by those ministries which embrace the charism of Mercy as followers of Catherine McAuley. October 7 Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary October 7 takes us back to Pope Francis words at the beginning of this article the Rosary Pope Francis recommends it as spiritual medicine. For many of us who grew up prior to Vatican II remember kneeling each evening with the family to pray the Rosary. At that time there was a slogan promoted which read, The family that prays together, stays together. The Rosary also provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the Scriptures in the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries. I find myself returning to the recitation of the Rosary when the hardships of life confront me and I am unable to focus on other types of prayer. It is a great comfort. November 21 The Presentation of Mary in the Temple These pre-advent feasts of Mary culminate on November 21 with the celebration of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. This is the day those of us who embrace the charism of the Presentation Sisters and the followers of Nano Nagle have special celebrations. On the final page of this newsletter is an article by Sr Marlette Black pbvm, enriching us with an insight into the charism and foundress of the Order. As I have penned these lines it feels like taking a nostalgia trip back in time but hopefully it also leaves one with the longing to connect more deeply with Mary as she was proclaimed by the second Vatican Council Mother of the Church Formation diary dates Catholic Identity Date October 15-17, 2014 Venue Brisbane Theology of Mission Date March 18-20, 2015 Venue Rockhampton Understanding the significance of Catholic Identity and the role of the Laity within Ministries: understanding the significance of Catholic Identity and the role of the Laity within present Ministries; Catholic Social Teachings and their relevance to ministries today; developing a personal Spirituality for a Leader; connecting to the local church community, others and building partnerships. Understanding Governance and Fiduciary Responsibility within a Catholic Ministry; the Organisation Aspects of the Catholic Church including Canon Law; understanding Mercy Partners Sponsorship Mission, Structures and Responsibilities; acknowledging the need to Resource the Mission and Ministry, balancing Mission and Business. Annual Gathering Date July 17-18, 2015 Venue Brisbane. Details to come. Leadership and Governance in a Catholic Ministry Date October 14-16, 2015 Venue Townsville. Details to come. Edition 21 Mercy Partners NEWS 7

8 mercy partners ministry updates mhs Reflecting on 83 years of exceptional paediatric healthcare by Veena Herron Later this year, Mater Health Services publicly-funded paediatric services will transition to the new Lady Cilento Children s Hospital. MATER WILL BID a fond but sad farewell to Mater Children s Hospital and the staff who have proudly delivered exceptional care to the children of Queensland and their families for more than 83 years. Between now and the end of the year Mater will celebrate and share the story of Mater Children s Hospital, its staff and patients. We invite you to share your Mater Children s Hospital stories, memories and thoughts by visiting In addition to sharing your story, you can also read some of the touching memories which have already been shared with us, and read about the rich history of Mater Children s Hospital. We also invite you to attend a special event to formally acknowledge the exceptional contribution of Mater Children s Hospital in Queensland. Following the transition later this year, Mater will continue to provide exceptional paediatric healthcare at Mater Children s Private Hospital. Veena is Mater Health Services Marketing and Communication Officer FAREWELL MATER CHILDREN S HOSPITAL Date: Saturday 1 November 2014 Time: 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm Location: Mater Health Services, Raymond Terrace RSVP required: by 17 October to mchfarewell@mater.org.au. Further event details will be provided to those who RSVP to attend. st ursula s college Live Life To The Full! by Leisa Reber Students at St Ursula s College, Yeppoon, marked Catholic Education Week by attending a special Mass at nearby St Brendan s College on Tuesday July 29th which highlighted the theme of the week Come Live Life in all its Fullness. INDIGENOUS STUDENTS FROM St Ursula s participated in a special welcome ceremony at the beginning of the Mass which was celebrated by Parish Priest, Fr Bryan Hanifin. After this, students from all the schools who attended enjoyed a tasty lunch and the Year 12 St Brendan s College Band played some popular tunes which had everyone dancing. During the celebrations, congratulations were extended to a member of the Music Department at St Ursula s College, Mrs Ursula (Tink) Boyd who was nominated for a Spirit of Catholic Education Award. This was a worthy commendation as Mrs Boyd has fostered a great love and enjoyment of music in many St Ursula s students, past and present, for which we are very grateful. See Life to the Full, page 9 PHOTO MHS 8 Mercy Partners NEWS Edition 21

