Privacy Statement

Queensland Report
to Associates of the Presentation Sisters
National Committee

Melbourne, 3-5 November 2006

The year since our last meeting in November 2005 has been for Queensland Associates one of highs and lows. A definite high point was the formation of a new Associate group in Yeppoon, near Rockhampton. There are already 21 members and several more have made enquiries for next year. Sr Andrea McGrath organised the formation stage, and after forming a management committee, the group now has a committee. Low points for the Brisbane group were the loss of two Associates, both long-standing and held in high esteem. Also, it was with sadness that we respected and accepted the wishes of the South Burnett group (16 members last year) to go into recess. My last report spoke of how, in a community that struggles with continuing drought and a difficult economic situation, the energy of members was being directed towards the needs of the parish.

The monthly gatherings of the Brisbane group (49 members) have been very well attended with considerable energy and enthusiasm being shown. The commitment of six new Associates last December has contributed towards this with the youngest member, a teacher at the Presentation College, joining the committee to which she is making a dynamic contribution. Brisbane included three general meetings on its program, with the other meetings covering a variety of topics and activities to which the Sisters were also invited. In April we addressed the issue of our partnership, based on the Ecclesial Movements document, discussed at the National Committee’s meeting with the Plenary Council last November, as well as the Bullen Report of 2001. We discussed how we must consolidate and celebrate our relationship, but also find a new way of living it. Unfortunately time ran out at this crucial stage and an opportunity to continue has not yet been found. In May, two Sisters and an Associate who had attended the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Earthcare Conference in Canberra late 2005 addressed us on “Desertification of the Land”. The desert theme was continued in July at a Prayer Day with Sr Joan Cusack who then led us to find the deep well within ourselves. Two social gatherings, a Silent Cent Auction and a Spring Picnic, were both very successful. The last meetings for the year will be a Mass and tea celebrated with the Sisters on Presentation Day and a Christmas afternoon tea and entertainment. Once again on Nano’s Day, 26 April, Sisters and Associates met at the Nudgee Cemetery to celebrate the lives of members gone before us.

The Brisbane committee met with the Leadership Team at the start of the year to plan the shared activities and celebrations on the program. Sr Mary Franzmann, the Congregation Leader, offered to facilitate an Associates’ Retreat, and this will take place the weekend of 18-19 November at the Presentation Spirituality Centre, Manly. The theme will be “Embracing the Possibilities of a Creative God”. Another meeting with the Leadership Team will be held at its conclusion.

Community outreach for the Brisbane group has continued with involvement in the services of the Ecumenical Coffee Brigade and we have contributed financially to support Sr Maria of PNG in her mission at Yimut, helping to build a little house and school room in an extremely remote area. A recent action was to support the IPA’s Kalomo Project in Zambia. At our end of year gathering we will donate to the work of Sr Margaret Kehoe in Peru instead of exchanging Christmas gifts. Finally, to recognise the Sisters who are now unable to join in our Christmas gathering, Associates will visit them in small groups in their own homes.

The Brisbane committee of nine meets monthly and I attribute much of the success of the year to their dedicated work. This in turn generates enthusiasm amongst Associates at all our gatherings and already there are plans for another great year of working together in 2007.

Return to the Report of the 2006 Annual Meeting