across cultures

 

The Sisters of the Good Samaritan have communities in, and membership from Australia, Japan, The Philippines and Kiribati. Each of these foundations was made in response to particular needs at various times.

In 1857, Bishop Polding founded the Sisters of the Good Samaritan in response to the needs of Sydney at that time, particularly the needs of women, and the poor generally. In 1948, in the aftermath of World War II and at the request of Bishop Yamaguchi of Nagasaki, six sisters went to Japan. In the 1980s Japanese Good Samaritan Sisters yearned to be in solidarity with the poor in Asia and a foundation was begun on the island of Negros in The Philippines in 1990. In 1991, at the request of Bishop Paul Mea, one sister went to Kiribati to work in the Kiribati Pastoral Institute, and in 1993 it was decided they would establish a foundation there.

Thus it is that there are foundations in four different countries. In addition, as a way of supporting the East Timorese people as they develop as an independent nation, one sister is currently living and ministering there.

Living and working in cross cultural communities brings both challenges and new life. One needs to learn to communicate effectively, to discern together and make decisions in a just way, to understand each other’s culture as far as that is possible, and to form ourselves anew in each place in ways that are culturally appropriate.

As these challenges are faced in communities of more than one culture, deep, ongoing and communal discernment has to take place about a whole range of matters which lie at the heart of being Good Samaritan. This deep involvement together, along with the energy and commitment of new members, brings life. In addition, the whole congregation, in finding ways to live with integrity and compassion as an international community, is reflecting together in ways that bring healing, energy and hope.

Australia
The history of the Good Samaritan Sisters in Australia reveals a readiness to adapt to changing circumstances, to respond ever anew to the call of the Spirit within the various places and situations around the country. This has been greatly needed given that Australia is still a growing community. From the first days of Good Samaritans in Australia, the society generally and the congregation in particular have been multicultural. Since then, immigration has occurred in waves, as situations changed here and in the countries of origin of the migrants. With each new wave, as with each new era, different needs have emerged and Good Samaritan sisters have responded.

Australia’s first peoples, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, were treated very badly by many of the early settlers from Europe and Asia. Only in recent times, has the conscience of Australia generally been somewhat awakened to the atrocities committed over two centuries, and their ongoing impact. Today, sisters have the opportunity to redress some of that.

This is done by some sisters who are committed intentionally to ministering in culturally appropriate ways with Aboriginal and Islander people. Communities in Mount Magnet, Broome, Derbe and Geraldton in Western Australia, and Abergowrie in Queensland are especially focused in this way.

Alongside these ministries, the congregation as a whole, and many sisters and communities in particular ways, are standing in solidarity with the traditional custodians of the land, in the quest for a more socially just and equitable Australia for all people.

Japan
After World War II, Bishop Yamaguchi asked for help in reconstructing his diocese which had been devastated by the atomic bomb. He wanted a community of Sisters to come to Nagasaki to help set up schools there. One of the Australian congregations to respond to the Bishop’s call was the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

On October 14, 1948, six Good Samaritan Sisters left Sydney on board the SS Changte bound for Japan. Eventually they reached Nagasaki on November 18.

From that day the Sisters began working in the Good Samaritan dispensary and directing youth groups, all the while spending significant time in learning the language. In 1952 they left Nagasaki and set up communities in Sasebo and Nara. They worked in Nara parish and set up kindergartens in each place as well as Seiwa High School in Sasebo. By 1961 two Japanese women had been professed after formation in Australia, and in 1964 a novitiate was established in Nara. In1971, largely to provide for the need to attend language school, a community was established in Tokyo, and Seiwa Hostel for University students opened. The novitiate was also established there for some years from 1971.

Apart from the above, over the years there have been many and varied ministries in these cities, as needs emerged and were matched with the gifts of different sisters. Some examples are Christian study groups for women, serving the personal and practical needs of people in high rise apartment blocks, action for justice, catechesis, and renewal courses for religious women.
In 2008 there are communities in Sasebo and Nara and the ministries continue to be varied, with the main involvement being in education and parish. All of the nine sisters in Japan are Japanese.

The Philippines
In the 1980s solidarity with the poor in Asia was a strong desire for the church in Japan. The Japanese Good Samaritan Sisters, wanting to contribute in some way, asked Sister Goto Keiko to study in Manila and during her time there she visited the island of Negros, one of the poorest areas in the Philippines. Later Sister Morikawa Haruko and she formed a community in Bacolod and the foundation was formally established in 1990. They lived at first in a tiny rented house near the airport and spent time visiting and working among the people. Later the community moved to City Heights, and now live in two residences there, and come together for meals and prayer. In 2008 there are two Japanese sisters, two Australian sisters, and two Filipina sisters.

A significant feature of the work in Bacolod is the establishment of the Bacolod Fund. This has been established through generous donations from friends of the Sisters in Japan, graduates of Good Samaritan schools, church groups and other organisations, The funds are used to assist poor families to access education and are administered through parishes.

Over the years sisters have been engaged in a variety of projects and ministries. However, as a result of the particular needs in City Heights and the desire for a common endeavour for the community, a Kinder School for children of very poor families was established by the Sisters in 2004.

Kiribati

The Republic of Kiribati consists of 33 coral islands stretching across some 5,000 square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean. A developing country, Kiribati has a population of about 78,000. More than one third of the people live on the main atoll of South Tarawa.

In 1991, Bishop Paul Mea asked congregations to help meet the missionary needs of his diocese in Kiribati. Responding to this request, the Sisters of the Good Samaritan in Australia appointed Sister Veronica McCluskie to the staff of the Kiribati Pastoral Institute. Since then there has been at least one sister on staff at KPI each year, but other ministries have been taken up. These have included Project Officer, secretary to the bishop, Religious Education Office for the diocese, teaching in St Louis High School and in the University, Religious Education and pastoral work. Hospitality is also a key ministry. In 2008 one IKirbati sister is teaching in a local school, one is working with the youth and one is studying in order to work with pre-schoolers.

From early on, many young women showed an interest in the Good Samaritan way of life and have been connected with the sisters in a variety of ways. Four sisters have now been professed and many other women from Kiribati are presently discerning their way forward with the sisters, so working with them is another significant ministry.

In 1997 the Good Samaritan Centre was established at Abaokoro on North Tarawa. Novices and pre novices now live in community there and it is a place of hospitality where many come for spiritual or physical refreshment, for basic medical support or to visit. Workshops on many subjects and retreats are run there. Religious Education, visiting the sick, Children’s liturgy and lectio in the village are other aspects of the ministry.

In 2004 there are four Australian and six I-Kiribati women living in three communities. As they celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Good Samaritan foundation in Kiribati, they wrote the following:


“Our greatest hope for the future lies in the young I-Kiribati women through whom the Good Samaritan charism echoes in this culture. Lectio is practised and shared almost naturally, whilst a desire to grow in relating with compassion is an often articulated goal. God’s breathing in their lives seems almost audible and visible!
Many continue to seek the Good Samaritan spirit, some to live out and pass it on in a marriage commitment, and others to pursue it in a religious life style.
A key challenge within this movement of the Spirit is to allow a true inculturation or Kiribatisation of the Good Samaritan charism to happen. This will take much attentiveness, patience, humility, freedom, imagination and, of course, time. Learning in partnership with other religious congregations in Kiribati is an essential part of this process.”


Conclusion
Across the congregation there are various efforts being made

• to think and feel as a cross cultural community,
• to learn about cultural differences,
• to let our differences form us, and
• to sink deep into the charism that unites us.