Renewing long-held energies
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A ministry of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan that dates back to the congregation’s foundation received special attention recently when Sisters and ministry partners gathered in Sydney during Reconciliation Week 2010.

Covering ministries to Indigenous peoples from remotest Australia to colleges in the heart of the nation’s biggest cities, 36 representatives gathered with the congregational council at Mount St Benedict Centre, Pennant Hills, to share their stories, joys, hopes and sorrows.

At the heart of their deliberations was the question: What does it mean to be engaged in ministry with Indigenous people and be a follower of the parable of the Good Samaritan?

It was a time of high energies and womanly wisdom shared, along with dreaming and naming realities, according to Monica Sparks SGS, of Mount Magnet, Western Australia.

“It was so good to be there together in the diversities of our ministries, for example, from the  remote and outback, to school and university, to diocesan expressions of the work,” Sister Monica said.

Significant moments that will remain with her were:

  • the liturgies and prayers reflecting the tradition and expressed in simplicity; moments of silence, and symbols vividly representing  the spirituality of our indigenous sisters and brothers (Australia and Torres Strait)
  • the shared dreams, yet the grounded reality
  • the timeless song-lines and the ‘symphony’ which began with John Bede Polding's words and actions that have been developed by the Sisters over the years. “The themes rise and fall, renew and freshen to resolve in our day (we are certainly not ready to come towards a coda) and there are now quickenings in our times under the inspiration of the Spirit.”
  • the work undertaken to name and rename values, looking at possibilities and reclaiming a theology of mission for this ministry
  • and the delightful synchronicities when Fr Frank Brennan SJ (pictured below) addressed the gathering from his experience and wisdom

“These were gathered and woven into the celebration of Eucharist, truly the source and summit,” Sister Monica said.  “Where to now? remains the question as we strive to integrate our melodies and move with hope into the future.”

Sister Monica said that the facilitation by Maureen Cleary was sensitive and perceptive and her refreshing humour added to the spirit of the gathering.

Val Deakin SGS, who has been involved for more than 20 years, also travelled from Western Australia - Geraldton  - to participte.

"Sharing and listening to each other's stories and experiences was invaluable," said Sister Val, who is the Liaison Officer for Aboriginal people in the Diocese of Geraldton and the chaplain to the Geraldton Prison.

"It was so good to pick up the energy, passion and care for this ministry despite its hardship.

“I was ignited with new life and I feel many others were, too."

As well as sharing experiences, each participant shared a symbol that said something about that person’s work with Aboriginal people.

Sister Val took a watch without a face, which members of the Aboriginal community at Daly River had given her some years ago.

"It is a reminder to me that Aboriginal people have a different way of perceiving time," she said.

"They have internal time which connects with the seasons and the rhythms of the day, rather than with numbers on a watch or clock. It's also a reminder that we need to learn to sit and be, and be ready to do, as things arise from the people.

"The whole weekend was a buzz of life and energy and it was evident we wanted to carry forward the mission of Polding and enflesh the parable of the Good Samaritan for our day."

Archbishop John Bede Polding OSB who founded the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict in 1857 had a great love for the Aboriginal people, standing apart from the prevailing attitudes of the 19th century immigrants from the British Isles.

During his attendance at the NSW Parliamentary Committee  on the condition of the Aborigines,  in 1845, Archbishop Polding was unequivocal in his stance: “My opinion may be very different from that entertained by a greater part of the community.  In the first place, I conceive that there is established in the minds of the black population a sentiment that whites are essentially unjust.”  

Good Sams encountered young Indigenous people in the early work of the congregation at the orphanage at Parramatta and at the women’s refuge at Pitt Street, Sydney. 

Writing for last month’s The Good Oil, the congregation’s Superior, Clare Condon SGS, said: “I think I can confidently say that each of us departed from the time together prepared to continue the journey of Reconciliation with a determination to Let’s see it through (the theme for National Reconciliation Week, 2010).”

Informal discussions were an important part of the gathering:
Sisters Beth Delaney SGS and Ellen Randle SGS (left)
and Sisters Anna Warlow SGS and  congregational counsellor Veronica Hoey SGS
enjoy a cuppa catch up.

see also:  Let’s see it through
with thanks to Good Sams commit to ‘seeing it through’ (pathways, Catholic Religious Australia)