Provincial Chapter October 24-28 2011 Over the years I have heard a number of Sisters say that, when they told their parents that they wished to join the Good Shepherd Sisters the reaction was: The work of that Order is too hard. We support your call to religious life but please go to one of the other orders! As I visit and hear about what is happening in Good Shepherd today in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in the Asia Pacific region, it seems that Good Shepherd work remains challenging and demanding. Choosing to be involved with people who are excluded from the mainstream takes energy, creativity, flexibility and endurance. I am writing these lines in South Korea where I am attending a meeting of province leaders of the Asia Pacific region. Today we discussed Interfaith Dialogue. Sr Theresia Tjan, the province leader of Indonesia spoke. Her English is simple and precise. She said: We live in the middle of Muslim people. We invite them to our Christmas celebrations, and they invite us to their special celebrations. There is conflict between Christians and Muslims from time to time, but we do not allow this to affect us. In a recent letter to the sisters, our Congregational Leadership Team based in Rome quoted some words of St Mary Euphrasia which I had not seen before: One could say that grace moves continually round us and that it continually tries to find an entrance to our hearts. Conferences 46. The Provincial Chapter provides an opportunity to deliberately open our hearts to moments of grace. Inspirational work is happening all around us - in agencies, workplaces, communities. Can we see it? Do we affirm the contribution of each other? Can we choose to build goodwill in every part of Good Shepherd..in every circumstance? Pamela Molony Province Leader In This Final Chapter E News Chapter Memories by Sr Anne Manning. Filming and Live Streaming of the Provincial Chapter. Please read carefully and find out how and when you can follow what is going on. Contemplative Sisters Celebrate 50 years in Australia at the Chapter. Chapter echoes are being planned across the province in November and October. See Page 5 for details.
Chapter Memories...1985 By Sr Anne Manning General Chapter had declined to pass a social justice statement, seeing this as too political. Once again, the chapter delegates were locked in debate over whether we should be seen to be opposing injustice openly. For some, this seemed contrary to the spirit of reconciliation which is a central value of Good Shepherd. Then two things happened. A Portuguese sister, whom I had classified as conservative just because she looked conservative (beware of rash judgments!) stood up and spoke really strongly in favour of passing the statement. I could see delegates nodding as she spoke. And then, just before we were about to vote, there was a mighty clap of thunder right over our heads as though the heavens themselves were making their statement! The social justice statement was passed and eventually we all went home to work at putting it into practice. The 1985 General Chapter was mainly concerned with the rewriting of our constitutions, so there were many parts of it that were, for me, quite tedious. Once we had concluded that part of the work, a major item on the agenda was a social justice statement. This was particularly important because, to my deep disappointment, the 1979 New Leaders Elected One of the things that happens at the Chapter is the election of a new Province Leader and a Province Leadership Team. The new team will be announced on Friday (October 28). In the last few General Chapters there has been no separate social justice statement, because now action for social justice is seen generally as being integral to Good Shepherd and principles of justice are embedded in the Directions for the Congregation coming from each Chapter. "Be faithful in following the inner light which it pleases God to give each one of you. May it enlighten you, may it always go with you! The more you follow this light and grace, the more you will savor that delightful peace which is our joy in this world." St. Mary Euphrasia Conferences p.280
Chapter Memories...1973 By Sr Naomi McClements It seems I have been attending Chapters for so long! I have attended all the Province Chapters since the late 1990 s, except for the 1993 Chapter when I was overseas. It has been a great experience to be part of them for so long and see the way they have evolved over the years. Initially, they were very closed Chapters. However, in the 1970 s and into the 1980 s the Province was very blessed to have the services of Br Ron Fogarty fms a great teacher and educator who educated us in new ways of planning and organising Chapters through discernment, new processes and decision making. One of the most significant Chapter experiences for me was when I was elected as a delegate to attend the General Chapter in Angers, France, in 1973. As reported in a previous Chapter e Bulletin Srs Bernadette Fox, then Provincial, and Joan Raper were also delegates from our Province. It was at this Chapter that Bernadette was elected as Superior General. Although this was a great honour for Bernadette and our Province I recall my first reaction was to cry at the thought of losing her from our Province for some considerable time! different cultures, languages -all sharing the same Good Shepherd spirit of St Mary Euphrasie of welcome, hospitality, respect, justice and zeal. I recall there was one very difficult decision where the Chapter body was quite polarized, but we worked through it slowly but surely under Br Ron s facilitation and came through to a clear decision. Ron commented later, that it showed the depth of the Good Shepherd spirit that we were able to come through this situation to such a clear decision. As I look back from the closed Chapters of earlier times I have seen them evolve over time to become far more open and now to our Chapter of 2011 where I expect there will be new vitality, energy and enthusiasm as our lay partners join and participate with us in planning for the next six years of Good Shepherd mission and ministry in our Province. The seeds of tomorrow are buried deep in the events of today. Robert Theobald, futurist thinker and author (1927-99) Another highlight of this Chapter was the wonderful spirit I experienced of all these Good Shepherd Sisters from all over the world so many
Summary of Chapter Filming & Streaming Almost 100 people, Sisters and mission partners from around Australia and New Zealand, will attend the Provincial Chapter in Melbourne, starting on October 24. Good Shepherd Sisters would like as many people as possible, throughout the Good Shepherd network, to share this important event and have provided for live streaming and filming of various parts of the Chapter. Parts of the Chapter are for Sisters only, but other parts can be viewed. Good Shepherd Sister Rosanne Smith and Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand s business manager Wayne Gorst, have put together an extensive program. Please read the information so that you can take advantage of this opportunity. What s being Filmed? Most sessions of the Chapter will be filmed and kept for archival purposes. The only sessions that won t be filmed are the sessions relating to the election of the new Province Leadership team, including the pre & post election sessions i.e. Wednesday afternoon, all Thursday and Friday before 11.30am. Streaming of Chapter What is Streaming? Streaming (or Live Feed) refers to the live transmission over the internet of what is being filmed. This means that anyone who is registered, can from any computer, see and hear what is being filmed at the Chapter. Documents and presentations presented at the Chapter will also be able to be viewed. There is no need to have a microphone as this is a one-way feed i.e. you will just be receiving the picture and sound you won t be able to be seen or heard by anyone else. What sessions will be streamed? Not all the filmed sessions will be streamed as some sessions won t be visually suitable for streaming. And some sessions will only be able to be viewed by sisters. Below is a summary of the sessions that will be streamed live and so can be viewed by anyone across the network. In addition to individuals being able to receive Live Feeds, there will some communal areas where the sessions will be streamed live e.g. the Sisters Clarke St units at Abbotsford (all sessions) and Provincialate Office Boardroom (except for Sisters only sessions) in Abbotsford. Good Shepherd Sisters, staff, volunteers and friends around Australia, please note that all times quoted are Australian Daylight Savings Time and you will need to take the time difference in your region into account. What if I am not able to view a session live? That s OK, as links to the filmed session can be emailed to you to watch at your own convenience. continued page 4, including a guide to what can be seen and the times.
