Dear friends and supporters of MMI
Earlier this year Pope Francis encouraged us to be hope for the future. He said to be that hope we needed two things.
Firstly, we needed a memory: of our people, our family and where we come from, the memory of our journey and what we received from those closest to you.
The Sisters of Saint Joseph are, for us, a pivotal part of that memory. This year the Sisters celebrate 150 years since they were founded by Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods. They celebrate 150 years of service to the community. Part of the Sisters’ service has been the creation of ministries like Mary MacKillop International who today, in the most of concrete and human ways, bear witness to the love of Australia’s first saint, Mary MacKillop in some of the poorest parts of the world.
This year we have heard so many stories of those that went before us. Stories like that of Sr Kathy Jennings, (page 4 of this newsletter), which tells of the missioning work of the Sisters in PNG. It is her journey there, and the journey of other Sisters that has led MMI to reconnect with Papua New Guinea again this year.
Another key part of that memory is our supporters here in Australia. In a recent visit to Timor-Leste I was looking at our new mobile learning bus (page 6 of this newsletter) and was reminded of the profound legacy left by so many in Australia whose gifts extend the hands and feet of Mary MacKillop.
Secondly, to be hope for the future Pope Francis said we need to have courage — to be courageous, not fearful. Mary MacKillop International has been courageous on so many occasions this year- our expansion into Papua New Guinea, our decision to close some of our long standing projects in Timor-Leste, our ambitious new Strategic Plan. This courage is fuelled by our desire to be true to Mary MacKillop’s legacy to serve the poorest of the poor with integrity.
Every gift you give helps Mary MacKillop International deepen our memory and strengthen our courage. The photos and stories in the pages that follow capture the legacy that your gifts leave. Because of you, our brothers and sisters in Timor-Leste, Peru and Papua New Guinea can have education, good health and opportunity. That gives us all a great deal of hope for the future.
With warm regards
Kirsty Robertson, CEO
