Australia Delegation Assembly

1-4 October 2007

Fr. Larry svd & community

The Pastorelle Sisters from Melbourne and Adelaide gathered for their annual Assembly at Alberione House, Bundoora, from 1-4 October 2007. The theme of the Assembly was in continuity with the 7th General Chapter: Leading to the springs of life!

The opening prayer which helped us get in touch with our personal giftedness and the giftedness of each Sister, created an atmosphere of trust and openness to the Spirit that permeated all we did during the week.

Quiet time

One of the main objectives of the Assembly was to reflect on the implications that emerged for our mission from the Review we did with Sr. Jill early in the year, in view of the unification of the Philippines and Australia circumscriptions.

In the course of the Assembly, Sr. Rita gave a report on the Catholic Religious Australia Assembly 2007: Being Neighbours in the Pacific that she attended with more than 120 leaders from around Australia, New Zealand, West Papua, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific region in Perth, Western Australia at the end of June to explore ways of being better neighbours (www.catholicreligiousaustralia.org).

Time was also given to other Sisters to report on different seminars/conferences that they have attended during the year, eg. a two weeks workshop on “facilitation” attended by Sr. Anna Genovese in the month of August.

Each day we gathered around the Word and the Eucharist to give thanks, to bring the needs of the world before God and to ask for the help we need to walk in the footsteps of Jesus the Good Shepherd. We were very fortunate to have with us for the Eucharistic celebration our good friends, Bishop Joseph O’Connell, Fr. Larry Nemer SVD and Fr. Brendan Byrne SJ.

                                   Fr. Brendan sj & community

In a very symbolic concluding prayer, we were asked to walk the path of costly love, the path that ultimately leads to life.

Letizia, Nelia, Doreen, Estelita & Anna walking the path of costly love

sr Mary La Bruna