“The works of the Dominican Sisters was never about themselves but about enabling others to discover their gifts, realise their potential, and flourish in faith and life,” Bishop of Geraldton, Michael Morrissey said recently in a homily reported by The Record..
Delivering the homily at the Mass at which the Dominican Sisters of Western Australia gathered for their last formal Chapter before embarking on a renewed leadership structure, Bishop Michael said the change would allow the sisters to continue their legacy of courage, faith, service and community that dates back to 1899 when Mother Gabriel Gill, five pioneer Sisters and one postulant arrived in Geraldton on the invitation of Bishop William Bernard Kelly.
The Dominican Sisters of Western Australia gathered for their last formal Chapter as they prepare to embark on a renewed leadership structure. Photo: The Record/Supplied.
Joining Bishop Michael as concelebrant was Emeritus Bishop of Geraldton, Justin Bianchini.
In her welcoming address at the start of Mass, Prioress Sr Mary Ryan OP thanked everyone who had contributed to the “tapestry” of the Dominican Sisters in Western Australia.
She said the sisters would continue their mission among the people as they had done over the last 127 years – spreading the Word of God and educating generations of children in the Geraldton Diocese and the Perth Archdiocese.
The Dominican Sisters, she added, have imitated Jesus who never acted for Himself alone but in relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
During his homily, Bishop Michael reflected on the sisters’ motto, To contemplate and give to others the fruits of your contemplation, which was the foundation of their decision-making, including the decision to leave the familiar surroundings of Ireland, and the green fields of Dunedin, New Zealand to journey to Western Australia.
“One might say that the mission of the sisters is now complete, and in many ways it is. Yet, that mission has now been entrusted to others (all the baptised and all who seek to follow Jesus Christ),” Bishop Michael suggested.
“There is memory recalling the past, and there is always hope for the future. May you continue to be people of hope, joy and peace in a world that is in such desperate need of all three.”
As part of the celebration, Sr Margaret Scharf OP, who led the music for the Liturgy, invited each sister present to select a scarf – symbolising a stole, a sign of service. The colourful stoles would later be woven together into a tapestry during the first session of the Chapter.
This tapestry serves as a reminder of the individual sisters, with their unique gifts and talents, who, throughout their years of ministry in WA, came together to weave a tapestry of their lives. That tapestry is now handed on to all who continue to live the Dominican spirit in the former schools and places where the sisters served the Church.
The Sisters’ Chapter took place over two days, with the facilitation and support of Sr Judith Lawson OP and Sr Mary-Clare Holland OP, both of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and Solomon Islands.
This article is an abbreviated version of an article published in The Record, the publication of the Archdiocese of Perth.