Regional Assembly Masterton

Our Assembly day in March was held at St. Bride’s Convent in Masterton. We are a small group of 19 women religious who work in collaboration with each other, share the wisdom of the group, act responsibly, are mutually accountable and welcoming.

Saturday 15 March was a day for praying, of reflecting and sharing hopes and dreams; of looking to the future and taking stock of the present. It was a day for enjoying each other’s company and home cooked food.

The aim of the day was to prepare for a future in which we will not be present in the same way as we have been in the past.

It was a day in which we stood at the crossroads and took a slow, reflective walk into the future. It was a day in which we took a fresh look at who we are, what we are about and where the Region might be in 2008. We looked positively at the challenges and opportunities that age will present to us in the future. We examined the role and type of leadership that might be required in time to come. We explored new methods of dealing with finance and found how columns of figures could be made easy; we pondered on our ‘retirement’ years, our mobility and future means of getting from “A” to “B”

We explored ways of strengthening our relationships, of keeping in touch and the many uses we can make of modern technology, gone wild with communication techniques. We heard about the historical evidence of Consecrated Life from early times to the present day. We discovered that God has not finished with us yet; there is still a place for Religious Life in today’s world. It was a day of celebration, of enjoying each other’s company, of sharing wisdom and good home cooked food. It was a step along the way.

Irish/UK Province.
The Brigidine Sisters have contributed money towards the setting up of a Drop-in Centre For Refugee and Asylum Seekers in Tallaght, just out of Dublin. It is a place where the needs of these people can be listened to and met. It is a beginning and support from the local area is in evidence.

U.S.A Region.
The Sisters are reflecting on “Tending the Holy” – a reflection on the celebration of Earth Day, which commences on 22 April and concludes on World Environment Day 5 June. There are a number of books on “Caring for the Earth” and “Dominica Women’s Earth Series” all of which are worth exploring.

Pastoral Journey. Life, Loss, Hope
and Wholeness.

Sister Catherine O’Connor, a Brigidine Sister from Boston spent a day with us in Johnsonville on 16th July and shared her experiences gleaned from journeying with students, parishioners, seminarians and 12,500 doctors and staff from 6 Catholic hospitals in Boston. We were heartened by Cathy’s words of hope – “What might the future hold for Brigidines?” We need to be very sure that our Brigidine flame is burning brightly, before we hand it on to others. We were challenged to listen to the message of Creation, it is the heart beat of God. Cathy encouraged us to pay attention to our own exodus journey on this earth for it is leading us to be a new people of God. She left us with questions to ponder. What will be the legacy we leave? How can we be a resource for people today? We can enable others to face their suffering as we have faced our own. “Whoever lacks time to mourn, lacks time to mend”. (Shakespeare). We are to be signs of hope for ourselves and others. “The healing of humanity belongs to us”. (Joan Chittister).

Messages about our website.

Michael Swinburn was a pupil at Meadowbank school in Auckland late 50’s and early 60’s. Michael was the first to make contact after discovering our Website. He’s keen to make contact with Sisters who taught him Srs Cyprian, Dominica, Alan, Tarcisius, Maria Goretti and Lucia. Michael is caught up in education working for Kangan Batman TAFE in Melbourne. He recently completed an international aid project with the Sisters of St. Joseph recycling educational equipment for East Timor. Michael also assisted in setting up a Computer Learning Centre in Rarotonga.

Messages about our website cont....

From Brigidines in Sydney. I love your website! It is colourful, informative, inclusive and interesting!!! Congratulations; A great and wonderful achievement. Congratulations; All concerned are to be congratulated on your website;
Maureen Hammond, St. Bride’s Old Girl, Auckland. I think it’s fantastic I really enjoyed reading it. After 16 years as a parish RE Co-ordinator, I am now a Director of Religious Studies at Pompallier Diocesan Centre. I live in Pakuranga, have a large garden that I enjoy and have had 3 OE experiences which were great.
Monica Mason (Sr. Carmel/Monica). Taree NSW. Congratulations to those responsible for your website- I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I am job-sharing this year at school it cuts across key learning areas. We take week about – Thurs. Fri. Mon. Tues. Wed. then we enjoy seven days off. Now there is life after school!
Monica Reeves (Kerswill) Te Puke. I went into the website and was delighted to see pictures of all those I’d known. It brought back many memories, in reading about each one of you I felt very close and just had to get in touch. I am the Parish Secretary. We have Border Colllies and I walk a lot. Jim plays snooker, golf and is a keen gardener and walks the dog.
Keep the messages coming.

