One woman, her beloved pet dog, and a deep sense of purpose. That’s all it takes to quietly make a difference across the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese’s rural heartland. Source: Aurora.
In the paddocks, churches, parish halls and main streets of Merriwa, Scone, Taree and more, Sr Gaye Lennon RSM is more than a visitor. In these communities, she is a companion and source of support. She shows up and listens, often being trusted with stories of faith, hardship, and hope.
For the past seven months, Sr Gaye has been visiting rural parts of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese as the rural ministry partner in the Mission & Evangelisation team.
“My role is about supporting the parishes, priests and the people,” Sr Gaye said. “It’s about listening and hearing what’s emerging for that community and journeying with them in their hope, frailty, vulnerability and strength. For me, it’s about being invited into people’s lives and I have found that working with our priests has been really helpful.
“We do a lot of sharing and talking to discern what we hear because each parish is totally different so our response and what we do has to be different. In rural areas, parishes are really embedded in the community, and I endeavour to sow seeds in those spaces as well and try to help bring them together.”
Sr Gaye’s role is varied and often sees her supporting parishes in a number of ways.
It might be through starting a prayer group or a craft circle with a mission focus, or discussing ways the parish can support people who work on farms or anyone who is struggling in the community.
While Sr Gaye’s initial plans were to spend 2025 in areas like Muswellbrook, Denman, Scone and Merriwa, after the recent flooding in Taree, she has been called to assist those who are struggling by helping to distribute the funds donated to Bishop Michael Kennedy’s Flood Appeal.
Next year, Sr Gaye is hoping to spend time in the parish communities of Bulahdelah, Tea Gardens, Krambach, Forster and more.
It’s not a journey she will be taking alone. Wherever Sr Gaye goes Solomon, her “pawfect” pup, is never far behind.
FULL STORY
How Sister Gaye is supporting our Rural Communities (By Elizabeth Symington, Aurora)
