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Report of the 2007 Annual Meeting
of the Associates of the Presentation
Sisters
National Committee
Melbourne, 30
November - 2 December 2007
Associate representatives from each of the six Australian congregations gathered at the Presentation Star Centre in Melbourne from 30 November to 2 December 2007 for the annual meeting of the National Committee.
On the first evening, reports from each group were presented and discussed. The main points from these are, briefly, as follows:
Victoria has two groups, Melbourne and Myrtleford. Melbourne meets most often in their faith-sharing groups which are planned collaboratively with Sisters and are comprised of Associates, Sisters and other interested people who may perhaps become Associates. Myrtleford supported Presentation missions in PNG. Both groups met half-way for one day during the year.
Western Australia has increased membership to 18, and meets monthly with Sisters attending also. They have undertaken Gospel studies and also spent a day with the Sisters during their congregation days.
Lismore spent two meetings “Sharing Nano’s Story” and another, a justice session, that highlighted the dangers of American war games in Queensland. They have supported a soup kitchen, a food kitchen and low-cost housing.
Wagga Wagga comprises five groups with interests spread over farming community support in drought, Aboriginal spirituality, the treatment of and policies on refugees, child abuse in Aboriginal communities, and a Philippines sponsorship program. Young will host the 2008 bi-annual gathering of all groups.
Tasmania averages 20 Associates at the monthly meetings of both northern and southern groups. Associates are now part of the history of Tasmanian Presentation life since 1866 as recorded in a new book by Sr Noela Fox. Both groups met to celebrate Presentation Day, but have decided to meet bi-annually as well for a day of prayer and reflection.
Queensland presented reports from both groups with a focus on the enthusiasm of the thriving new group in Yeppoon, the monthly activities of both groups, the missions supported, the process of writing “Guidelines”, the support of Queensland Presentation justice initiatives and the progress being made with the collaborative project underway in Brisbane.
Every alternate year, the National Committee meets with the Plenary Council (the six Congregation Leaders and the Society President) for one session. This being the time, we travelled down to Victoria’s Presentation holiday house at Mt Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula. The meeting, led by the Associate chairperson this year, began with a reading from the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 10 which tells the story, through the conversion of Cornelius and his household, of our baptismal equality which was the theme of our discussions. Firstly we looked at the beginning experience of an Associate accompanying a Sister to the meetings back in the early 90s and then the gradual development of independence. We discussed our current position, which in reality is different in each group, and how we see ourselves. Are we co-existing with the Sisters, how are we communicating, to what degree are we co-operating and then, is collaboration possible? What does collaboration look like? How will we know when it is happening?
Because each Associate group and congregation is in a different position, it was acknowledged that a clear vision was needed for progress to be made, so it was decided that each Associate and Congregation Leader would have time together in discussion to establish what the way forward would be for them. In actual fact, because Queensland Associates and Sisters began discussions on Partnership in 2006 and then took up the challenge of a collaborative project in 2007, we as a group were considerably ahead of the others in the process. However, Sr Mary and I spent valuable time together, discussing the initial steps that have been taken in this project, reviewing the process, evaluating the progress made so far and considering where we are being led in the future.
Well, the Spirit must have been working overtime that morning because, when all met together again, the coming into being of a Communion of Presentation People was seen to be a real possibility. (The word Communion is used to mean more than community.) The level of trust and openness and relationship are Trinitarian. It is a high ideal and a vision probably way beyond our imagining. Questions remain, and as Presentation People we will have to work our way forward, but we did have a very clear goal. Together and in each group we are now obligated to make the Communion of Presentation People a reality.
The remainder of the weekend was spent on a review of the meeting with the Plenary Council, presentation of the financial report, minutes and correspondence, and discussions regarding an update of the website, the National Register of members, a 3-yearly review of the National Committee Constitution, the National Committee’s ownership of the Vision Statement and the non-permissible change to wording, and the 2008 meeting and its associated matters.
All in all, it was a most rewarding and fulfilling meeting, time spent with lovely people dedicated to the future and well-being of Association.
Jan Murray, Queensland representative
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