9 mercy partners ministry updates st patrick s college townsville St Patrick s College Girls Support CARITAS by Donna Ahlers During the season of Lent and the following weeks of Term 2, students of St Patrick s College Townsville appreciated the meaning of sacrifice and sharing by emptying their pockets of spare change in aid of the Caritas appeal. IN ADDITION TO personal contributions, the members of the College community held sweet stalls and a pancake day to boost their fundraising efforts. Sr Helen Mary Peters rsm, accepted a cheque for $ on behalf of Caritas at a recent school assembly. She explained to the members of the College community the vital importance of their fundraising efforts in the light of the recent budget cuts to charity institutions abroad. The Caritas appeal is the College s major fundraising activity Above: Year 12 students, Tiara Walsh and Chloe Spaull, present a cheque to Sr Helen Mary Peters at a recent College Assembly. for Semester 1 each year, and the girls are supporting overseas communities in their efforts to become self-sufficient. Donna is St Patrick s College Townsville Marketing Officer PHOTOS: ST PATRICK S COLLEGE TOWNSVILLE, ST URSULA S COLLEGE life to the full Continued from page 8 On their return to our College, the girls participated in the Inter-House Sing Off. This was highly entertaining and really captured the spirit of joy that is so much a part of St Ursula s College. The competition was won by Nagle House, (named after Nano Nagle the founder of the Presentation Sisters). The colour and energy of their performance was surpassed only by the talent they displayed. Catholic Education Week also featured other enjoyable activities and was certainly well celebrated at St Ursula s College, Yeppoon, where students do indeed Live Life in all its Fullness. Leisa is St Ursula s College Assistant to Leadership Edition 21 Mercy Partners NEWS 9

10 mercy partners ministry updates st rita s college Journey to Understanding by Denise Koe On Saturday 21 June, twelve Year 10 and Year 11 students from St Rita s College embarked on our week-long immersion to Murgon. This experience gave us the opportunity to learn about Indigenous culture and to spend time with the children of St Joseph s Primary School. MANY OF US chose to participate in this immersion in order to gain a firsthand experience of the lives of people living in rural Indigenous communities and a better understanding of the issues faced by these communities. We also looked forward to meeting the St Joseph s students and comparing the differences between attending a rural and urban school. At this stage, none of us knew the extent of the experiences we would be exposed to throughout the duration of our immersion. Our immersion began with a two-night stay at Barambah Environmental Education Centre. Here we were given an opportunity to learn about the rich cultural traditions of the Wakka Wakka people. We participated in activities such as star gazing, learning about bush tucker plants and their uses, weaving string and taking part in a two-anda-half kilometre bushwalk to One Tree Hill. Through these experiences, we were able to better understand the importance of country to Indigenous people. We learnt how the different Indigenous tribes survived by making full use of the resources available to them. Unlike the white settlers of the early 19th Century, Indigenous people knew the importance of ensuring that all their resources were used sustainably. They would never overhunt a particular species nor would they harvest an entire crop of vegetation. This ensured that each resource would be available for future generations. Traditional Indigenous people also ensured peace with other tribes by staying within the boundaries of their land unless invited onto the land of another. These practices ensured the survival of these people for 60,000 years. We visited the Cherbourg Ration Shed Museum where we were shown how Aboriginal tribes all across Australia were torn from their native land and brought to reservations. Given the interconnectedness of Aboriginal people with their land, we realised the immense trauma that Indigenous people would have faced when they were forced to live on reservations. None of us had any idea of the painful realities that these people faced throughout the course of the twentieth century. During this time, Indigenous people from various tribes all with completely different languages, cultures and traditions were forced to live together and adopt a Western lifestyle. Through this, Indigenous people lost much knowledge of their traditional way of life. Yet, at the same time, they were not fully accepted by Western society. We realised how hard it must have been to know that you did not belong to a society that was the only way of life that you knew. This experience at Cherbourg helped all of us to better understand and empathise with the issues faced by Indigenous people today. During our immersion, we were warmly welcomed by everyone at St Joseph s Catholic Primary school. Here, we were given the opportunity to join in all the classes, take part in their school programs and of course, interact with the students. We soon realised that St Joseph s is a very close community. We noticed that the students knew each other and mixed together during play time. Everyone seemed to have a brother and sister or a cousin somewhere! We also appreciated how much the teachers knew and cared for each of the students. We also saw how the school gave back to