Tasmania's own Missionary Sisters of Service continue their ministry of loving pastoral service in five states of Australia and Singapore. Their ability to be with people in their everyday lives remain the hallmark of their call.
Founded in Launceston in July 1944 by the late Father John Wallis to take the faith to families beyond the reach of the local parish in the remote areas of Tasmania and later Australia, the Sisters still find themselves on the edge.
July's World Youth Day provided a recent example of today's at-home missionary challenges.
The Congregational Leader, Sr Bernadette Wallis, from Melbourne, attended WYD with a group of Deaf people from several countries including Korea, the United States, Spain, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and Australia. Sr Stancea Vichie, also from Melbourne, did her bit in Melbourne; Sr Cheryle Thompson travelled from South Australia's Whyalla with a parish group while Sr Kath Clune, from Sydney, worked throughout the WYD week as a volunteer and other Sisters were involved with Days in the Diocese around the country.
Sr Bernadette who has had many years of ministry with the Deaf community, especially in Melbourne, said Sydney was transformed with a spirit of faith, enthusiasm and awe with the huge numbers of young people who created such a sense of community, peace and joy. The experience reminded her of the words of Cardinal Newman: The world is growing old but the Church is ever young.
Sr Stancea, through her volunteer work with the Good Shepherd Sisters social justice network, was one of the presenters of an "experiment" before WYD, one of several organised by Magis 08 the young adult ministry of the Jesuits supported by the Loreto Sisters, the Sisters of Charity, the Religious of the Sacred Heart and the Faithful Companions of Jesus. Overall, the Magis 08 programme brought together 1200 pilgrims from 40 countries. The experiments, held early in July and one of several elements of the overall programme, were about challenging young people to take a risk, test themselves, and examine what happened.
In Sr Stancea's experiment, a group of young people committed themselves to a week-long residential examination of the topic, A Fair Go for All? They listened, reflected individually and collectively and they offered service. Through this intensive week, they deepened their understanding and commitment to community, spiritually and justice by looking at four key issues: Seeking asylum, a safe place in Australia; human trafficking, global challenge to action; the stolen generations, saying sorry and the next steps and fair trade and human trafficking, the connections. Their response, in part, was: We are reminded not to have more but to be more.
Meanwhile, in Tasmania, Srs Frances McShane (Beaconsfield) and Lorraine Groves (St Mary's) continue to minister as Pastoral Associates; Sr Carmel Hall (Claremont) is the diocesan archivist; Sr Barbara Hateley (Claremont), looks after family and adult faith formation through the diocesan Office of Church Life and Mission; Sr Paul Coad (Claremont) lives in active retirement and Sr Monica Franklin (Sandy Bay) is about to celebrate her 60th anniversary of religious profession.
The heart and spirit of the Missionary Sisters of Service were captured in the book, Around the Kitchen Table with the Missionary Sisters of Service which was launched in Hobart, Toowoomba, Melbourne and Whyalla earlier this year (available from 03-62498241 or Credo), or you can download, print and send in the order form (PDF 87KB).
Photos 1 and 2: Sister Bernadette Wallis MSS with Deaf Pilgrims
Photo 3: Sister Kath Clune MSS ready to be a volunteer at World Youth Day