Meetings

In July and August we had meetings throughout the Region discussing “What Might the Future Hold for Brigidines” and “New Ways of Seeing”.

There were some very sound and thought provoking statements made, that both challenged our thinking and enabled us to consider what our physical resources might be in five or seven years’ time. We are fortunate indeed to be living in a technological age, where the mind can be challenged, and communication techniques made use of to the best of our advantage. These systems will make distances, assemblies and personal contact as easy as the push of a button on a Television set.

Jubilees

September saw us celebrating three Diamond Jubilees, here at St. Bride’s - Sisters Myra Shearer (Tarcisius), Joan McKenna (Dominica) and Helena Fouhy (Paulinus). After rain, cold winds and frosts for over a week, Wednesday 8th September dawned crisp and clear with the Tararuas Ranges outlined in snow. A picture-perfect day that began with a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Chapel, followed by a Jubilee dinner at Burridges. Then it was back to St. Bride’s for coffee and the cutting of THE cake. There to greet us were members of St. Bride’s Old Girls Association, the Catholic Women’s League, relatives and friends. Every square inch of space had someone either standing or sitting, laughing or talking in the kitchen, dining room, lounge, conservatory or outside in the sunshine. Over 100 people enjoyed the company, the home cooked goodies and the Jubilee cake. Our special thanks to St. Bride’s Old Girls who organised the afternoon tea. Our three Jubilarians are very grateful for the prayerful support, cards, your presence, flowers, messages and gifts received to mark this special occasion. Truly it was a most memorable day!

History

We are now the proud owners of some large, specially mounted, current photos of the Founder of our Congregation, Bishop Daniel Delany’s home in Ireland. The stone shell, over 200 years old, still stands in a paddock surrounded by a fence to keep out the animals. It is a very visible, physical part of our history and the close-up photos tell their age old story in stone. We are grateful to Sr Kay Mulhall CSB and her brother for the ‘masterpieces’ we now have in our possession. The detail in the photos brings us very close to the real thing, even more so as we begin to plan and prepare for the celebration of our Bi-Centenary in 2007. If only the stones could speak!

One of the key focus areas of People trafficked are:-
Marginalized women and children; women in poverty in rural areas and urban slums; ethnic minorities; indigenous people and hill tribes; refugees and illegal migrants; illiterate women and runaway girls. This situation is rife around the world, and in Asia, it is now in Australia and New Zealand. Anne’s talk was very informative and alerted us to the situation in our own back yards.

This is a crime against humanity. Our Congregational Leadership team, Louise Cleary, Anne Phibbs, Margaret Creagh and Maree Marsh are currently in Manila, the Phillipines, are getting first hand knowledge of how this process takes place. This will enable us to be more proactive in our search for ways in which we can help stem the flow.

Up to now we have, through our Brigidine Common Project Fund, supported financially, Displaced Persons in Camps as well as the well being of humans and the health of the planet. In Irish/UK Province, USA Region, Australia and New Zealand.

Other areas supported by our Congregation are The Peace Valley Centre dedicated to the healing and growth of the whole person – an Aboriginal Elders project. Irabina Assoc. NSW, for Intellectually Disabled adults, supplementing their pensions and enabling these members to cope with everyday living expenses. Tallaght, Ireland, Intercultural Action Centre against Racism. Here assistance is given to the ‘Travelling People’, Asylum Seekers and Refugees. “Project Respect” in Victoria, a project counting the cost of trafficking, identifying where these ‘victims’ are. Care of the earth “Earth Song Project, Victoria. Nathaniel Bioethics Centre, Wellington NZ “Challenge 2000” funding to support dysfunctional families and teenagers at risk, Masterton N.Z. and many others. This is just the tip of the iceberg of our involvement in the areas of peace, justice and care of the earth.

