Faith, friendship and joy were the hallmarks of a celebration in Hobart marking the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the Missionary Sisters of Service. Source: Hobart Archdiocese.
It was also a chance to reflect on an inspiring legacy of the Tasmanian-founded order committed to pastoral service and the transformative power of the Gospel, bringing the Good News to the highways and byways with a special focus on those living on the margins of society.
Family, friends and supporters from Tasmania and interstate joined the sisters at Mass at St Francis Xavier’s Church, South Hobart, on July 12, followed by lunch in the church hall.
Congregational Leader Sr Stancea Vichie said a spirit of friendship and happiness was evident at the celebration as the order comes towards its “completion and fulfilment”.
The order began on July 9, 1944. The original sisters were known first as the Home Missionary Sisters of Our Lady, then as the Rosary Sisters, as they lived at Rosary House in Launceston.
The name Missionary Sisters of Service was adopted in 1971. The founding sisters answered the call from a diocesan priest, Fr John Wallis, to serve isolated Catholic families in Tasmania.
Since then, the order spread interstate and to Singapore. Today, there are 20 sisters, in Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
As Sr Stancea reflected on the milestone, she spoke of dying and new life.
“We are one of the many congregations who are coming towards their completion and their fulfilment,” she said.
“In my tours across the country I have included this reality because it might look like dying is happening, but this is giving way to new life which is the whole pattern that the universe operates in, and the pattern that Jesus has been able to show us – that dying and rising is the pattern of our lives.
“We have celebrated our wonderful anniversary in the context of a dying and rising. We are a community of women who may not be around in however many [more] years, but what we came for has been fulfilled.”
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Sisters mark 80 years in spirit of friendship and happiness (By Wendy Shaw, Hobart Archdiocese)
