The General Superior of the Congregation of Jesus visited Australia and Timor Leste recently, meeting with Sisters, staff and school communities at a significant moment in the Congregation’s story, following the merger of two branches of the Mary Ward family.
Sr Veronica Fuhrmann CJ spent a month in the Province and said her visit was “a truly grounding experience”.
Sr Veronica Fuhrmann CJ visited schools in Timor Leste (left) and Australia (right) during her visit to the Province. IMAGE: Loreto website.
“I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome I received at all the different places, the heartfelt and sincere conversations with our sisters and co-workers, and the chance to witness the transformative power of Loreto education,” she said.
“It was inspiring to be able to visit the life-changing mission in Timor-Leste and to see with my own eyes how the support of women and girls enables progress and development for entire communities.
“Each encounter reminded me of the living spirit of Mary Ward that continues to inspire and guide us across continents. I carry these impressions home with great gratitude and a renewed sense of our shared mission.”
Sr Veronica’s visit came at an important time following the union of the Loreto Sisters (IBVM) and the Congregation of Jesus (CJ), offering an opportunity to gather, reflect and recognise a shared identity.
Across five states, Sr Veronica spent time with Sisters, ministries and school communities.
The visit began in Melbourne, where Sr Veronica spent time with the Sisters living in Victoria. At the Loreto Centre, staff from the Province, Loreto Ministries and Mary Ward International welcomed the opportunity to meet with her.
Sr Veronica also visited Loreto Toorak and Loreto College Ballarat, meeting with students and staff, touring the campuses and sharing in moments of prayer.
Next was Perth, where she visited the Sisters and their places of ministry, as well as John XXIII College.
She then travelled to Sydney, where she had conversations with each member of the local community, visited Loreto Normanhurst and Loreto Kirribilli, and enjoyed seeing Sydney Harbour.
In Queensland, she received an equally warm welcome from the Sisters living in Brisbane and Southport and spent time at Loreto College Coorparoo.
Sr Veronica’s visit offered a chance to experience the life of the Province and the work of Loreto education in Australia.
Sr Veronica also visited Timor-Leste, where she spent time with the Sisters, the young women in training and members of the local communities, accompanied by Sr Wendy Hildebrand CJ, Sr Monica Suchiang CJ (South Asia), Sr Angela Slattery CJ and Sr Natalie Houlihan CJ.
Her visit offered an opportunity to experience the life of the Timor-Leste mission, its relationships, its challenges and its hope, and to learn about the development projects supported by Mary Ward International.
“It was a privilege to welcome Sr Veronica to Timor-Leste and to share something of our life and mission here, in its simplicity, its challenges and its deep sense of community,” Sr Natalie Houlihan CJ said.
Sr Wendy Hildebrand CJ, Provincial of Australia and South East Asia, thanked Sr Veronica for her presence across the Province and said the Sisters would hold her in prayer as she continues her leadership of the Congregation of Jesus.
“We are deeply grateful for Sister Veronica’s recent visit, which came at a particularly grace-filled moment, so soon after the merger of the two branches of our Mary Ward family,” Sr Wendy said.
“Her presence among us created space for reflection, affirmation and renewal. It deepened our sense of belonging to the worldwide congregation, while affirming the faithful work unfolding across the Province. We now move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and energy as one united body, ever faithful to the charism and mission entrusted to us.”
This article is drawn from an article published on the Loreto Australia and South East Asia website.