Loreto Sisters www.loreto.org.au

Loreto Friends Networker

Loreto Friends Networker From the Provincial Issue 7 December 2007 Dear partners in our this work to continue. In Team to deepen under- mission, addition, St Mary’s standing of our shared Christmas provides a time continues to offer a great spirituality and mission. In Inside this issue: to look back on the year base from which university recent months we have and to thank God for all students can explore both also been assisted by a academically and socially, Property committee, help- From the Provincial 1 that has happened, and this Friends Networker pro- the next steps towards ing us negotiate plans for vides a privileged place to adult responsibility. the future. Our Province New Loreto Principal for St 2 do this. Mary Ward International- Office staff and internal Mary’s College committees like Aged Our Loreto schools have Australia (MWI-A) contin- ues to grow under the able Care, Formation, Commu- Ward d’Houet welcomes 2 flourished. In addition to nity leaders, with the Pro- new member fine academic results, each guidance of Sr Janet Pala- fox, and her Board, led by vincial Council over it all - Baucau Teachers’ College 3 school has its own out- from so many different reach to those less well off: Mr Peter Black. As ar- celebrates 2nd graduation rangements are put in points of view, each contri- in holiday programs for bution enables this work to disadvantaged children, in place with due regard for New Loreto Futures Team 4 law, justice, financial re- continue. The three calls ‘pilgrimage’ experiences from our General Congre- Loreto Sister guest curator 4 which sensitise our young sponsibility, and partner- ship with those in the field, gation in Peru in 2006: to of precious exhibition women to other cultures, in risk deepening our relation- generosity to Loreto pro- MWI-A is growing in its Mary Ward Justice Lecture 5 capacity to engage a wide ship with God and each 2007 jects overseas, and in the other; to work in creative weekly community service. range of present and past students and friends in the and respectful partnership Australian Political Ministry 5 with others; and to sharpen (PolMin) Many teachers support the works for the least privi- effort to deepen spirituality, leged in our society. our engagement with church and society, are all Events 6 to provide good liturgy, to encourage students to Overseas our sisters in happening in this wide grasp the meaning of be- Timor Leste and programs flung enterprise. in Vietnam are part of Aus- coming a disciple of Jesus. So to all our co workers – In debating, in art, music, tralian Loreto outreach, and each one takes our thank you! May this Christ- drama, sport, and current mas and New Year bring to affairs many students have concern and love into a wider circle of friends, as fruition the prayer of Ad- shown that Mary Ward’s vent, where we open our commitment to a holistic does the vital outreach of a Further information few Loreto sisters in a eyes and take time to real- education is still alive and ise that in our very midst Website number of rural areas in well. Many parents express God is! It is perhaps easier www.loreto.org.au Australia. their gratitude for the to imagine the stable at • Editor: Sophia grounding their daughters Other committees and Bethlehem, but if we are Ljaskevic, Communi- receive: so a big thank you councils: Finance; Commu- serious about our faith, we cations Officer. to all associated with each nications; Justice Peace are confronted by the fact school: Chairs and School and Integrity of Creation; that this God continues to • Contact details: Councils, principals, staffs, History and Archives – all come to birth through us communications committees, parent, past- continue to ensure that our and our words and actions student bodies, and Dr activities are informed by @loreto.org.au to make this world a place Roslyn Arnold, Sr Julianna skilled people who share of peace, of justice and of tel: 03 9690 1418 Drobik OP, and the Ward the vision. In this issue you loving respect for all those d’Houet Board members will see that we have es- Fax: 03 9699 6078 whom we see as ‘different’. for all they do to enable tablished a Loreto Futures Chris Burke ibvm

