April Reflection by Engadine Community
- Salesian Sisters
- Apr 14
- 5 min read
As 2025 is well underway, the Engadine community would like to share five significant events that have occurred since the year began.
This year the St Maria D Mazzarello Novitiate reopened as Betty Pauromae began her first-year novitiate on 8 December 2024 under the guidance of St Hieu Luong, community leader and novice formator. The novitiate program comprises the following. Betty spends Mondays with the children at St John Bosco Primary School in a classroom setting. In the afternoon, she participate in 3:16 (John 3:16) Youth group with Fr. Kevin Fiame sdb and Cecilia Leavasa, Youth Minister of the parish to support the children after school by giving an ‘afternoon short talk’ on a faith element geared to their level and then interacts with them with a variety of games. Once a month she is engaged with a young adults group fostering Christian development and outreach to others. From Tuesday to Thursday she is involved in multiple themes related to human development, Christian formation and the Salesian charism/spirituality given by Sr Hieu Luong, Sr Edna MacDonald and the SDB community. All day Friday is set aside for personal reflection on the various topics presented during the week. She is involved in continuing to learn further guitar skills, assists in beautifying the gardening together with the Sisters in perfecting her culinary skills. The Engadine community wishes Betty well as she is offered various ways and means of gradually assuming and owning the identity of a Salesian Sister. Her youthfulness is greatly appreciated by all!
On Sundy 19 February the Christian Churches of Australia celebrate Aboriginal Sunday, a week before the celebration of Australia Day. The community attends an ecumenical church service organised by the Engadine Uniting Church. The theme for this year is Defiant Hope. The hour-long church service was composed of hymns, scriptural passages, gospel reflections and an activity creating a vibrant mural that reflected the shared prayer, solidarity and commitment to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This mural depicted the ancient heart and songlines of these lands we now call Australia. Around the heart of the mural were written words from the gathered assembly that represent friendship, hope and solidarity. Surrounding this centrepiece were a sea of handprints also from the gathered assembly, symbolising our embodied commitment to justice, reconciliation and the flourishing of Aboriginal and Torres Strat Islander communities. After the church service all shared in light refreshments as everyone intermingles and get more acquainted. This gathering epitomises the unified effort of the Christian Churches to work in solidarity and justice for First Nation people of Australia.
On Sunday, 23 March the community participated in the Day of the Unborn Child sponsored by Family Life International (Australia). The Eucharistic celebration was at 10:30am Eucharist in the St Mary's Cathedral presided by Archbishop Anthony Fisher. The cathedral was absolutely packed, standing room only. During his homily, the archbishop focused on the readings of the 3rd Sunday in Lent and spoke at length about God's transcendence and God who is ever near - God who is pure Spirit and God who becomes human in an embryo like us. God is "I am who I am" and God is Emmanuel, God among us seeking an ever-enduring relationship as is demonstrated in the Gospels. A God who never gives up on anyone - the image of the fig tree in today's Gospel is a case in point - it will eventually bear fruit. God seeks the most vulnerable - from the tiny embryo to the oldest person. He ended his homily with "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me," (Matthew 25:40). This gave a tone to the day dedicated to the unborn child!
After the Eucharistic celebration all assembled outside the cathedral and soon the procession began through the streets of Sydney which ended at the NSW parliament house. Once all assemble there, an address was given by Cardinal-elect Mykola Bychok CSsR, Eparch of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in Australia and Oceania. He too stressed how important it is for all who follow Jesus to reach out to those most marginalised as Jesus did, God incarnate among us. In procession again all walk back to the cathedral through the streets of Sydney praying the rosary and singing significant hymns. Once back in the cathedral, the celebration ends with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. It was truly a day where all could witness to our faith in a public and peaceful way for the best of intentions: LIFE ... CHOOSE LIFE!
On 1 April, the community attended the Federal Election Candidate Forum at the Uniting Church, Chipilly Avenue, Engadine. Jenny Ware, Member of Parliament for Hughes (Liberal Party) is present together with David Moncrieff, (Australian Labour Party) and Catherine Dyson (Greens Party) give their party’s views on a variety of topics concerning all Australian citizens - key among them were issues relating to mental health, transport, housing, cost of living, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, public education. The forum was very well organised and chaired. The speakers gave their insights on how each party implements the various topics or proposed steps for improvement. All left the forum informed and enlightened by the input of the speakers.
Lastly, on 3 April the Archbishop of Sydney, Archbishop Anthony Fisher, OP, warmly welcomed all women and men in Consecrated Life to a Eucharistic celebration at the St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney at 11am, he himself being a religious of the Order of Preachers, a Dominican. All the Engadine community participate in this significant event. This Eucharist specifically honours all women and men who are celebrating a jubilee of commitment to consecrated life this year. Sr Silvana Visentin celebrates 70 years of FMA profession on 5 August. She is particularly honoured with her name in a list of other jubilarians in the Eucharistic booklet published for the occasion. At the end of the Eucharist the archbishop invited all those celebrating a jubilee to have a photo taken with him. Sr Silvana participated in this gesture of honour.
At the beginning of the Eucharist the archbishop welcomed all, grateful for the presence of everyone representing Consecrated Life. He then reads out the names of all the groups in Consecrated Life who live in the Archdiocese of Sydney. Of course the Engadine community was proud to hear the name “Salesian Sisters”. During his homily, the archbishop focused on the readings of the day (Exodus 32:7-14 / John 5:31-47) stating that like Moses and much more so, like Jesus, all religious of whatever age are called to witness to a God who is all forgiving, compassionate and merciful. However he also quoted Luke 18:18-23, regarding Jesus’ request to the rich man to sell all he had and give it to the poor. While Jesus looked at him lovingly, the person was not able to give up ‘all he had’. Jesus continues to challenge all gathered in this assembly and beyond with the same resolve to respond fully to God’s call in Consecrated Life. After the Eucharist concluded the archbishop provided a formal dinner for all in the Cathedral House. At this dinner it was an opportunity to meet with others sharing our common mission of witnessing to Christ among the people of the metropolitan area of Sydney.
Whether the Engadine community is engaged in events of vocational discernment (e.g. the reopening of the St Maria D. Mazzarello Novitiate), or deepening our call to Consecrated Life (e.g. Mass for all women and men in Consecrated Life) or encompassing cultural, moral, ethical, and political dimensions (e.g. justice for First Nation Peoples of Australia / Rights of the Unborn / forthcoming Federal elections) we are all called, in multiple ways, to live and spread the spirit of Jesus in our contemporary world!
Engadine Community
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