Achives

July - 2004

Feastday of Mary Aikenhead

On July 22, 1857, Mary Aikenhead died at the motherhouse convent in Harolds Cross Dublin. It was the feast of St Mary Magdalene for whom she had a special regard and whose intercession she often sought. At her requiem, a group of Dublin workmen considered it a privilege to carry her coffin. The epitaph inscribed on her grave sums up her life’s mission:

I comforted the heart of the widow.
I was an eye to the blind and a foot to the lame.
To the poor I was a mother.
(Job 29:15,16)

There will be many celebrations today in our communities and ministries. We invite you all to join us in thanking God for the life and ministry of this woman of great heart and mind, and for the charism she has left to the world of a whole-hearted love of, and dedication to, the poor.

The Sister Bernice Wing

On Sunday April 18, in the presence of her family, many friends and distinguished guests, Sister Bernice Elphick RSC was present to enjoy the naming of the new wing of St Vincent 's Private Hospital, Sydney, in her honour. A plaque commemorating this event was unveiled jointly by two of her many good friends: Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW, and Sir William Deane, former Governor-General of Australia. Sir William gave an inspiring address, outlining the extraordinary contribution made by Bernice to the St Vincent 's campus. Dr Tom Hugh followed this with a personal and memorable account of Bernice's role from the perspective of the doctors on the campus. In response, Mr Peter Joseph, chairman of the Board of St Vincent's Mater Health, thanked both speakers and added his own congratulations to the guest of honour. On behalf of the community, and of Bernice herself, Sister Anthea Groves shared her appreciation of Bernice as a member of the Darlinghurst community.

Congratulations, Bernice, and well done!

Irish Heritage trip

The Sisters of Charity in Ireland have organised a series of three congregational 'pilgrimages' to take place at Maynooth in April, July and August of this year. They have graciously offered to host nine sisters from the Australian congregation. Next Tuesday, April 6, two sisters will leave for Dublin where they will take part in the first of these gatherings. They will be joined by two other Australian sisters, one of whom is ministering in Nigeria and a fourth who is currently undertaking a spiritual renewal course in Dublin.

Update

The first of three congregational 'pilgrimages' organised by the Irish RSCs took place at Maynooth Ireland in April. Participants from the Australian congregation were our leader, Elizabeth Dodds; Valerie Green, currently in Dublin on renewal at Marianella; Eileen Thynne from Strathmore, Victoria ; and Mathilde Harnischfeger who travelled to Dublin from her place of ministry in Nigeria. From all reports, it was a wonderful experience all-round. The next two pilgrimages are in July and August of this year.

Irish Pilgrimage continues

The second of the ‘pilgrimages’ organised by the Sisters of Charity in Ireland took place 7-14 July. From all reports, the experience was just as exciting and enriching as the first. The final pilgrimage was scheduled for 7-14 August. These occasions have been a wonderful opportunity for bringing together the daughters of Mary Aikenhead scattered throughout the world.

Good Friday Compass program

At 7.30pm on Good Friday, ABC Television Compass will feature the contribution of the Sisters of Charity in addressing some of Australia 's major social problems. The program will focus particularly on the work of the Sisters of Charity Outreach in Sydney . For 150 years, the sisters have engaged in welfare, hospital and educational ministries in Australia . How will the institutions founded by the Sisters remain distinctive and different once there are no longer any sisters to run them?

St Vincent's Institute, Melbourne

On Friday April 2, the new St Vincent 's Research Building was officially opened at 9 Princes Street , Fitzroy. The Institute originated when Dr Pehr Edman, one of the world's leading biochemists, took up his appointment as the John Holt Director of Research in May 1957 and the St Vincent 's School of Medical Research was officially opened on 23 April 1958 . To this day Jack Holt's legacy continues to support the internationally recognised work of St Vincent 's Institute. SVI is an independent research body, which is affiliated with St Vincent 's Health and The University of Melbourne. The current director is Professor Thomas Kay.