On 11th November we said farewell to Sr. Brigid at the Wellington airport who, after 56 years of loving service to the Brigidine Sisters, parents, parishioners, children and the Archdiocese of New Zealand, returned to her beloved Ireland. We were very sad for ourselves, but happy for Sr. Brigid who hopes to spend the rest of her life’s journey with family, relations, friends and Brigidine Sisters. Her selfless dedication, support and love for all those who came in contact with her over those years, will never be forgotten. We wish her peace and joy in the land of Erin. Her address is: Sister Brigid Shiel CSB, Apt. 122 Sue Ryder House, Kilminchy Village, Kilminchy, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, Ireland.

We take this opportunity of wishing all those who visit our Website the peace and joy that surrounds the Babe in a poor stable at Bethlehem, and may the words of the Angels follow you throughout the coming year.

The Christmas and New Year rushes were over. The potatoes were ready with a little tickle or two for Christmas Day. Owing to bad weather conditions the beans and other vegetables took a little longer. When the rain came, everything in the garden was lovely!

There was a busyness in the air in early January, with final preparations taking place for the National Conference for Religious. This Conference was held at St. Catherine’s College, Kilbirnie, Wellington from 20 – 23 January. Sister Monica Landy CSB co-ordinated the Conference with the help of seven hard working committee members all of whom spent two years planning the event. A dream of hers that surfaced nine years ago, to gather as many religious women and men as possible, in one place to help create a new way of life for religious in the twenty first century that spoke of Gospel values, being in solidarity and in harmony with, people of all races and creeds. To look at ways of being a ‘presence’ in the church and in society, to share ideas, experiences and hopes for the future. Three hundred and fifty women and men came from all round NZ, Australia, South Pacific and East Timor to celebrate. It was a never-to-be-forgotten weekend.

On 19th February, we bade farewell to one of our much loved St. Bride’s ‘Old Girl’ Paula Brough, from Masterton who died on 15th February. Farmer, taxi driver, restauranteur, race horse owner, poker player, turn-your-hand-to anything-woman. Paula had been a boarder at St. Bride’s in the late
30’s and kept in touch with the Sisters and the ‘Old Girls’ over all those years, faithful and true. She will be missed by us all. RIP.

Council of the Congregation
Sydney 6 – 16 June 2005

Twenty two Brigidine representatives from Leadership teams throughout the Congregation gathered at the Mary MacKillop Centre, North Shore, Sydney, on 6th June.

Marge, an Aboriginal elder, graciously welcomed us and made us feel at home on her tribal land. The opening prayer of the Council of the Congregation was full of colour, ribbons, flames and flowers. Each Sister’s name in the congregation was read out during the ritual prayer.

During 2004, Wisdom Circles and Cluster Groups had gathered to discuss the Council’s theme “Framing Possible Futures”. These ideas and visions for the future were faithfully reported and listened to by the Council members. We looked at our current and possible future realities and tried to work out ways of moving forward.

Two, of our ten working days included forty nine other Sisters from Victoria, Sydney and Ireland. New Zealand’s representative was delayed at the Wellington airport and missed out on the two Open Days.

The focus of the Open Days was on our current reality. We began by looking at some of our prepared celebrations for our Bi-Centenary in 2007. We then considered Leadership and Governance in our Congregation, Membership and Partnership and our common Congregational projects – our participation and partnership in the Non Government Organisation UNANIMA, the focus areas of which are concern for the Trafficking of women and children, Displaced persons and the Welfare of the Planet.

September. Preparation for a change of leadership in the Region began in early August when the current Regional Team met with Sr. Chanel Sugden, our Provincial, to prepare a programme of prayer and discernment. Papers were sent out to the Sisters in the Region for private prayer and reflection. Work began in earnest at the beginning of September with cluster group meetings around the Region. During the two months of preparation, the Sisters examined the complimentary strengths of each other and reflected on their experiences of living in a small ageing group of women. They looked at trends surfacing in society and within the Region and their hopes and dreams for the future. This led them to examine other role possibilities and shared leadership styles that would enable the Sisters to produce new models of governance and areas of combined responsibility.

