On Saturday 25th June, in OLSH Chapel, Bentleigh, Margaret Aboureszk and Amanda Nugent made their Commitment as Associates of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. and welcomed them into the Chevalier Family.

There is one ONLY THING to do here below:
To love Jesus,
to win souls for Him so that He may be loved.
Let us seize with jealous care every least opportunity of self sacrifice.
Let us refuse Him nothing –
He does so want our love!
(St Therese of Lisieux to her sister Celine)

Margaret’s special day here in Alice Springs has come and gone, leaving wonderful memories not just for her, but also for those who joined with her on the Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

When Margaret and I first began planning her Alice Springs Jubilee celebration, we did not realise just how much like ‘Topsie’ it would become.  After Easter, we sat and made lists of what we would need to do, who to invite, and what we would plan for a light lunch following the Mass.  We did not factor into the initial planning the fact that with it being on the Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, it meant that Fr. Raass SVD would ensure it was going to be a CELEBRATION.  Not only because of Margaret’s anniversary.  It was the Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart patroness of the Parish.

“Sunrise, sunset.  Sunrise, sunset.  
Swiftly flow the years.  
One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears.”

And Mary said:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
And my spirit exults in God my saviour;
Because he has looked upon his lowly handmaiden.
Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
For the Almighty has done  great things for me.
Holy is his name, … Luke 1: 46-49

Class has been cancelled so the community can use their ancient culture to honour Sister Tess on her appointment to the Order of Australia for her work in bilingual education. The 70-year-old nun has worked in the community, the largest in the Northern Territory, for decades running the bilingual language program at the local school.

"It's actually an overwhelmingly joyful day for me and touched me very deeply to see so many people and the children dancing," Sister Ward said.

"And people coming together in their way to honour me and show their respect in a cultural way.

The investiture, held at Wadeye, Northern Territory was very moving....within a very cultural context.  The main language groups sung and danced and made a presentation to Tess: a beautiful painting, a mat and printed cloth.  A group of Tiwi people was also present and they sung for Tess.

The two disciples (Andrew and John] followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following,
he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?”. They said to him, ‘Rabbi, where do you live?’
He said to them, ‘Come and see’. They came and saw … and remained with him. (John 1:35-39)

Another Sister, a daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, has achieved her century. Sister Emmanuel Chapman was born in Auckland in 1916 but grew up in Randwick and Coogee, NSW. Here she developed the two greatest loves of her life, for the spirituality of the MSC Fathers and the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and for the sea.

How does a religious sister who spent her 90th birthday scuba diving celebrate her 100th?

With a visit to Sydney Tower, where the view of the city is the perfect backdrop for looking back at a century of life.

During this season of Lent, we are reminded of the importance of touch in Jesus’ ministry.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day let us remember women everywhere and may we, through the intercession of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, do the good that is in our power to help all women sense their dignity and know deep within that they are loved by God.

pdf Click here to download our lnternational Women's Day Newsletter (1.00 MB)

O God, be a sheltering rock for me, a walled fortress to save me!
For you are my rock, my fortress;
for the sake of your name, guide me, lead me on.
I put my trust in you, Yahweh, I say, ‘You are my God’,
My days are in your hand, rescue me;
Let your face smile on your servant, save me in your love.  (Psalm 30, 2-3;14,16)

A perfect woman – who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls. …
She is always busy with wool and with flax; she does her work with eager hands …
She holds out her hand to the poor, she opens her arms to the needy.
She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
When she opens her mouth, she does so wisely;
On her tongue is kindly instruction
(Proverbs 31, 10-26)

And so I prayed, and understanding was given me;
I entreated and the spirit of wisdom came to me. …
In her company all good things came to me, 
and at her hands incalculable wealth. …
What I learned diligently, I shall pass on liberally,
I shall not conceal how rich she is. …
For she is to human beings an inexhaustible treasure,
and those who acquire this, win God’s friendship. …
(Wisdom, 7, 7-14)