The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has hosted religious from across the city and beyond for a day of renewal, encouragement, and healing.
Organised by Sr Cecilia Joseph OP and vocations director Fr Daniele Russo, the day provided an opportunity for religious sisters to come together to be reaffirmed in their consecration as women in the heart of the church.
Joined by international speakers Sr Miriam James Heidland SOLT and Fr John Burns, the approximately 50 women from various religious orders joined together for a day of prayer and reflection.
“Our community knows the work that Fr John Burns and Sr Miriam James have been doing with religious community in the United States,” Sr Cecilia Joseph told The Catholic Weekly.
“We were seeing the fruits of their beautiful work with priests and with religious communities in the United States in affirming the role of each vocation in the healthy working of the church, and we desired to bring something of this renewal to Sydney and beyond.”
Sr Cecilia Joseph said there had been a long period of discernment before putting the call out for renewal and healing to Sr Miriam James and Fr Burns.
“I was sensing the Holy Spirit had put this call on my heart and I think Fr Russo was sensing the same inspiration,” she said.
“We were talking about this this idea together about two years ago. From there, we let the Holy Spirit unfold the plan of renewal in his own timing.”
Fr Russo said the event was held to recognise the religious sisters in the community, who can sometimes fall under the radar.
“We imagine them as superhuman, but they’re human, and they’re susceptible to the brokenness and wounds of the world just as much as the rest of us,” he said.
“This is a day for them to reflect on their own vocation and to find deeper healing in the Lord.”
The speakers presented the idea of religious sisters being the “icons of the church” who remind those around them, including priests and men, what being Catholic and having faith is about.
“A church that is struggling from a lack of female religious life is a church that’s sick,” Fr Russo said.
“Part of the initiative is to contribute to a renewal of religious life, female religious life specifically, so that the church can be reminded of her deepest identity as the bride of Christ.”
Sr Cecilia Joseph said the day of renewal was a “real moment of grace” for her as she reflected on her life in the Dominican order.
“I’m in the middle of my religious life, but some of the sisters here are younger, some are older, and I know that we’re all extremely grateful for the graces of this day,” she said.
“We are at the beginning of something new and exciting in Sydney.
“We’re really receiving a gift from Jesus through what they presented to us through this day.”