Sr Veronica Fuhrmann CJ visits the Province at a significant moment
It is not often that a General Superior visits Australia, but in March Sr Veronica Fuhrmann CJ spent a month in the Province, meeting with Sisters, staff and school communities at a significant moment in our shared story.
Sr Veronica Fuhrmann CJ shared:
“My visit to our communities in Australia and Timor-Leste has been a truly grounding experience. I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome I received at all the different places, the heartfelt and sincere conversations with our sisters and co-workers, and the chance to witness the transformative power of Loreto education. It was inspiring to be able to visit the life-changing mission in Timor-Leste and to see with my own eyes how the support of women and girls enables progress and development for entire communities.
Each encounter reminded me of the living spirit of Mary Ward that continues to inspire and guide us across continents. I carry these impressions home with great gratitude and a renewed sense of our shared mission.”
Sr Veronica’s visit came at an important time following the union of IBVM and CJ, offering an opportunity to gather, reflect and recognise our shared identity.
Australia
Across five states, Sr Veronica spent time with Sisters, ministries and school communities.
The visit began in Melbourne, where Sr Veronica spent time with the Sisters living in Victoria. At the Loreto Centre, staff from the Province, Loreto Ministries and Mary Ward International welcomed the opportunity to meet with her.
Sr Veronica also visited Loreto Toorak and our first school, Loreto College Ballarat, meeting with students and staff, touring the campuses and sharing in moments of prayer.
Next was Perth, where she visited the Sisters and their places of ministry, as well as John XXIII College.
She then travelled to Sydney, where she had conversations with each member of the local community, visited Loreto Normanhurst and Loreto Kirribilli, and enjoyed seeing Sydney Harbour.
In Queensland, she received an equally warm welcome from the Sisters living in Brisbane and Southport and spent time at Loreto College Coorparoo.
Sr Veronica’s visit offered a chance to experience the life of the Province and the work of Loreto education in Australia.
Timor-Leste
Sr Veronica also visited Timor-Leste, where she spent time with the Sisters, the young women in training and members of the local communities, accompanied by Sr Wendy Hildebrand CJ, Sr Monica Suchiang CJ (South Asia), Sr Angela Slattery CJ and Sr Natalie Houlihan CJ.
Her visit offered an opportunity to experience the life of the Timor-Leste mission, its relationships, its challenges and its hope, and to learn about the development projects supported by Mary Ward International.
Sr Natalie Houlihan CJ said:
“It was a privilege to welcome Sr Veronica to Timor-Leste and to share something of our life and mission here, in its simplicity, its challenges and its deep sense of community.”
Reflection
Sr Wendy Hildebrand CJ, Provincial of Australia and South East Asia, reflected:
“We are deeply grateful for Sister Veronica’s recent visit, which came at a particularly grace-filled moment, so soon after the merger of the two branches of our Mary Ward family. Her presence among us created space for reflection, affirmation and renewal. It deepened our sense of belonging to the worldwide congregation, while affirming the faithful work unfolding across the Province. We now move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and energy as one united body, ever faithful to the charism and mission entrusted to us.”
We thank Sr Veronica for her presence across the Province and hold her in prayer as she continues her leadership of the Congregation of Jesus.