the Murgon community as much as possible by organising afternoon activities such as visits to the local retirement village to play lawn bowls with its residents. Our time at St Joseph s showed all of us the importance of building a strong school community where everyone is made to feel that they belong. All of us have many fond memories of the immersion. These include visiting the giant Matilda kangaroo, blowing up airbeds that deflated during the night, sensor lights that turned off during your shower, playing soccer with the St Joseph s kids and mistaking cows for Kangaroos. By far though, our favourite part was walking on sacred Aboriginal land and seeing the children s faces light up when you told them you were going with them to their class or going to play with them at lunch. These certainly are memories that we will never forget. Overall, we have come away from our time in Murgon with many new experiences and understandings. We all better understand the traditions and culture of Indigenous Australians as well as the harsh reality of their poor treatment in the past. Because of this, we see that in order to move forward for a better future, we must acknowledge past injustices. We have also come to realise the importance of creating communities where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging. Denise is a Year 11 student at St Rita s College Clayfield PHOTOS ST RITA S COLLEGE 10 Mercy Partners NEWS Edition 21

11 mercy partners council updates part one Council and Committees council MERCY PARTNERS IS pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Dianne Hearn and Dr Ricki Jeffery Councillors of Mercy Partners. Both these women have experience in governance and management of Church agencies in education, health and community services. They both also bring an understanding of the Presentation charism and a commitment to lay leadership in the Church. formation committee MERCY PARTNERS IS pleased to announce the appointment of Marlette Black pbvm, Mr Terry Power, Ms Julie Morgan and Ms Vicki Ward. Marie Melville rsm remains as Formation Committee Chair. This committee brings a depth of knowledge and commitment to the work of Formation for Catholic leadership in education and health, as well as experience working within the Mercy and Presentation charisms. finance committee LATE LAST YEAR Mercy Partners appointed Dr Paul O Shea, Ms Gabrielle Power West and Dr Adam Walk to its Finance Committee. This group has met throughout 2014 to establish financial policies for Mercy Partners, looking essentially at the long-term financial goals of the organisation. The Committee hopes to assist Mercy Partners Council to strengthen its risk management work and its financial security. In Part Two of this series we will profile other Mercy Partners Committee members. DIANNE HEARN Dianne is one of Mercy Partners more recent Councillors being appointed to Mercy Partners Council in July Dianne s early career was in secondary education, adult faith formation and Congregational leadership as a member of the Queensland Presentation Sisters. She then worked in senior positions in human resource management in both health and education in various Catholic organisations in New South Wales and Queensland. Since 2007 Dianne has been living on the Sunshine Coast with Paul, her husband, and together they provide consultancy to not-for-profit organisations in areas relevant to organisational development and human resource management. Dianne was very excited to be asked to join the Mercy Partners Council given her long-time association with Presentation Sisters and her deep belief in the importance of the education, health and community care ministries founded by religious congregations. DR RICKI JEFFERY Ricki was appointed to Mercy Partners Council in July She is currently the Diocesan Director of Centacare: Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton and holds director positions on the Boards of Family Relationships Services Australia and Central Queensland Medicare Local. She previously held the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of St Ursula s College Ltd. Ricki brings to the Council a working knowledge of Education, Primary Health and Community Services delivery in regional areas with particular expertise in building capacity to meet challenges in a conscious and intentional way for ministries operating in regional Australia. She holds a professional doctorate in transdisciplinary studies. TERRY POWER The Mercy world is home for Terry. He was born in the Mater Hospital in Mackay, attended Primary school with the Sisters at St Francis Xavier School Mackay and worked as an Assistant to the Principal/Deputy Principal in Mercy secondary colleges for 23 years. For the last three years he has worked from the Mercy Centre in Cairns as the Manager Mercy Formation & Projects Far North Queensland and this has allowed him to follow his passion for formation. Terry is a teacher at heart and looks forward to making a contribution as a member of the Mercy Partners Formation Committee. MARLETTE BLACK Marlette is a Queensland Presentation Sister. She has experience as an educator, designated leader, facilitator and justice promoter. In all these roles she is committed to consciously choosing to be drawn more deeply into the mystery of God, to standing with those made poor