Influential religious women help fly inspirational flag

 

pathways, September 2009

 

 

 

They are Sisters Marg Finlay IBVM  (Archdiocese of Perth, WA),  Pauline FitzWalter SGS (Archdiocese of Sydney, NSW) and Mary Cleary MSS (Diocese of Toowoomba, Qld).

 

The Council for Australian Catholic Women and Bishops Commission for Church Ministry compiled this Photographic Exhibition of Influential and Inspirational Australian Catholic Women to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the report into the participation of women in the Catholic Church in Australia, "Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus".

 

Each diocese in Australia was invited to nominate two women for inclusion in the exhibition.

 

The Church in Australia is richly blessed by talented, gifted women who seek out a voice and place in the life of the Church, according to the Office of the Participation of Women director, Kimberley Davis.

 

"This exhibition highlights a small sample of the expertise, knowledge and wisdom available to the Church in Australia," she said.

 

"It provides an opportunity to reflect on the journey we take with women of the old and new Testaments, pioneering women of Australia, Religious Sisters, past and present who provide a voice for the voiceless and continue to be groundbreakers as women in the Church, for women in positions of leadership in Catholic education, Catholic health and Catholic social services and for wives and mothers who bring alive the message of Jesus Christ to the people they care for and nurture."

 

 

is a member of the Loreto community in Western Australia.  Since returning to Perth in 2002, she has been the Catholic chaplain in Bandyup Women's Prison.  In order to address some of the needs of Perth's homeless woman, Sr Marg and a group of Religious women from various congregations worked to establish a night shelter in Fremantle.  The Sisters' Place has been offering safe sleeping accommodation for two years.  Sr Marg also works with two groups of women who gather monthly to reflect and study.  One of these, the Circle of Peace, has spent a year meeting with Muslim women, building bridges of friendship and understanding.

 

 

 

was professed as a Sister of the Good Samaritan in January 1951.  A teacher and theologian, her life changed when she met Francis Webb, an Australian poet who suffered bouts of mental illness.  By the end of 1977, her conviction that God wanted her to work with the homeless and those suffering mental illness led her to petition the congregation to allow her to set up homes for the homeless.  Through the Houses of St Francis, in the Haymarket, Sydney, she offered security, friendship and spiritual nourishment to the homeless.  In 1991, the apostolate moved to Hurstville where she continued until the last house was closed in 2006.  Sr Pauline continues to live in Hurstville where her ministry continues through prayer and parish involvement.

 

 

is a Missionary Sister of Service who has been the pastoral leader of the Jandowae Parish, southwest Queensland, since 1999.  One of her great gifts is the ability to encourage lay people to use their gifts in the service of the community. Among the many roles she undertakes, Sr Mary has been given permission to conduct baptisms within the Catholic community.  She also conducts funerals and presides regularly at weekend liturgies when a priest is not scheduled to visit Jandowae.  She also has a civil marriage celebrant licence and while she is yet to officiate at a marriage it is sure to happen in the future.  A long-time friend to those who are unchurched, her work was recognised when her story was featured during an ABC Compass programme last year.  She also features in the book Around the Kitchen Table with the Missionary Sisters of Service published last year.

 

The exhibition was opened during the conference, Women: Gathering, affirming, celebrating.  It will tour Australia with the first stop at Geraldton, WA. Meanwhile, the photographs and profiles are available under diocesan headings on the website of the Office for the Participation of Women.

 

 

see also Remembering towards a more inclusive future for further details on the conference