Seeking Truth Doing Justice: It’s In Our DNA
Seeking Truth and Doing Justice: It’s In our DNA… after a quick search as a non-science teacher and finding that DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid which is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism, I realised how truly apt the title of our combined Toorak and Ballarat Loreto Staff Retreat Day really was. Our knowledge and understanding of what it means to be seekers of truth and doers of justice is paramount in our life and work as members of the Loreto community. We truly are the DNA that will continue to allow this organisation to continue to be what it is in the future.
The future of our Loreto community was very much present with our presentation from our CEO of Loreto Ministries Maureen Ryan not only introducing herself to many of us but also informing our staff about the Ministerial Public Juridic Person (MPJP). Our Loreto Sisters are much loved in our communities and for many of our staff, Maureen’s presentation allayed staff apprehension at this process knowing that this is exactly what our Sisters wanted and they were the leaders and instigators as they plan for the Loreto future.
There was no apprehension about the future of our Loreto sisters with our keynote speaker Sr Jwan Kada IBVM. Jwan’s story of her arrival in Australia, the love of her Mother and her work advocating for young people in an unfair legal system truly showed the embodiment of a lived justice in our world. Jwan did all this with such humility, humour and obvious joy, however, importantly Jwan told her story with such vulnerability, entrusting us with her story, her challenges, her fears and her hope. It was inspiring and truly not long enough.
Time in our day was given to our staff at our school. The time for developing collegial relationships, friendships and networks was of paramount importance on this day. This was completed with tours of the Toorak campus and also with time for discussion amongst our faculties and teams. These discussions and experiences then segued into a lunch provided by the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre.
Our afternoon sessions were given to a multitude of workshops which gave an opportunity for our participants to see how groups and organisations in our community live and work to bring justice to our world. This included workshops from MWIA, Jesuit Social Services, Catholic Earth Care, and Catholic Alliance for People. We also had presentations from our own Sr Sandra Perret and Robin Scott our Province Archivist, Janine Quick First Nations Student Coordinator at Loreto Ballarat and Carolyn Young, Director of Mission & Identity, Loreto Ministries. We were also fortunate to have Professor Melissa Castan from Monash University who presented on the importance of the referendum. Our workshops were varied, thought-provoking and instigated discussion about our place in this world as people of Loreto.
At the conclusion of our day, Anglea O’Dwyer blessed our staff and her words were apt with our understanding of justice being in our DNA and our responsibility to continue the work of all the good women and men who have gone before us to grow our community of Loreto.
‘Inspired by Mary Ward, may you answer the call to act wholeheartedly for genuine change that responds to the needs of our time. May you be constant, effective and loving, so that you too may leave behind something on which others can build. May you follow in Mary Ward’s footsteps as seekers of truth and doers of justice. In Jesus name we say, Amen.’
Author: Felicity Knobel, Assistant Principal Faith & Identity
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