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The Southern Cross : March 2012
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Page 12 March 2012 www.thesoutherncross.org.au The Southern Cross The Southern Cross continues its Living Catholic page which features articles and photographs highlighting the many good works that often go unnoticed but make a big difference to people's lives and to the community in general. Parishes are invited to submit suggestions for stories that demonstrate in a practical sense Living Catholic. Please send an email to cathcomm@adelaide.catholic.org.au. | living catholic When Elizabeth Morris made her first vows as a Sister of St Joseph 50 years ago she never dreamt part of her future role would involve a grave-side funeral liturgy in regional South Australia, or preparing lay people for leadership ministries, or even sitting around kitchen tables listening to people's stories. She recalls that times have changed since she was professed in 1962 and nine months after which Vatican Council II began. This year, Sr Morris rsj has been appointed full-time pastoral director of the Bordertown Parish, which includes the towns of Keith (46km north-west of Bordertown), and Kingston (114km south-west). She has held the role part-time since 2010, when she became the parish's first pastoral director after Father Peter Fountain moved to lead the Penola and Naracoorte parishes. "Keeping the sacramental life of the parish alive (without a resident priest) can be a challenge," says Sr Morris. "So, one of my goals is to encourage people to do as much as they are able within the parameters of our church's discipline," she says. "We will ALWAYS need priestly ministry and priests generously come to Bordertown for Mass and the Sacraments." In any week, she can be attending a liturgy committee meeting in Keith, catching up with the Catholic Women's League in Bordertown, meeting with the parish pastoral council, taking Communion to the sick, or visiting parishioners who are preparing for baptism. "I'm hoping to really bring the community to a point where they are resourced to keep their parish enlivened and to continue in that way," she says. "Already they are voluntarily doing so much". Sr Morris has spent the past 20 years working in adult faith formation, and was coordinator of the Catholic Adult Education Service from 1995 until its close in 2003. More recently she coordinated ministry formation for rural areas of the Adelaide Archdiocese see story below. Born in Adelaide, Sr Liz attended school at Thebarton and Mount Carmel, Rosewater, until Year 11, when she decided, with the support of her family, to become a nun. She was 16-years-old and was among the youngest Sisters to celebrate her Golden Jubilee in January. Schooled by the Josephites, Sr Morris said the nuns' example and an appreciation of the Eucharist from an early age paved her path towards a religious life. Sister's faith has no border "Regardless of the outcome of these four years, the journey has been amazing and the growth that has happened within my life has been the most important thing." This has been the response echoed frequently by the 10 women and two men who graduated from the four-year Rural Ministry Formation Program in Mt Gambier and Millicent on February 5 this year. Fr Richard Morris, parish priest and Dean of the South East, Sr Elizabeth Morris, Co-ordinator of the Program since 2007, Jenny O'Brien from the Office for Worship and Margaret McCulloch, part-time Project Officer for the RMF for three years, were all involved in presenting certificates at Mass in the two parishes. Archbishop Wilson sent 13 people on the journey by decree in February of 2008 and signed their Ministry Formation Certificates and Certificates of Pastoral Liturgy in January of 2012. They also achieved a Certificate IV of Theology from the Institute of Faith Education in Brisbane and completed two short courses in canon law, taught by Sr Anna Spaccatore rsj JCL. Program participants are active members of their parish community and in leadership in various fields, including pastoral care, liturgy, adult and children's catechesis, supporting the ongoing life of the parish community. When the parish priest is absent, their presence becomes even more vital. At each of the graduations, Sr Elizabeth expressed her admiration of these people, their perseverance and dedication and their willingness to serve the church communities to which they belong. Three people in Penola, six people from Naracoorte and three from Lameroo have also been ensuring that they are better qualified to provide leadership and support in their communities by completing a Certificate III in Theology and Ministry over the two years of 2009 and 2010 and also attending a number of Liturgy Practicums in that time. They received their Certificates in 2011. Amazing journey GRADUATION: (L-R) Father Richard Morris with Gwenda Browne, Ro Abraham and Liz Smyth who recently graduated from Rural Ministry Formation. Other graduates were Fran Mullaney, Denise MacKay, Brian O'Connor, Jim O'Hehir, Dulcie Hutton, Helen Buhagiar and Judy Low. BORDERTOWN FULL-TIME: Sister Liz Morris (left) with Father Richard Morris and recent graduates of the Rural Ministry Formation from Mt Gambier (L-R) Carol Chislett and Laura Marcus. With Fr. Ronny Chaheen OLM A 14 day pilgrimage Departing 28 June 2012 • Padua • Venice • Ravenna • Florence • Siena • Assisi • Loreto • Lanciano • San Giovanni Rotondo • Monte Sant'Angelo • Pietrelcina • Pompeii • Montecassino • Rome • Also Departing: 28 May, 1 Sep, 28 Sep, 28 Oct 2012 GRACES OF ITALY SAINTS & MARTYRS OF ENGLAND * Now includes all taxes/ levies! from $6490 * Costs must remain subject to change without notice, based on currency exchange rates, departure city, airline choice and minimum group size contingency. HARVEST PILGRIMAGES • 1800 819 156 • www.harvestpilgrims.com Airport Travel Centre ph: (08) 8234 3530 email: ian@airporttravelcentre.com * Now includes all taxes/ levies! from $6990 With Fr Anthony Denton A 15 day pilgrimage Departing 11 Jul 2012 • London • Canterbury • Aylesford • Chatham • Walsingham • King's Lynn • York • Osbaldwick • Durham • Birmingham • Bath • Glastonbury • Stonehenge • London BE A PILGRIM IN 2012 Join Archbishop Philip Wilson for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin * Now includes all taxes/ levies! from $8650 Features • Dublin -- International Eucharistic Congress (9) • Galway (3) • Dublin (1) • Glasgow (1) • Oban (1) • Fort William (3) • Edinburgh (2) Followed by a Pilgrimage to Ireland and Mary MacKillop's Scotland led by Josephine Laffin • A 24 day pilgrimage journey • Departing 8 June 2012 SUPPLIERS OF RELIGIOUS GIFTS BOOKS CANDLES CHURCHWARE Christmas Nativities and Xmas Cards now available TRADING HOURS: 9.30am -- 5pm Weekdays 9.30am -- 1.00pm Saturday 183A Findon Road, Findon SA 5023 Ph: 08 8244 1811 Fax: 08 8244 1822 Email: chrisupp@adam.com.au www.christiansuppliesaustralia.com.au The Therry Dramatic Society proudly presents a delicious comedy Thu 22 to Sat 24 March, 8pm Wed 28 to Sat 31 March, 8pm Matinees both Saturdays, 2pm Preview Wed 21 March, 8pm ($10) Arts Theatre, 53 Angas Street, Adelaide Bookings 8296 3477 before 16 March or 8410 5515 after 19 March or BASS or Venue*tix. (Preview not available through BASS or Venuetix)
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