The Sisters of St Joseph in Tasmania and Goulburn (New South Wales) are moving towards becoming a new, single congregation.
At a shared assembly late in January, the Sisters of the two congregations unanimously supported a proposal to become one. Each Sister then committed herself to ongoing involvement in the process.
The new congregation is expected to be established by the end of 2011. Both congregations have Chapters towards the end of next year and the process of union is moving towards the new congregation being ratified at those Chapters.
About 100 Sisters are involved.
Critical to the decision is the intention that the Sisters will search out "new and different ways of being Josephite for today's world", according to the Tasmanian Sister Guardian, Jillian Dance SSJ, of Hobart.
"This movement towards union is an opportunity for personal and congregational 're-founding' for the sake of continued commitment to the mission of Jesus in the spirit of Fr Julian Tenison Woods and Blessed Mary MacKillop," Sr Jill said.
While the exact nature and form of this re-founding was unknown, Sr Jill said that it would mean embracing differences, and greater collaboration with lay people who have the Josephite spirit. As part of an unfolding process, working groups of Sisters from each congregation have been established to prepare position papers.
The decision has emerged from several years of discussion among the five Josephite congregations that comprise the Federation of the Sisters of St Joseph in Australia and New Zealand (the "Black" Josephites. The "Brown" Josephites are the Central Josephites, based in North Sydney at Mary MacKillop Place).
The January Tasmania-Goulburn assembly was held at St Joseph's Centre for Reflective Living, Baulkham Hills (Sydney) with the theme "Living waters flow". It was the third shared assembly in as many years. The leadership teams of the two congregations have met regularly between assemblies.
Assisting the congregations are facilitators Sisters Mary Cresp RSJ (Adelaide) and Patricia Egan RSJ (Lochinvar).
"The process adopted was open and consultative," Sr Jill said, "and the assembled Sisters benefitted greatly from the wisdom, skills and vision of these two Sisters."
Sr Maria Casey RSJ, who is currently in Rome as the Postulator for the canonisation of Blessed Mary MacKillop, is the Canon Law consultant.
As the Sisters move towards unity, another shared assembly is likely to be held in Tasmania in January 2011.
The Sisters of St Joseph from the Tasmanian and Goulburn congregations share an assembly, "Living waters flow", at St Joseph's Centre for Reflective Living, Baulkham Hills (Sydney) in January. The congregational leaders are Sisters Noelene Quinane RSJ, Goulburn (front centre, checked shirt) and Jillian Dance SSJ, Hobart (blue and white shirt over pink top).
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