Date Time Content Audience Mon 24 th Oct 9-10.30am Opening All Noon(approx) Governance Panel All 1pm 2-3.30pm Ministry Reports All 4-5.30pm Ministry Reports All Tues 25 th Oct 1.30-3pm PLT Report, IT Report Sisters only 3-4.30pm Contemplative Sisters 50 All years ritual 4.30-5.30pm Treasurer s Report Sisters only Wed 26 th Oct 9-10.30am Scripture Input Veronica Lawson 11am-12.30pm Scripture Input Veronica Lawson Sisters only Sisters only Fri 28 th Oct 11.30am-12.30pm Eucharist All 1.30-3pm Formal Announcements & Closure How do I arrange a Live Feed of the Chapter (or to have the link emailed)? Simply contact Rosanne Smith by email: rosannes@goodshep.com.au or by phone on 0402 056 637, and you will be sent instructions about how to receive the feed, which includes information about how to register to receive the feed. Please note that if you do not register to receive the live feed prior to the Chapter you will not be able to access it during the Chapter. This is to prevent unauthorized users accessing the feed. What if I have problems on the day? Simply contact Rosanne and she will liaise with the relevant technical person to resolve your issue. Any questions? Please contact Rosanne or Wayne Gorst (wayne.gorst@goodshep.com.au) All Chapter Reading at your Fingertips If you would like to read any of the previous editions of the Chapter E news, reflection sheets or Chapter planning committee meetings, please click on the icon (right).
Contemplative Sisters Celebrate 50 Years in Australia The Contemplative Sisters will mark their 50 years in Australia with a ritual to be celebrated at the Provincial Chapter on Tuesday (October 25). In 1961 a Contemplative community was established at Oakleigh Victoria. The community that had been established in New Zealand in 1936 was transferred to Oakleigh in 1965 and 1967. Sr Rose Murphy recalls that In 1984 we moved to Karuna, Boronia, Victoria, where we shared with the Parish our ministry of Liturgical life and prayer. Due to age and health, the sisters (pictured from left), Peggy Mary Fennessy, Valda Singleton, Veronica Wilkinson, who was one of the first sisters to enter at Oakleigh, and Rose Murphy, are now at the Abbotsford units and aged care facilities. Founded by St Mary Euphrasia in Tours, 1825 the Contemplative sisters ministry is prayer. The sisters traditionally lived a very cloistered life of prayer and work. While many Good Shepherd contemplative sisters around the world now live among other sisters, they still hold true to St Mary Euphrasia s words, Your prayer should be apostolic animated by a longing to bring the whole world to God s love and service, even at the cost of our lives. These words help the sisters to realize the particular ministry of intercessory prayer entrusted to them by their foundress. Please Note: On Tuesday October 25 between 3pm and 4.30pm this celebration ritual can be viewed. Please refer to the streaming program on page 4. Echo the Provincial Chapter at Your Good Shepherd Place Book Now! The Good Shepherd Provincial Chapter is on from October 24-28 in Melbourne. Almost 100 Good Shepherd Sisters and mission partners from the province of Australia and New Zealand will attend the Chapter, which is a very significant event in the life of this province we all work in. Decisions and direction statements from the Chapter, held in Box Hill, will have an impact on the entire province, across all communities and agencies into the future. Reading the Chapter memory from Sr Anne Manning (page2) offers an insight into the importance of the Chapter. While not all Good Shepherd Sisters, staff and friends are able to attend the Chapter, a presentation, capturing significant moments and outcomes of the Chapter will be prepared by Srs Anne Dalton, Monica Walsh and Caroline Price and delivered by members of the Sisters Speakers Bank. This presentation, or Chapter echo will help Good Shepherd people across our province understand what has gone on over the five days October 24-28. It is important that this presentation be available to all staff and friends at staff meetings, Board and committee meetings, or in more informal gatherings. To arrange a date (preferably in November/early December) please contact Rosie Hoban at Mission & Justice on 03 9270 9739, 0408 090036 or at rosieh@goodshep.com.au. Sisters in the Speakers Bank will work in with whatever day and time is most convenient for your community or workplace.