Pa ge 2 Loreto Friends Networker I ssue 7

New Loreto Principal for St Mary’s College

The Loreto Sisters con- they explore new horizons ple: rural children who tinue their traditional role at in an atmosphere of trust would otherwise not have St Mary’s College, and a call to personal re- access to education; chil- (residential college at Uni- sponsibility. dren with disabilities; vision- versity of ), with impaired children and street the appointment of Sr Liz has recently been children. A new project be- Elizabeth (Liz) Hepburn as wearing another hat. As ing planned is an additional College Principal, com- the Provincial Council campus for "Sunrise Special mencing in 2008. member who liaises with School" for older children the Loreto Vietnam Austra- with intellectual and multiple Liz was formerly principal lia Program, Liz recently disabilities. This new educa- of Sancta Sophia College, returned from Vietnam tional environment will in- where she has been where she spent a few Above: Liz Hepburn clude a component to assist greatly appreciated by the days with Trish Franklin hearing-impaired students. students and staff. and visited many of the works that LVAP supports. On December 1st a huge St Mary's is owned by the Trish's special ministry musical gala "Loretofest" Archdiocese of Melbourne, there continues with in- was held at RMIT Vietnam and run by a College creasing assistance from to raise money to furnish Council, but since its foun- the Vietnamese Govern- and equip the new campus, dation in 1918 the principal ment and from Australians and it raised sufficient has been an IBVM sister. and others working within money to carry through Co-educational since 1977, Vietnam, who can see many of the hopes Trish St Mary's gives witness to LVAP's great efforts on had about this new venture. the joy and energy of behalf of the poorest and young women and men as most disadvantaged peo- Ward d’Houet welcomes new member

Prof Marie Emmitt recently widely in the area of lan- working to provide tertiary joined the Ward d’Houet guage and literacy educa- education to those in refu- Education Board. tion. Her co-authored book gees camps, in particular Marie Emmitt is Professor with Oxford University along the Thai-Burma border. Press Language for Learn- Marie is committed to educa- and Dean of Education at th Australian Catholic Univer- ing is now in its 4 edition. tion making a positive differ- sity. Before this she was Marie was a boarder at ence both for the individual Associate Dean (Teaching Genazzano in 1962 and and the community. and Learning) and previ- 1963 and was presented Marie replaces Sarah Rey. Above: Prof Marie Emmitt ously a Head of School at with the 2004 Annual We thank Sarah for her valu- Deakin University. Genazzano FCJ College able, active and effective role Marie has spent many Award for Outstanding on the committee. years in literacy education. Achievement of a Past Pu- The Ward d’Houet Education and has been active on pil Award. She was a mem- Board supports the mainte- state and national curricu- ber of the Xavier School nance of the Loreto and FCJ lum bodies. Marie has Council for ten years and is charism, and oversees plans, been national president of now a member of the Jes- projects, and finances of the the Australian Literacy uit Schools Commission. schools and advises the pro- Educators’ Association, She is also the chair of St vincials on these matters. has presented at national Mary’s School Board in Further information: and international confer- East St Kilda. Marie is also http://www.loreto.org.au/ ences and is published involved with a small group education_board/ Loreto Friends Networker I ssue 7 Pa ge 3

Baucau Teachers’ College celebrates 2nd graduation

In 2005, as a result of a a Catholic Teachers’ Col- call from our international lege by the bishop of the leadership team, every diocese of Baucau which province or region of our takes in the whole of the world wide institute was eastern region of East asked to have ‘the courage Timor. In 2003 the College to move’. accepted its first group of student teachers. Our Australian province thought that Timor Leste, Prior to 2000, 90% of so close a neighbour, com- teachers were from Indo- ing recently from such a nesia and most of these traumatic upheaval and teachers returned to Indo- with a very young popula- nesia after the East tion, might be a place we Timorese won Independ- could make some first ence. Thus the need for steps. teacher training was criti- cal. The Institute accepts Sr Anne Byrne and Anne applications from all the Kelly, Sr Diaan Stuart an- thirteen districts based on swered the call to begin final Year 12 results plus this new venture. All had to an entrance interview. begin Tetum from scratch, and two had never worked In 2006 the first students in a foreign country. All had graduated. They had man- A student receives her experience in our large and aged to continue studies degree from Acting well established schools despite the political difficul- Vice Chancellor here, and one sister also ties. This year again, 48 Gabrielle McCullen had experience working in out of the 50 students who refugee camps in northern began in the second intake Uganda. graduated.

Di and Anne Byrne began As the students are ac- work in partnership with the credited by ACU, the Act- parents represented an Marist Brothers in their ing vice-chancellor of ACU, achievement as some live Teachers’ College in Bau- Professor Gabrielle in the most remote rural cau, and with the Canos- McMullen, conferred the areas and travel is not sim- sian Sisters there, while degrees. Also present from ple. Anne Kelly began work ACU were the Dean of with Alola Foundation in Education, Professor Marie These students went out to Dili. This year as a result of Emmitt. join others, in the schools the violence, the work in across the country, who Dili was halted but Anne It was a formal, colourful, are already making a differ- hopes to be back there in joyous ceremony, and for ence in the lives of chil- 2008. the students and their par- dren. ents represented a won- The Baucau Teachers’ Col- derful achievement in the lege was begun in 2000 face of great difficulties not after the Marist Brothers least material poverty. were invited to commence Even the presence of Pa ge 4 Loreto Friends Networker I ssue 7

