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Summer 2003
Nuns
The Southern Cross Association
On behalf of all the members of Our Lady of the Southern Cross
Association I would like to congratulate our brothers in Carmel for ‘Aspirations’,
undoubtedly a communications breakthrough! May it become a vehicle of real sharing
for the deepening of our Carmelite way of life.
In October 2002, representatives of the member-Monasteries of our Association
assembled at Mount Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville NSW for our third General
Assembly. Broadly speaking the agenda for our Assembly had three parts: a review
of the triennium ending; discerning and electing a new leadership team; and future
planning. In the first of these segments the office-bearers of the previous triennium
‘rendered an account of their service’ and participants were asked
to share their experience of the functioning of the Association. After this we
did some reflection on our hopes for the future of the Association and undertook
a process of discernment to suggest the names of those Sisters who could help
carry this vision forward. With this discernment in mind and invoking the guidance
of the Spirit, we moved into the actual election of a new Council in the persons
of Sisters Jennifer (Varroville), Margaret Mary (Nedlands), Cynthia (Ormiston)
and Rebecca (Glen Osmond). Our remaining task was to set our sights on the next
three years and articulate some goals that would enable us to strengthen the mutuality
which is the fruit of our Association.
One important factor in the good functioning of the Association is the work of
its Council, the executive body whose task it is to carry out the directives of
the General Assemblies and generally foster the purposes of the Association. However,
the highlight of the third Assembly was its emphasis on the membership owning
the Association, not just nominally, but actually: WE are the Association. If
we don’t make it work then it won’t work, sort of attitude. Underpinning
this attitude is the fundamental belief in the value of each individual Sister
and her contribution to the life of Carmel in our region, and indeed the whole
Church community. We need to be explorers, searching out new paths. We were invited
to investigate more informal ways of relating to each other within the context
of our lifestyle. For example, the possibility of a particular interest group
(such as archivists or formators) meeting on a more informal basis at the invitation
of one member-Monastery. Or again, that a particular Sister who may have a certain
area of expertise be invited to another Carmel by way of sharing that knowledge
or gift.
In terms of the Council and its function to carry forward the hopes and expectations
of the Association, the goals of our third Assembly are demanding. We are in the
process of planning our annual meeting for 2003 at Nedlands Carmel, at the kind
invitation of that community. We ask your prayer for us, and assure you, our Brothers
and Sisters in Carmel, of our prayer for you, that together we may grow to the
fullness of Christ.
Sr Jennifer, Varroville Carmel (President)
Summer 2003 edition
Reflections of the Regional Vicar
This little reflection shares with you some experiences of my new role as
vicar.
Read this article by Aloysius Rego.
Friars
The Carmelite Friars have three houses in the Australian Region.
Box Hill - Morley - Varroville (Retreat Centre & Parish)
Nuns
Read personal sharings, community profiles, general information, jubilee news,
and lots more for the following Carmelite communities of nuns:
Bomana Carmel
Launceston Carmel
Christchurch Carmel
Goonellabah (Lismore) Carmel
Ormiston Carmel
Nedlands Carmel
Varroville Carmel
Other Sections
The Southern Cross Association
The Young Carmelite Group
Welcome to Aspirations
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Friday, 28 March, 2003
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