October 15th, our Assembly Day, brought all the Sisters to Masterton. During the course of the day a new model of governance was produced. The Sisters came prepared to take on areas of responsibility that would enable the Region to function smoothly, without placing too much responsibility on the shoulders of one or two. In line with the new model chosen, the Sisters voted for a Regional Co-ordinator with only one Assistant. The areas of responsibility were recorded and Sister Cyprian Wilson was elected as Regional Co-ordinator and Sister Trish Hanaray as her Assistant for one year. This has paved the way for a time of experimentation before our Forum and celebration of our Bi-centenary in 2007.

November. At the end of November news was received from Rome, through Archbishop John Dew, that Sister Cyprian Wilson had been awarded the Benemerenti Medal for thirty, dedicated, years of service to St Peter and Paul’s Parish in Johnsonville. The news was received with great rejoicing.

Our first Regional Assembly for 2006 was held at Porirua on 15th March. Sister Louise Cleary, our Congregational Leader from Melbourne was present. Sr. Louise shared with us, progress being made in our Provinces and Regions with regard to our common projects relating to the trafficking of women and children in countries where our Sisters are; the varied types of assistance being given to refugees and the resettlement of refugee families and the many projects centring round the critical state of the earth. She spoke of conservation programmes already in action and the continued awareness raising seminars that are encouraging people to be good conservationists and carers of the earth. Sr. Louise spoke about the appointment of Sr. Patricia Mulhall, an Irish Brigidine in England, who has been appointed as our Brigidine representative on the UNANIMA, N.G.O. committee in New York.

Sister Anne spoke about the recent Congregational Leaders Conference in Waikanae that focused attention on “Prophets and Shepherds”- Old Testament prophets, pastoral concerns and caring and the trusting and loving relationships that exist between

AUGUST.
Bicentenary celebrations are well on the way around the Congregation. The International Historic Brigidine Calendar was recorded on DVD and sent to the Provinces and Regions in August. For a small Printery in Greytown, New Zealand the challenge was huge. The results were beyond expectations and the production, ‘colourfully spectacular’! The St. Bride’s community occupied their new, smaller and more compact home on 16th August. It was officially blessed by the Parish Priest, Father Julian Wagg on Sunday 17th September. The building is maintenance free with smaller garden areas to manage. The Sisters are very happy in their new surroundings.
SEPTEMBER.
The much planned for DVD/CD former Brigidine Schools’ and Colleges’ media Competition, depicting the Brigidine story, came to a fitting end with a Gala Night at Bishop Viard College in Porirua on 15th September. There were three categories, Primary, Intermediate and Secondary with prize money in each area amounting to $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000. The winning prize money was to be used in the schools and colleges for something special to mark the Bicentenary of the Brigidine Sisters. Primary prize winners were - St. Patrick’s Masterton, St. Mary’s Foxton and St. Benedict’s Khandallah, respectively. In the Intermediate section, Bishop Viard College, Porirua; Chanel College, Masterton; St. Mary’s Foxton. In the Senior dicision, Chanel College came first and second and Bishop Viard College third.

OCTOBER.
Our Regional Assembly Day took place in Masterton on 15th October. It was a special ‘house warming’ for St. Bride’s. Sister Chanel Sugden, NSW Provincial was with us for the day. The morning began with prayer, followed by a review of the last 12 months and a discussion about areas of shared responsibility taken on by the Sisters in the New Zealand Region. The model has worked well and the Sisters were happy to continue in their various roles of responsibility. Sister Chanel presided over the Leadership role discussion. Sisters Cyprian and Trish Hanaray agreed to continue for another year with the ready support of the Sisters in the Region. They will also represent the New Zealand Region at our Congregational Forum to be held in Tullow, Ireland in June 2007. In the afternoon Sister Anne shared with the group information concerning gatherings and discussions to be held by each Province and Region in preparation for our Congregational Forum in June. Truly an exciting year! It was a full day and much had been achieved.