New Loreto Futures Team

A Loreto Futures team has are relevant to a wider au- supported by a committee been established to work dience: to listen to the pas- which brings the additional The Loreto Futures Team collaboratively with others sion of God and wrestle help of a chair, Mary Mag- will take forward the core to share the Loreto charism with the meaning of our nus and advice of Leoni business of the Loreto and mission while rethink- lives; to work generously in Degenhardt, the outgoing sisters. ing the Loreto formation partnerships, valuing rela- Normanhurst Principal. program. tionships and diversity; and This Loreto Futures Team The Loreto Futures Team to sharpen our engage- indicates a changing of the will take forward the core ment with church and guard for the Vocations business of the Loreto sis- world. Taken together, they Ministry in this province. ters: accompanying people give a common shape to Cynthia Wright has held in their search for God; our lives and ministries and this role for eleven years, offering them ways to unite us across a variety of and worked tirelessly to deepen an understanding works. The Loreto Futures involve us all in praying for of the Good News of Je- Team will be responsible and being aware of the sus; and sharing with them for ensuring that these importance of Vocations the story of Mary Ward and calls inform all Loreto un- with her slogan: it is every- the mission she espoused dertakings – that they col- one’s responsibility! in ways that encourage our the program and way In 2008, Marg Finlay will be freedom, sincerity, justice of working in a dynamic the official initial contact for and felicity. way. any ‘inquirers’ about reli- At the 2006 General Con- To begin this process, the gious life with the Institute. gregation, three “calls” team will consist of three Thank you Cynthia for your were framed out of the Loreto sisters: Marg Finlay, dedication and boundless concerns and hopes of sis- Francine Roberts and Mau- enthusiasm in this key role ters across the globe. They reen Burke. They will be for eleven years. Loreto Sister guest curator of precious exhibition

Emeritus Professor Margaret lege and Corpus Christi ence. Complementary Manion AO, Professorial Fel- College at Cambridge Uni- talks, tours, music concerts “This is an extraordinary low in Art History Melbourne versity. This will be the first and school activities will collaboration and a major University (and Loreto Sis- and, possibly only, time also take place during the logistical undertaking …we ter), will be the guest curator these manuscripts will exhibition. may never see works like of the Medieval Imagina- travel to Australia - many this in Australia again” Margaret believes the exhi- tion: Illuminated manu- have not left the University bition is the most ambitious scripts from Cambridge, since they were first placed of its kind ever mounted in Australia and in the collections. They will this part of the world. ‘This exhibition at the State Li- join a similar number of is an extraordinary collabo- brary of from 28 precious books from Librar- ration and a major logistical March to 15 June 2008. ies, Galleries and Muse- undertaking for the State The unique exhibition will ums in Australia and New Library, Cambridge Univer- feature over 90 stunning illu- Zealand to create the larg- sity and other participating minated manuscripts, books est exhibition of its kind institutions. The manu- and pages dating from the ever held in Australia. scripts are priceless and 8th to the 16th centuries Works on display will in- irreplaceable. Because of from the collections of the clude sacred traditional their fragile nature we may Fitzwilliam Museum, the Uni- texts as well as works of never see works like this in versity Library, Trinity Col- music, law, history and sci- Australia again,’ she said. Loreto Friends Networker I ssue 7 Pa ge 5

Mary Ward Justice Lecture 2007

led the issue of Public Virtue, The Loreto Justice Peace was the facilitator asking the and Integrity of Creation Private Vice. questions and drawing in the (JPIC) Committee has, for audience. Dr Lagan vividly described the past three years, organ- the impact of corruption on Around 200 people attended ised the Mary Ward Justice groups who are manipulated and they responded very Lecture around key social by cartels. She gave a list of positively to the evening. issues. questionable corporate lead- ers who hide their exploita- For more information on The first lecture focussed on tion under the guise of phi- the Loreto JPIC committee Industrial Relations, last lanthropy. Among the corpo- please visit the Justice page at www.loreto.org.au year’s theme was Make In- rations giving good leader- ship in terms of employment, or click below: digenous Poverty History environmental practices and http://www.loreto.org.au/ and this year the three community engagement are works/jpic.html speakers: Dr Attracta Lagan, Google, Toyota and the an ethicist working with large Bodyshop. Sourced from Ring of Fire corporations, Dr Simon Australia November 2007 Fr Brennan recounted his Longstaff, Director of the St meeting with an American James Ethics Centre and Fr marine and that man’s ethi- Frank Brennan SJ, barrister cal and moral dilemma with and Professor of Law, tack- the war in Iraq. Dr Longstaff

