Good Samaritan Sister Meg Kahler was elected president of the Benedictine Union of East Asia and Oceania during its biennial gathering in Vietnam earlier this month. Source: Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
Sr Meg succeeds Br Nicholas Koss OSB, Prior of Wimmer Priory in Taiwan, who has guided the BEAO since its beginnings 30 years ago.
Sr Meg said the gathering was an opportunity to learn about what Benedictine life looks like in the region.
“It is a mix of enclosed and missionary communities across very diverse cultural and language groups,” she said. “It can make it a challenge but also gives many unique expressions of Benedictine life.
“It helped to raise awareness of the many challenges that face communities – ageing, isolation, financial hardship, political complexities and much more.
“We were generously hosted at the Thinh Bien Monastery. There are about 60 monks living at the monastery who have a flower farm, a fish farm that enables the production of fish sauce, and a medical outreach service that uses natural medicines. They work closely with the local community on various projects.”
Since 2003, Sr Meg has been a member of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan’s council, a four-member leadership team that provides assistance and advice to the congregational leader, Sr Catherine McCahill SGS.
Sr Meg serves as first councillor and delegate for initial formation. She has pastoral oversight for Good Samaritan Sisters in Victoria, South Australia and the Philippines, and is a member of the congregation’s finance council.
Since joining the congregation in 1996, Sr Meg has had a rich variety of ministry placements, including five years teaching at Santa Maria College, Melbourne, two years as director of the Kiribati Pastoral Institute, a year as manager of the Good Samaritan Inn, Melbourne, and three months teaching English in Tanzania with a group of Benedictine Sisters.
Sr Meg was also part of the Good Samaritan Education Mission Team, which provides formation opportunities for staff and students of Good Samaritan Education colleges in the history, values and spirituality of the Good Samaritan Benedictine tradition.
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Good Samaritan Sister Meg Kahler elected to key Benedictine role (Sisters of the Good Samaritan)