and changing the structures that oppress them, and to caring for Earth, our home. As an educator, Marlette has experience as a teacher and a principal. She was involved in the governance of her congregation s schools for over 20 years. Marlette also worked as a Field Officer for Adult Education with Brisbane Catholic Education. She has been a member of her Congregation s Leadership Team and was the Leader of the Queensland Presentation Sisters from 1999 to For nine years she was the Networker for the International Presentation Association, coordinating the Presentation Sisters global justice agenda. As a justice promoter Marlette is particularly interested in promoting systemic change in church and society according to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. Currently, Marlette is the Leader of the Queensland Presentation Sisters. Dianne Hearn Ricki Jeffery Marlette Black pbvm Terry Power Edition 21 Mercy Partners NEWS 11

12 reflection presentation day: november 21 marlette black pbvm says, Nano Nagle, the foundress of the Presentation Sisters, had two major devotions. ONE WAS TO the Sacred Heart of Jesus and one was to the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. For a time the Presentation Sisters were called The Sisters of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus before their name was changed to Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Presentation of Mary in the Temple is the Feast Day celebrated by all Presentation people. This Feast of Mary is given prominence in the Eastern Catholic Church and is part of Tradition rather than being found in the New Testament. Some of the prophecies of the Old Testament foreshadow the event, e.g. Isaiah 60:5ff and Isaiah 61:10. The main source of the story of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple is found in the Protevangelium of James in the second century. We read there: Joachim placed her on the third step of the altar, and the Lord God put grace upon the child, and she danced for joy with her feet, and the whole house of Israel loved her. And her parents went down wondering, praising and glorifying the almighty God because the child did not turn back. And Mary was in the Temple nurtured like a dove and received food from the hand of an angel. Many ancient icons and classic paintings depict the Presentation of Mary, the Theotokos (God-bearer), in the Temple. In the Eastern Church, the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple is called The Feast of Mary s Entry Into Silence. St Gregory Palamas in the 14th century wrote a sermon in which he sees Mary as a contemplative, as the one who has attained silence of heart. Mary s time in the Temple was a training in contemplation through stillness and silence of heart. She developed the attitude of attentive listening, an awareness of God s immediacy. In the Temple Mary learned to become space for the Uncontained God. In the Byzantine hymn books Mary is seen as being herself the true temple and in the Eastern Church the liturgy refers to Mary as the pure temple of the Saviour. She is indeed the heavenly tabernacle and in the hymns she is described as ark, holy of holies, house of God, and house of grace. The dwelling place of God incarnate is not a shrine constructed by human hands, but the altar of Mary s body and soul. The feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple is not primarily about Mary s selfgiving to God. This is properly celebrated in the Feast of the Annunciation. The Presentation of Mary in the Temple celebrates the fact that God dwells with us in our lives, in our communities and in the whole cosmos. Jesus is the new Temple the new dwelling place of God, and Mary because she bears God in her womb is the new ark of the Covenant, the new dwelling place of God. Each of us, each of our communities, the whole world and all creation needs to become more visibly the place where God dwells.the spiritual legacy of Presentation people is that we are Heart and Temple people who are called to become for our world God s loving presence and The Presentation of Mary to the Temple compassionate heart. This requires of us an attentiveness to God s presence through mindfulness and stillness of heart. And the young Mary s eager dancing steps in the portals of the Temple remind us that discerning and imaging the presence of God is a joyful calling. In one of her poems Raphael Consedine pbvm sums up the meaning of this beautiful feast: Mary, living from that sacred place where earth meets heaven, your heart discerned the Holy One Sr Marlette Black pbvm is Leader of the Presentation Sisters of Queensland and is a Mercy Partners Formation Committee member. IMAGE: Mercy Partners. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of Mercy Partners. Supplied content is used with permission of the copyright holder as noted and ownership of this content remains the property of the original copyright holder. Please apply to the Editor in writing for permission to reproduce any part of this publication: judith.gardiner@mercypartners.org.au. Note: this publication may be transmitted without permission for the purpose of genuine promotion of the mission of Mercy Partners and its ministries, or for study. MERCY PARTNERS info@mercypartners.org.au PO Box 424 Banyo Q 4014 Lvl 2 McAuley Bldg 131 Queens Road Nudgee Q 4014