Australian Political Ministry (PolMin)

PolMin is a national mem- take action on PolMin is- A full time lobbyist meets bership organisation com- sues. with politicians, produces fact mitted to bringing about and information sheets, • To network and collabo- systemic change in Austra- rate with organisations speaks at various forums, lian society through the whose goals and values organises meetings with influencing of public policy are similar to those of Pol- members and issues regular for the common good in Min on particular issues. press briefings on particular accordance with the princi- issues. This year PolMin ples of Catholic Social • To educate for effective highlighted water, industrial Teaching. Founded by a lobbying on issues identi- relations, refugees and asy- group of religious women fied by PolMin which affect lum seekers, anti terror laws PolMin aims: the common good. and the Millennium Develop- ment Goals as key issues for • To lobby those who • To obtain the financial and have influence in the personnel resources nec- responsible voters in the 2007 formation of public pol- essary to enable the goals federal election. icy on particular policy of PolMin to be achieved. The Loreto Sisters actively issues which under- PolMin is guided by a Board support the Australian Po- mine the common of lay and religious men and litical Ministry Network good and which trap women with expertise in law, (PolMin). Sr Libby Roger- people in poverty and unions, refugees, Catholic son is a founding Director disadvantage. Social Teaching, education of the Board. • To resource and sup- and facilitation. Further information: port those prepared to www.polmin.com.au Loreto Sisters Australia www.loreto.org.au Baby news

Congratulations to Loreto Province Office staff members: Carolynne Har- rison, (Accountant) on the birth of her baby girl on August 1st, Alexia Christmas holidays Mugure; and Sophia Ljaskevic (Communications Officer) on the birth of her baby boy, Tomas Elias, on November 6th. The Province Office will be completely closed from December 22 nd until January 2nd . Normal office operations commence the week beginning January 14 th . Add a friend or a news item We hope you enjoyed this edition of Loreto Friends Networker . If you would like to make a contribution to a future edition or would like to add a More news friend or colleague to the mailing list please contact Sophia Ljaskevic, For more Loreto news and information Communications Officer at [email protected] . visit our website: www.loreto.org.au

Upcoming calendar dates: http://www.loreto.org.au/calendar/index.c fm Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Latest news: http://www.loreto.org.au/news/index.cfm to all!

To contribute a story or to add a friend to our mailing list please email

Sophia Ljaskevic at [email protected]

Events

The Centres of Ignatian Spirituality What is Freedom? What is Centre for Ageing & Pastoral Stud- presents Margaret Silf Truth?" ies - 4th National Conference

Margaret Silf, acclaimed Spiritual Au- Margaret Silf will also conduct a two CAPS is a centre for applied research, thor, will be conducting a five day day workshop "What is Freedom? education, ethics, spirituality and Summer School Program - 'Ignatian What is Truth?" from February 9 - Wisdom for a Post-Modern World' at meaning in later life. It is multidiscipli- 10th, 2008 at the Canisius Centre of the Campion Centre of Ignatian Spiri- nary, catering for the needs of health tuality in Melbourne from January 21st Ignatian Spirituality in Sydney. She professionals, pastoral workers, clergy, to January 25th, 2008. will also conduct a five day retreat and older people. The Centre exam- ines spirituality in various cultures that There is also a Five Day Retreat from "At Sea with God" from February 11 January 27th - February 2nd, 2008 - - 17th, 2008. Both these courses form the multicultural picture of Austra- 'Living Pathways' and a one day have the option of "living in" or lian society. workshop on February 3rd, 2008 - "living out". 'God's Unfinished Story'. There is an Sun 17 - Wed 20 August 2008 For further details on Canisius Cen- option to 'live-in' during these longer Rydges Eagle Hawk Resort courses. tre programs, phone: 02 9488 4524 Federal Highway, Sutton or email: [email protected] (North ACT/NSW border) For further details on Campion Centre programs, phone: 03 9854 8110 or Enquiries: 02 6273 8551 email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] http://www.centreforageing.org.au/